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Scalextric Magnets Conundrum

14536 Views 34 Replies 17 Participants Last post by  AASLOTRACER, 
kipper15
Apologies in advance for the long post...but I have been tearing my hair out over this stuff for the last couple of days!

OK, let's start with the problem I had with a Scalextric Porsche Spyder. I have three Scalextric LMP cars in total:

C3015 Porsche RS Spyder
C3188 Aston Martin Lola
C3195 Peugeot 908 HDI FAP

All three cars are chipped with the C8515 plug for use on my permanent digital layout.

At the weekend I was racing with my brother and my nephew and couldn't for the life of me work out why the Porsche RS Spyder was so handling so badly. The Aston and the Peugeot were a close match for each other but the Spyder was way off the mark. It was coming off so frequently I ended up taking it off the track and we reverted to racing GT cars for the rest of the day.

I have had the Spyder for a while, I got the last one available from Modelzone last year, but only got around to racing it for the first time the other day as I had only recently acquired the Peugeot 908 and Aston Lola to facilitate races of 3 LMP cars on my layout.

On closer inspection, after we finished racing, the Porsche Spyder appeared to have little-to-no magnetic downforce. This was very noticeable when lifting the car off the track by holding the rear part of the car or the spoiler. Checking the other two cars, you could feel the magnetic downforce when lifting the car off the track at the rear.

I took the Porsche Sypder apart and removed the magnet. It still had magnetic properties for sure but clearly it wasn't working properly in the car.

I then took the W8475 magnet out of the Aston and put it in the Porsche. This appeared to be identical in size to the magnet that was in the Porsche and fitted perfectly in the slot.

The difference was night and day.

How can this be so? Is it possible for Scaley magnets to lose their magnatraction, even though they clearly still have magnetic properties?

Also, I looked at the service sheet for the Scaley Porsche RS Spyder, couldn't find one for C3015 but the sheet for the others mentions W8449. This though is a pack of magnets of different shapes and sizes - does it include the W8475? I presume it must do as this magnets fits the car perfectly.

But when I look around on the web it seems W8449 is no longer available although W8475 seems easy enough to find.

After the problems with the Porsche, I then started checking some of my other cars.

To my shock, the McLaren MPC4-12 (C3200) and Bugatti Veyron (C3199), both of which I recently acquired but hadn't run yet, seem to have absolutely zero downforce, even though they are obviously shipped with magnets in them. They don't handle very well at all.

Looking at the service sheets for these two cars, both have W8695 shown as the replacement magnets but everywhere I look I see that these magnets (which are thinner than the W8475 magnet) are not available any longer from Scalextric! Why is that so, when these cars are relatively new?! That's nuts!

The W8475 is not an option as it's too thick for the McLaren and Bugatti.

...which leads to my next question: what about stacking magnets? Is it OK to stack a smaller magnet on top of an existing one? For example, I've seen 20x6.1.5mm magnets on eBay, which would sit on top of the thin W8695 bar magnet in the McLaren and the Bugatti. Would this be OK to do?

I've also noticed that my Scalextric Maserati MC12 (C2904), which uses a completely different type of magnet (W8902), also seems to be lacking in downforce. These magnets seem easier to find, but I still don't understand how these magnets are losing their magnatraction?

And finally...

A question about putting two magnets in a car with two slots - for example, I have 3 Scalextric BMW 320 Si touring cars, they take the W8475 bar magnet and have two slots for them. I do find these cars somewhat flimsy and lacking in weight so I was thinking of adding another magnet into the spare slot.

Would it be OK to add a second magnet in these cars so that both slots are occupied with W8475 bar magnets?

Any comments and suggestions (apart from cutting holes or other similar suggestions - please) greatly appreciated.

And if my questions can be answered that would also be hugely helpful!
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RikoRocket
QUOTE (Thatcedric @ 23 Apr 2012, 22:47) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>The difference between magnets in these cars is nothing compared to the difference in ride height. A fraction of a mm makes a huge difference in the amount of force excerted by the magnet on the floor of the car.

I'm with cedric, even fairly weak magnets can be effective if you get them close enough to the rails...
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iti20090
Hi

Our Durban club out in South Africa has enjoyed excellent racing on wood track with Magnatech braid, using Scalextric magnet traction stock and mod cars for some years now. We are also taken aback at the reduced magnet effect for the McLaren and Bugatti and are hoping this is not a sign of things to come. To make matters worse we are told it seems the Bugatti has been "lowered" to compensate, so changing back to a stock good magnet means way too much traction so one has to consider magnet spacing etc, a real pity and a pain when the upside to Scalextric has always been the motor and magnet consistency over time.....

Might anyone else have the inside "track" on what Scalextric are up to and whether this is set to become standard fare for new models for the future?

Given that Magnatech braid (conveniently) gives only 60% of the magnet traction of a plastic track, I am guessing it is a half cocked attempt on their part to equate to other manufacturers operating on plastic track.

Cheers
Dave

QUOTE (kipper15 @ 23 Apr 2012, 15:50) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>OK, let's start with the problem I had with a Scalextric Porsche Spyder. I have three Scalextric LMP cars in total:

C3015 Porsche RS Spyder
C3188 Aston Martin Lola
C3195 Peugeot 908 HDI FAP

To my shock, the McLaren MPC4-12 (C3200) and Bugatti Veyron (C3199), both of which I recently acquired but hadn't run yet, seem to have absolutely zero downforce, even though they are obviously shipped with magnets in them. They don't handle very well at all.

Looking at the service sheets for these two cars, both have W8695 shown as the replacement magnets but everywhere I look I see that these magnets (which are thinner than the W8475 magnet) are not available any longer from Scalextric! Why is that so, when these cars are relatively new?! That's nuts!

The W8475 is not an option as it's too thick for the McLaren and Bugatti.
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S
Just thought I would chip in on this one.
As a magnet user myself I'm glad this thread hasn't turned into a debate about mag v non-mag, so thanks to all the non-mag guys for not being too vocal in that regard.
I actually enjoy tinkering with magnets in cars and have indeed experienced the problem of two apparently identical magnets having different strengths, but don't ask me why this happens!
If this is the case then I simply replace the "faulty" mag with a new one, usually from a stock which I bought online after carefully determining that they were the right size before purchase.
Sometimes there is only a little bit extra needed and then it's usually a case of adding, usually by trial & error, enough smaller mags(s) to get the car running as I would like it. I should also add that in the case of Scalextric F1's with the FF motor I immediately remove the stepped bar mag and replace with a full one as I just don't think these cars are driveable with the stepped one. In some cars such as Ninco & Fly with button mags I have actually lowered the height of the mag by a minor bit of surgery around the magnet seating and as has been said the closer the mag, the more attraction, so it's important to get it nearer the rails whatever the size. SCX cars of course have an adjustable magmnet and I am now probably buying more of that brand than Scalextric these days.
Personally I find the facility of the magnet a very easy way to alter the handling performance of a car without the need for aftermarket tyres and the addition of weight, bear in mind I'm on Scaley Sport track which isn't very grippy in itself, I also use Truspeed controllers which deliver more power and therefore the cars run faster than they would with the standard Scaley throttle. As it has already been said the treatment of the stock tyres is critical and sanding and treating with lubricant - I prefer WD40 - is also essential and you should not rely on the strength of the magnet alone.

Hope that helps, happy magnet racing,

Dave
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A
Hi
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A
Hi, previous post was inserted with a faulty and fast ENTER

Never though of it. That magnets could be a problem of a new purchased car. I took it as granded that it should have been checked before delivery from QA ispection !

I also had issue with my recent Bugatti. Could not stay o track even on an R2 standard turn. Blamed my self for bad driving. I must check ASAP.
Has any one experience with MASSERATI MC12 ????

I have not checked the magnet but i ca not keep it on track for over than 16 months. that is the day of purchase.

Cheers

Anthony
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S
I always change the stepped bar magnet to a full size one in the MC12, speed isn't affected, but it now holds the track and can challenge other cars in its class. If you don't have a replacement then just add a small button mag to the central low point. But don't forget those tyres!

Dave
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A
Thanks Dave,
I will try it. I originaly thought it was the car's size that caused the problem !

Anthony
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S
I wonder if the supply problems with "rare earth" are pushing the price up of the decent magnets.
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Pioneer
Pioneer produce some thin magnet shims that will increase, in stages of approx 15gms of force, your bar magnets. Use the highest strength car as a benchmark and add the shims on top of the existing bar magnets in the other models to fine 'tune' the cars so that they all have a similar downforce.

Both Pendle & INASLOT have these in stock.

If you Google 'Pioneer Magnet Shims' you will be able to click the links.

Jules
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RikoRocket
Nice!
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mattcrackers
I have used small washers of various weights and sizes to 'equal' out some of my cars, just place the washer directly onto the bar magnet and by doing so can increase the magnetic downforce on the cars with weaker magnets, works a treat. Pretty much like Pioneer (Jules) has posted above.

Matt
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Pioneer
As Matt mentions, any old pieces of small steel objects will do the job. All you are doing is increasing the magnetic field and therefore the attraction to the rails.

The shims we produce fit neatly in between the bar magnet clips and can be slid on and off with moderate force.

Jules
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S
just replace all the magnets with neodynium ones. never buy them from the car manufactures. look on ebay and youl find every size conceivable, and their very very cheap in comparison. if its an old scaley with the magnet underneath remove it and try different thicknesses till you get what your after. only use a tiny drop of ca glue to hold them while you come up with the best magnet, then glue them properly. for the cars with magnets inside on clips use little sqare or round magnets on top of the originals, same procedure once youve found the optimum downforce ca glue the magnets in place. you can even get 12-15mm magnets .5mm thick to glue on the underside of the front end to help you not deslot. having said all that, i dont use magnets and must have a zillion kicking around somewhere. john
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S
just replace all the magnets with neodynium ones. never buy them from the car manufactures. look on ebay and youl find every size conceivable, and their very very cheap in comparison. if its an old scaley with the magnet underneath remove it and try different thicknesses till you get what your after. only use a tiny drop of ca glue to hold them while you come up with the best magnet, then glue them properly. for the cars with magnets inside on clips use little sqare or round magnets on top of the originals, same procedure once youve found the optimum downforce ca glue the magnets in place. you can even get 12-15mm magnets .5mm thick to glue on the underside of the front end to help you not deslot. having said all that, i dont use magnets and must have a zillion kicking around somewhere. john
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A
Hi
Finnaly it worked. I added two small magnets on top of the original of the Masserati MC 12 and for the first time I could complete a full lap on my layout !
So I will start searching ebay for magnets of various types.


Happy racing
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