In my opinion Thunderslots do not handle the same as a slot it. They seem to be a unique experience.
My Policar Build and Adventure - Running Inside Four of Six Lanes
For a year I have been running slot cars and it appears I'm on a cycle. First the layout, then better cars which led to a better layout which led to even better cars repeated once more. Now I feel I have the cars down pat so it's time for a better (perhaps not?) layout. All of the previous tracks have been Carrera and for the most part I have been very impressed outside of their shoulders. For non-debatable reasons I'm just not a fan or for that matter shoulders at all. Which is why I choose to run the middle of four lanes on the last layout as shown here:
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I absolutely loved this layout (designed by Chris-DSR - tweaked by me) and you can find all of the gory details in my Carrera Analog thread linked in my signature. Which also includes a link to the original Carrera Digital layout. However much like my Digital layout I felt like I had taken it as far as I could and I wanted to continue my journey. I'm not sure this trail is going to turn out better although it's the journey not the destination.
My tables sizes are fixed so instead of bringing tables to six lanes of Carrera I'm going to bring six lanes of Policar to my tables. The layout itself is still in doubt. I have their Policar T004z four lane set on order which I'm hoping will arrive soon. I can use it get familiar with the track and better design my six lane layout. I'll also take the time to see what I can come up with using a track designer. Going six lanes forces your hand into something simple (as in short) and I'm thinking I don't want too sweeping as I'd prefer lap times over one second.
UPDATE:
After quite a struggle I ended up with the following. Not what I was originally planning on however fitting six lanes on the tables is rather a challenge. Although beyond one inner curve joint everything fits great and I'm hoping over time it will seal itself (not likely with all of the clips I installed everywhere).
I have only run a few laps in each direction however overall I believe it's a good mix. Counterclockwise is the most sweeping and the two chicanes aren't as much of a challenge when going in the opposite direction. I'd say it's rather sweeping regardless of the lane. Clockwise you have a tight 180 after the straightaway and the chicanes mess with you more (for whatever reason - although it might just be I'm used to run counterclockwise) and finally the sweeping curve before the straightaway is rather tricky. You can't gun it coming of the previous curve or you'll lose it, rather you have to feather it just right as you can maintain your speed as long as you stay smooth. It's much more technical and makes a nice mix. I'm interested in how close the lap times will be between them...
UPDATE II:
Been running for a week or so and so far so good. I was concerned about the layout as it wasn't my first choice however after several hundred laps I'm pleased. I have been running two lanes in one direction and two in the opposite direction. And at times I'll reverse the direction of all four. I think this will help to keep everything fresh as times goes on especially with the layout being rather short (compared to my previous layouts).
I much prefer Policar multilane versus Carrera as the straight/curve clips do their job of keeping the pieces level where Carrera simply keeps them connected. I'm only using four R1 curves however you can easily tell tighter curves are offset by the additional grip of the track. Something like a Policar R1 curve speed wise might relate to a Carrera R3. In essence giving you the same sweeping aspect in a much smaller space.
At this point I'm glad I switched and feel I got lucky with the layout as stated above I think it's a nice mix. One that will hold up rather well.
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I absolutely loved this layout (designed by Chris-DSR - tweaked by me) and you can find all of the gory details in my Carrera Analog thread linked in my signature. Which also includes a link to the original Carrera Digital layout. However much like my Digital layout I felt like I had taken it as far as I could and I wanted to continue my journey. I'm not sure this trail is going to turn out better although it's the journey not the destination.
My tables sizes are fixed so instead of bringing tables to six lanes of Carrera I'm going to bring six lanes of Policar to my tables. The layout itself is still in doubt. I have their Policar T004z four lane set on order which I'm hoping will arrive soon. I can use it get familiar with the track and better design my six lane layout. I'll also take the time to see what I can come up with using a track designer. Going six lanes forces your hand into something simple (as in short) and I'm thinking I don't want too sweeping as I'd prefer lap times over one second.
UPDATE:
After quite a struggle I ended up with the following. Not what I was originally planning on however fitting six lanes on the tables is rather a challenge. Although beyond one inner curve joint everything fits great and I'm hoping over time it will seal itself (not likely with all of the clips I installed everywhere).
I have only run a few laps in each direction however overall I believe it's a good mix. Counterclockwise is the most sweeping and the two chicanes aren't as much of a challenge when going in the opposite direction. I'd say it's rather sweeping regardless of the lane. Clockwise you have a tight 180 after the straightaway and the chicanes mess with you more (for whatever reason - although it might just be I'm used to run counterclockwise) and finally the sweeping curve before the straightaway is rather tricky. You can't gun it coming of the previous curve or you'll lose it, rather you have to feather it just right as you can maintain your speed as long as you stay smooth. It's much more technical and makes a nice mix. I'm interested in how close the lap times will be between them...
UPDATE II:
Been running for a week or so and so far so good. I was concerned about the layout as it wasn't my first choice however after several hundred laps I'm pleased. I have been running two lanes in one direction and two in the opposite direction. And at times I'll reverse the direction of all four. I think this will help to keep everything fresh as times goes on especially with the layout being rather short (compared to my previous layouts).
I much prefer Policar multilane versus Carrera as the straight/curve clips do their job of keeping the pieces level where Carrera simply keeps them connected. I'm only using four R1 curves however you can easily tell tighter curves are offset by the additional grip of the track. Something like a Policar R1 curve speed wise might relate to a Carrera R3. In essence giving you the same sweeping aspect in a much smaller space.
At this point I'm glad I switched and feel I got lucky with the layout as stated above I think it's a nice mix. One that will hold up rather well.
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I agree the surface influences the cars performance and desirability to a large degree. As an example my NSR Mosler on Carrera was nothing but unruly with far too much torque. Lap times were quarter to a third second slower (based on lane) than the Scaleauto F1. On Policar they are within a hundred of a second.
My guess is the NSR softer tires are gaining a lot of grip where the harder Scaleauto tires aren't. Much like the RevoSlot (with harder tires too) the difference isn't as dramatic but still there. Since I prefer the car to be accelerating down the straightaway a lower gear ratio becomes important other wise after a few feet it feels like a parade.
Happy Anniversary
According to Google Photos today is the one year anniversary of my tables being delivered. Sure seems longer. Can't forget my wife leaving the house before they attempted to move them to the lower level... I'm thinking she was sure they would bang into this or that and I'd go nuts. Fortunately my builder hired a crew and it couldn't have gone smoother.
Four layouts, digital to analog and numerous cars later it has exceeded my expectations and I'm not sure I'd do anything different. Can't guess where the next year will go beyond the tables and layout are pretty much in cement. I could be talked into a multi-lane lap counter given the right circumstances and perhaps some commercial vibe scenery whatever that may be.
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According to Google Photos today is the one year anniversary of my tables being delivered. Sure seems longer. Can't forget my wife leaving the house before they attempted to move them to the lower level... I'm thinking she was sure they would bang into this or that and I'd go nuts.
Fortunately my builder hired a crew and it couldn't have gone smoother.Four layouts, digital to analog and numerous cars later it has exceeded my expectations and I'm not sure I'd do anything different. Can't guess where the next year will go beyond the tables and layout are pretty much in cement. I could be talked into a multi-lane lap counter given the right circumstances and perhaps some commercial vibe scenery whatever that may be.
I'm afraid you can't comment on Thunderslot cars unless you have driven one on your track, if I lived in the States I would ship one to you to try, after all I do have a double.I have my RevoSlot up and running and have decided (for now) not to order any more and I'm wondering if the Thunderslot cars more or less perform the same as the Slot.it cars? I realize they aren't the same but if I remember correctly they share a lot of the parts such as the motor. I have only had one Slot.it and I loved the body (Porsche 962 - detailed and lots of depth) however its gearing/motor hit top end in about three feet and I'm not sure I would call it top end.
I still have MRSlotcar and yet to be released NSR Formula 22 in the mix... plus who knows what!
I'm just trying to get a take on its motor (Slot.it S-CAN 21.5K) and gearing (11/32). Pretty close to the Slot.it Porsche 962C I had. Same motor (perhaps it's not?) with 9/28 gearing. My Scaleauto F1 (10/26) and NSR Mosler (14/31) have much lower gearing. Now I know you can't compare motors apples to apples but again the Slot.it didn't perform per se and with only a little better gearing (for my use) I'm doubting it would perform as I'd like. Now I do like the vibe of their bodies so if it's a tie that might break it.I'm afraid you can't comment on Thunderslot cars unless you have driven one on your track, if I lived in the States I would ship one to you to try, after all I do have a double.
I was wondering if perhaps the motor is NSR rather than Slot.it...
Define drive?
Won't tell you a thing regarding handling per se however I think gearing does tell a lot such as being more suited for stop and go or sweeping. All of the cars I've had with around 3 to 1 ratio are better suited for stop and go and lower ratios more suited towards sweeping... again I like a car not to hit top speed.Motor wise sure as posted above it's not apples to apples. That is unless the motors are identical and I have a feeling a lot of these lower productions cars are using Slot.it, NSR and others "stock" motors. Might well be wrong and that's why I'm trying to figure it out...
I agree. I have had many "identical" cars that performed quite differently. Their torque and high-end varied quite a bit. As an example the three Scaleauto F1 cars I have/had each have their own personality. I sold the one with the least pleasing.
Looks like 1:24 options are few and far between. At least what I could find of interest. I know the "small" 1:24 cars are popular and fun to race but I figure if I'm going 1:24 why not go all the way. I found a BRM Porsche 917K (pre-order to least July?) and the TTS F2 car I found a long time ago which features steerable front wheels (available now). Neither are that exciting outside of the larger scale... and based on their price I'd like to know I'll get a kick out of it. I found Scaleauto offers a few HomeSeries Chassis cars like the Corvette below at a more reasonable price. I presume they come with a plastic chassis and more plastic all around - if it's just for fun they might be a good choice.
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Perhaps if it's a few laps and done. You get into $150 to $200 a car and I'm making a commitment. Now if it's even a few laps I want to be able to drive the car so perhaps not a Carrera.
Nope. Just the facts... educate me and I'll decide.
Nice to know.
A Carrera with a rear tire swap might be an option. I just don't have a clue as to what I will think about these big guys running around the track. If I love it it's money well spent. If I don't there goes another give away on eBay.
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