[jonny s]

I took Moped to mean the exspensive types as featured on the front page of SF recently?

I have accepted that these will come with a magnet, just like I have to accept that every car may be produced like this. It`s a fact of life that the sales potential is higher if fitted with magnets and the need to sell them in good numbers is important,this benefits me in that if Hornby etc are doing well then I`m gonna have more cars to choose from?

The main component I would like to see modified for this range is the motor. By fitting an SCX RX 41 type we would get weight plus a motor that revs at the right rate for these types and reduces the ballistic qualities of the model. A Ninco Jaguar goes like a classic car once you fit a RX 41 into it and is lovely at sliding just right and still has the power on the straights.

Of course there is no shortage of some older older Scalextric F 1 cars if you want to have a dabble. I have a good collection mostly bought from Scale Models and prices start at around £15. The Pre Ad models by Mac are superb too. The MRRC BRM goes well, it`s heavy and works well on wood and plastic track so It`s not as if the hopes of mankind are dependant on the next Scaley release, it would just be nice if us non mag racers got a car that goes well for our style of racing and even better if it had the characteristics of the real thing for that particular period.

 

[McLaren]

I agree, I think the SCX RX4 is a perfect motor for classics!

- Quite heavy (compared to other motors around).

- Relativly slow acceleration (compared to other motors).

- But still quite a good top speed.

They make the cars slide nicely and the extra weight at the bottom makes tham a bit more stable.

I just hope that these cars will have chassis, rather than everything mounted in the body like the old Scalextric cars did.

I probably won't buy one unless they bring out a car that I like or someone creates a championship for them, but I realise that some people are very excited about these, and what with the disapointment of non-leaning bikes, I think Hornby should make sure that they get these right.

Lotus

 

[Wankel Ickx]

Hmmm, them new Rx-41 motors sure ain't sedentary. I just picked up a dirty 911 GT-1 off Ebay, the one from the Le Mans track piece set, and boy does she fly! Sweet.

But I'm with you generally, I love my Ninco McLaren F1s that have the old Spanish motor in 'em.

 

[speedyweenie]

I thought we had this discussion several weeks ago when the vintage cars were first announced. Without rehashing the entire earlier discussion/argument, it seems a given that the cars will come with magnets for at least two reasons: 1) "the market" will expect/demand them, even though some pointed out in the earlier discussion that the "normal" market would be unlikely to purchase such old-fashioned cars in the first place; and 2) full driver/interiors (will there be?) will necessitate a front-motored chassis, which in turn will necessitate magnets to achieve "acceptable" handling - assuming of course, that a plastic chassis will be utilized - since there will be little room to add weight near the rear axle. I advocated at that time (and still do) for Scaley to forego the full driver route to allow mid-motor placement. I agree with Jonny's observations, and hope the cars will possess at least a small degree of tail-wagging authenticity, rather than being either totally glued down with magnets, or undriveable without them.

mp

 

[Difflock]

Sounds as if we will have an engineering challenge if we choose to have classics without mags - as Sweenie said there will in all probability be not enough room to add weight near the rear axle. Mind you, the likely purchasers will no doubt enjoy the challenge

Can I further endorse the rx41 motor? Yes of course I can 'coz I just did! The Pink Kar Auto Union come with a little HO motor. A great mod is to get the rx41 and adapter. The car then runs like the 600bhp monster the prototype is!!

Mark.

 

[moped rider]

Here are 3 Moped observations re points raised by others.

Proslot cars are no longer imported into the UK because of quality control issues and the number of returns the distributer was getting. Unless of course a new distributer has taken on the challenge unbeknown to me?

Ninco cars in the UK have a RRP of about 15% more than the equivalent Scaley car. I don't have too many Ninco Classics but the ones I do have are fitted with button magnets.

Jonny S is correct as always!

Further thoughts on this subject....

The new Scalextric Digital and SPORT World controllers will make all this talk redundant as you will be able to set the controller up as you want to give you a "classic" feel to your car if that is desired.

In fact all other controllers become redundant once the Scalextric Digital and SPORT World control systems are released as they will have infinitely variable multiphase settings.

It will offer a "drive by wire" type of control enabling your vintage F1 cars to have totally realistic speed performance. This will also of course mean that you will be able to set up the controller to match each car enabling you to race with any two identically performing cars on your home circuit from any of the cars in your collection, all be it with different control settings.

And this is not the same as having different voltage settings or ohm settings for each car.

So in theory you should be able to run the old £1/16/- Scalextric F1 cars built at Havant in the 60's against the brand new 2004 vintage F1 cars (if you want to) and have very close racing.

Moped

 

[McLaren]

Wow, sound like crap to me.

I don't care what controller you have, a magnet car (Scaley mags) will never handle like a no-mag car. Not possible.

Tell me, this wonder controller is it just one big dial; Slow > Fast?
How else is your average Joe 7-year-old gonna figure out how to program it?

Dunno about that Ninco Scaley price comparisson, but all you got to do is speak to a dealer. Who here pays RRP for any slot car? (Mugs put your hands up). I can get any Ninco for at least £3-4 cheaper than equivilent Scaley ones. (What am I saying, no Scaley cars are equivelent to Ninco cars!)

Anyway, you hate the little black boxes, so why do you love these little Hornby black boxes? And 'Drive by wire'? How much are these gonna be?

Conclusion, are you sure you got your facts right this time?

Lotus

 

[Jamie]

QUOTE But! PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE!!! no redesigning them so they run like old Scalextric cars!!!!!

*weeps*

Early Scalextric cars are IMHO fantastic to run, 70's/80's F1's, Sports cars etc

Give me a retro classic over a current Margate Missile any day.

With the exception of three duffers - The infamous Metro & XR3 which are pretty bad, but the second generation sidecar/bikes (with magnets) ack, devil spawn.

These new classic's will no doubt look fantastic, but scale speeds (for people who like to pootle, admiring the car, sliding) will be out the window.

Jamie

 

[masmojo]

I think they will come W/ magnets & why not? The people who do not like them can & will take them out! No Problem!, but as pointed out earlier in order to appeal to the masses they will need at least some magnet. I am guessing that the reason Scaley is introducing 2 Classic cars is because they plan some sort of set. The People who buy these sets at X-mas expect a certain level of performance & user friendliness that magnets supply in spades. Personally I would like a small button in the front just behind the guide/Axle & an optional placement near the rear similar to what SCX & Carrera are doing now. Tunable or easy & complete extraction! Unscrew magnet & add weight or whatever.

 

[fouldsc]

Regarding the whole magnet thing I just wish Scalextric would produce cars
with magnets that you can take out easily !
Forget all this glue buisness , have them held in via a cover & screws system so when people want to remove magnets or even change them they don't risk
messing the car up.

 

[moped rider]

lotus03 is saying digital control is crap and he hasn't even had a go. I found the new digital Scaley controller to have exceptionally smooth characteristics with a feeling that you actually controlled the car and with infinitely variable settings.

Time will tell on this one. (I cannot wait Scaley to be honest!

)

And it doesn't take an Einstein to say that a magnet car will not handle like a no magnet car. lotus03 does not like magnets so why condemn those folk that do (as do seemingly a lot of folk here with some of the language they use)?

As Astro pointed out at Phoenix when he was talking with me, the non magnet event cars did not handle realistically with their tail out cornering. The magnet event cars had the more realistic handling.

What I want is a Scalextric vintage F1 Vanwall that has realistic handling and this will mean a magnet in one form or another.

If there was a Slotforum law that states "thou shall enjoy slot car racing in all its forms and not harp on about how wonderful I am because I race without magnets" then many of the membership would need a "get out of jail" card!

We all have our preferences but please don't knock folk who like the simple slot car life and who want to race slot cars that look as if they are handling like small scale versions of their full size counterparts.

Moped

 

[Mr.M]

QUOTE (moped rider @ 23 Apr 2004, 09:27)with a feeling that you actually controlled the car
Who used to control it for you, then?

I spoke to Adrian about these at Toyfair and he told me that they will have a magnet, nothing too drastic, but mainly to counter the fact that they will be front motored.

I actually think that it's the magnet fans who get all upset and defensive. In a perfect slotter's world cars would be designed without magnet, and then have the option of fitting one for those that like them. I keep seeing this basic message repeated over and over by people on forums. Yet it's usually met with a load of ranting about people looking down their noses at magnet users.

Mr.M

 

[Swissracer]

QUOTE We all have our preferences but please don't knock folk who like the simple slot car life and who want to race slot cars that look as if they are handling like small scale versions of their full size counterparts.

Very true Moped and I agree entirely but isn't it also about time YOU stopped ramming Scalextric and magnets down our throats as the ONLY real alternative to Life, the Universe and Everything?

This magnet/non magnet debate is never ending and will always pop up from time to time. There IS no right answer, just personal preference AS IT SHOULD BE!

Sure a Modern F1 car does not look right fishtailing round the track but also an Old Vanwall would not look right screaming round the track at a scale 600 MPH, glued to the track !

Then stating things like - "ALL other controllers will be redundant once the Scalextric Digital ones hit the streets" is complete bollox, designed to inflame and not actually doing Scalextric ANY favours at all so why are you CONSTANTLY suprised when you get flamed or drowned in posts that state exactly the opposite view to yours for the sake of it??

I bet Scalextric wish you would shut up sometimes too ehh? You actually generate just as much negative feeling and publicity for them in your rantings as you do positive.

 

[McLaren]

Well said.

And BTW, anyone who just read your post moped will realise your complete ineptability at quoting.

I meant what you were saying sounds like crap to me. Not the actual products.

Infinatly variable: I'll let someone else get that one!

That's funny moped, never condemed magnet users in this post... It you saw it somewhere else, then comment on it there! I don't have a problem with magnet users, so long as they don't use them near me. When people say that magnets are the only way to go, I think narrow minded. Screw this... I'm not getting into this again.

QUOTE What I want is a Scalextric vintage F1 Vanwall that has realistic handling and this will mean a magnet in one form or another.

You what? Magnets simulate downforce, of which the 50's cars had none. So in fact any form of magnet is making it completely unrealistic. Explian the logic behind this please.

Anyway, the reason that non-mag users bitch about Hornby stuff is that they are designed to run only with magnets. If they were designed, as Mr Material said, as nonmags, then put mags in, they would still be good with no mags. As it is all Hornby are doing is taking the license to produce good cars away from Fly, Ninco and others.

So... check your facts, you are talking about physically impossible stuff.

Also use the quote feature, that way you actually present what other people have said, not what you have read.

Thanks,

Lotus

 

[moped rider]

This is a Scalextric thread so it is expected to have Scalextric content. If you don't wish to contribute or read it then you don't have to. It is just about the only Scalextric thread I have started in the last 2 months so it is a bit off to be accused of ramming Scalextric down peoples throats.

lotus03 has made remarks in this thread that are not productive and clearly he is not a fan of Scalextric product with the language used and probably does not even purchase their product. Why did he feel the need to contribute in the manner that he has done if this is the case?

I introduced the digital control thing in this thread as being relavent. In the future this will offer an alternative solution for those folk who wish to have a different race control feel for different classes of car.

Let the readers make up their own mind.

Moped

 

[jonny s]

I`ve made up my mind. I`m gonna take up Kite flying!!

 

[Mr.M]

QUOTE (jonny s @ 23 Apr 2004, 12:45)I`ve made up my mind. I`m gonna take up Kite flying!!

But don't get an XYZ kite, they're not realistic enough!

And those ABC ones are always losing their strings and don't go properly in home sky, only club sky!

 

[GRAH1]

QUOTE In fact all other controllers become redundant once the Scalextric Digital and SPORT World control systems are released as they will have infinitely variable multiphase settings.

It will offer a "drive by wire" type of control enabling your vintage F1 cars to have totally realistic speed performance. This will also of course mean that you will be able to set up the controller to match each car enabling you to race with any two identically performing cars on your home circuit from any of the cars in your collection, all be it with different control settings.

mope this quote seem to be exactly what you have been complaining about as cheating in your anti black box post
but because scalex have a "digital " control its now ok

 

[Tropi]

There is a consistent message from what might be called the anti-mag brigade.

It is pefectly simple and it is this:
1. Design the cars to run well without magnets
2. Make it easy to ADD magnet(s) for those who desire (preferably without having to dismantle the car AT ALL).
What could possibly be simpler to understand?

Off topic comment, wearing Mods Hat for a moment - I see NOTHING wrong with anything Lotus ACTUALLY posted. He merely saved others the bother of pointing out some very obvious factual inconsistencies.
So please let us get off the personal paranoia tack.

 

[Swissracer]

QUOTE So please let us get off the personal paranoia tack.

You talking about me?????

Who else are you talking to about me???????