[sadinoel]

I'm going to get back into the hobby after 30 years now that I have an 8 year old son. Selling all my collectible trading cards from when I was younger and putting all the money into a set.

So... I was about to purchase the new Scalextric Digital Platinum set but have found out more information on SCX Digital and now am undecided. I was hoping someone here could help me with some questions so I can make my decision.

I've already researched both brands a bit so here's what I have not figured out yet...

SCX has the dedicated power for their accessories and the digital communications, where Scalextric does not. So Scalextric "stuff" seems to use a lot of LCD displays etc and just does not look as nice. I realize there are some aftermarket things out there but don't really know a lot about them. I don't intend on doing a bunch of tinkering and setting up separate power supplies for accessories so I'd want "out of box" system to do all.
Aside from the "better" branded accessories does the dedicated power for the SCX accessories and communication make that big of a difference in performance of the cars?SC
I really like the idea of having nicer displays and such.

With Scalextric it seems their newest 6 car powerbase is really cool. Is this better than what SCX has? Are there more and better features? I've heard that with some carerra sets the cars are pretty intelligent so they 'realize' when they've been bumped and change lanes etc. Does either SCX or Scalextric go to this level of intelligence? With Scalextric in particular, is the fuel management system the same as SCX? (fuel weight factor, stuttering on low fuel, etc).

What about pace and ghost car function? I know Scalextric was late to the party with this stuff but it seems their new system does all the stuff SCX does. is this true? If not, what are the differences?

I've noticed that SCX does not seem to have anything new for the last couple of years in terms of sets. The Scalextric digital plat just came out a year ago and it seems like they are really behind their product development. Maybe I'm missing something?

I heard the SCX cars have problems with the guide pins wearing out. I'm not scared of this and would just replace them (unless there's something really bad going on I don't knwo about?)

I really like the nicer looking accessories that SCX seems to have due to their dedicated power. With the new powerbase on Scalextric I'm not sure if that will help... but it looks like they are still using a lot of LCD display (yuck). I know you can hook it up to a computer and I have one ready to go, but it's not the same as having all the cool LED lights on the track and displays everywhere. Or is it?

But if overall the features and performance of Scalextric is better than SCX I'd sacrifice the pretty details and if I really need something will go 3rd party add on to Scalextric... but if the features are the same or if SCX has better features then I'd go with them since I'd get the better looking accessories as well as the dedicated power and more lane change options.

One last thing. I'm not concerned with modifying different cars to run on tracks they are not made for. If I go SCX I'm fine buying all SCX cars.

Any help would be appreciated. I've called the local hobby shops and their "experts" don't seem to know even as much as I do after a few days of Googling.

Thanks!

 

[johnsxr8]

Imo Scalextric is better because 1. Way more aftermarket options. 2. Way more Choice of Cars and there is other reasons too but the 2 reasons i have stated imo make it way better than SCX. But SCX guys might look at my point of views differently

Cheers John

 

[Michael363672]

I would go Scalextric but some of the carrera stuff ie driver displays for fuel look good but it takes up miles more space

Also where in the world you are would make a bit difference

Michael

 

[Doug]

You can convert virtually any slot car that has space for a decoder to run on Scalextric digital.

SCX digital requires a special mechanism with a plunger on the guide. So your choice of cars is limited to SCX digital only.

 

[MrFlippant]

There are a few misunderstandings about Scalextric in your post, but you've made a couple things clear. You really really like the look of SCX with all it's sleek accessories and brightly lit digital displays, AND you have no need to chip off-brand cars because whatever SCX has is good enough for you. The lane changers are also much cheaper than other systems, because there are no electronics in them.
That's hard to compete against, especially when SCX has such a cool out of the box refueling system.

You do know that to run more than 3 cars with SCX, you essentially need two whole systems, and a cable to link the two, right? Also, for the best power to all the cars and accessories, you need THREE power supplies, I believe. I think I read that somewhere. Yes, SCX Digital has special track with a separated power line for the accessories so that they don't steal power from the cars... except they really still are. Where does the accessory power come from? Where does the car power come from? Yes, they all come from the same power supplies (1-3 of them) That's why you need 3 for best performance with 6 cars and lots of accessories.

Honestly, if you're not a slot racer already, then I would say that the SCX system will give you and your son many happy hours of play time together. If you really go crazy and add the second system for 6 cars, and add all the accessories and add-ons for lap counting, lap timing, and the extra displays needed to show 6 cars for each of those things, then it will be a great looking system. It will also be quite expensive, so don't think you're saving money by choosing SCX Digital. For a full 6 car system, you'll be paying as much or more than the Scalextric Platinum set.

You'll find, however, that most people in this forum are Scalextric Digital fans (since this is the Scalextric Digital forum), and I'm no exception. I like Scalextric better for a variety of reasons, especially compared to SCX. But, those are the reasons of a slot racer with a wide variety of cars to drive, including analog ones which would not be possible on the SCX Digital system. I'm not very keen on the performance and quality of SCX cars and parts. If you're in the US, though, their customer support is second to none. The mere mention of a bad part usually results in a complete replacement by mail a few days later. While I think all support should be like that, I do wonder about a company that doesn't even ask for proof of purchase, let alone the broken unit be returned.

Anyway, in the end, it's all about having fun. Truth is, no system is perfect, and they all have their little foibles to work around, fix, or overcome. Get the set that appeals to you the most, and have fun!

 

[JJJ]

Well, I have SCX Digital and am happy with it, but...

You say you will stick to the cars branded to the set you choose, but you should think for a moment about what is your favorite class/type of car. Each brand has strengths for each class and this is how I see it in very general terms:

SCX - Best selection of Nascars
Carrera - Best selection of American Muscle cars
Scalextric - Best selection of GT and rally cars.

You mentioned pace cars. This may be a deciding factor too. I believe Carrera is far ahead of the game in pace car technology. Any car can be programmed to be a pace car, and the speed for each pace car can be set individually in 10% increments. Scalextric may have similar features, I don't know, sorry. SCX is at the bottom of the heap here. Only dedicated pace cars can be bought (only 2 available), and there is no facility to set their speed. Some more food for thought, good luck and have fun!

 

[sadinoel]

Great replies guys, thanks a million.

One more question on the accessories (these are really important to me)

If I go Scalextric and buy "a bunch" of aftermarket accessories, will I notice a drop in power on the cars? If yes will adding another power supply help this if added to the track? Or would I absolutely need to run separate power to the "cooler" aftermarket stuff to avoid noticeable power drain from the cars?

Thanks!

 

[johnsxr8]

If you have the 2 power supplies running the Scalextric Powerbase you should have no issues with power no matter how many aftermarket options you choose

 

[MrFlippant]

Along with the base itself, there's only one aftermarket accessory, and that is the Pit-Pro modification to the Pit Lane Game. That's it, other than lane changers. If you have the 6 car base, you don't need a separate lap counter accessory. You don't need more hardware to run more cars other than controllers, and the Platinum set comes with everything you need. With two power supplies, there is plenty of power for the 6 cars and 2 included lane changers. There is power to spare if you want to add the Pit Lane Game (or Pit-Pro) and more lane changers.

I don't advise the 4 car base, though. If you get a set that has one, plan to get the 6 car base anyway. Even with just one power supply, the 6 car base has better power management than the 4 car base with the same power supply. The 4 car base really only programs cars and makes them go. That's why the lap counter accessory was created. The 6 car base provides all the features needed for racing, including pace cars. Any or all of the 6 cars can be set as pace cars. If you want, you can even program multiple cars to the same ID and have them run around as traffic.

Here's a video I did a long time ago showing what SSD can do. Just replace the mentions of "PB-Pro SH" with "C7042 6 Car Base" and it's the same difference. In fact, with the new base, even more is possible than what is shown in this video:

 

[Mk1GT3]

very good!!!!

How do you run the LCD tower & the SSDC + pit pro at the same time? can i do that with the 6CPB

Regards
Karl

 

[MrFlippant]

The Lap Display (C7030 only) has a splitter so that the data can go to the display as well as to the PC. Pit Pro is a wholly separate unit and completely controlled by the PC.

 

[Damo]

I haven't owned anything but Scalextric although I looked at everything else before I decided on Scalextric. There are things like Double Lane Change Curves that I would love to have but as you will see when you trawl the forum, they have been made out of other Scaley parts. I have just made the Scaley 'Racing Line' myself (works great and adds a whole new dimension to the racing) and after that I would try the Double Lane Change.
I also think that whilst all the extras and flash displays you see with other brands are wonderful, when the gloss goes off those new purchases and you settle into actual racing, the racing takes over. I don't think you'd really care about all that when you are a lap down and trying everything you can to get back in front!
I'd say you are best to find a reliable system that suits you. For me it was Scaley and I have found that other companies cars may be faster and cooler but the Scaley cars are awesome for their reliability and ease of use. Easy to take apart to lubricate, generally easy to chip if not DPR but at least you can use any other car if you want to on your Scalextric track.

Cheers,
Damo

 

[slot32]

scx track better grip
scx easier to assemble and dismantle
scx has good connections
scx can be used with pc lapcounter software with a simple interface
scx track can also be used in analogue mode without the lane changers and power base.

 

[sadinoel]

Okay so this may be a dumb question but...

Why doesn't Scalextric make all of this stuff to sell to consumers themselves instead of relying on the hobby? Is slot car racing just not a profitable enough industry to justify company investment into more improved out of box product? I don't get it. Most of this modified stuff seems to me to be things the mfg should have thought of and included. I'd probably already have purchased if they had.

 

[Mike NZ]

Hi
Greg can probably answer this better than i can but essentially it is down to economics. We are only a small part of the scalextric customer base and it would not be profitable for them to make dedicated stuff for us. Also in their inital market research,if some one asked you what you wanted in a slot car set would you have thought of half the stuff that we can do now.

It is only due to the dedicated people on this forum that things like ssdc ,pit pro etc are avaliable. And to scalextrix,s credit they did listen a bit when they made the new power base and realised that there were things that could be improved.

I dont know about the other systems but i think scalextrix digital is great as you can expand it with so many third party options from people that care and respond to feedback to improve the racing experience.

Cheers

Mike

 

[Erik M]

I'm always astonished about how much people not running SCXD knows about it...

Anyhow.
Why SCXD?

A) It's a robust system and it works. The phrase "no news is good news" is suitable. Ie there's not a lot of rumbling about problems from those running SCXD.

B¹) The SCX Universal track is the best there is today. Period. It's soft in a helpful way. Connection is extremely well done. Good and deep slot. And the surface is course but not raspy. Perfect grip for rubber, or silicone. No idea about Orthmann.

B²) Track pieces connect lane to lane as does Carrera, not only track to track as does Ninco and Scalextric. This mean you can build yourself both single, triple and five lane tracks. With one each R1, R2 and R3 and then cut the R2 in half you get one R³2 and one R³5, lanes 1-3 and 4-6; one each R2, R3 and R4 and cutting the R3 in half you get R³4 and R³7, ie lanes 3-5 and 6-8.
And as it's soft plastic there's no problem making a good cut either.

B³) The track is light grey! And the rails are as they usually are, sort of light grey too.

C¹) Lots and lots of points. They are cheap and you get quite a few in each set. And if a solenoid breaks down it wont affect anything else than that... car.

C²) Good sets, three cars and everything is useful.

Yes, you need another control set to race six cars. But you will most probably buy another set when you decide to go that way anyhow. And then it's just the control cable (which you make yourself using Slotbaer's excellent schematic).
Ok, you need to add to the displays too, but then you didn't pay for un-used parts when going SCXD...

C³) Guide flag. Another area with many ideas on how it supposedly don't work.
Might be envy as the SCXD flag is the best solution presented.
It has a good flex and, what really make it stand out, contact areas on the sides too. So it keep electrical contact even when passing tongues in a way no other offer.

D¹) Cars. There's a lot of strange comments about how you restrict yourself going SCXD.
If you go digital and start out fresh, then you're not restricting yourself any conceivable way. You get the chance to start fresh and get a good set-up, that is what you do. And with SCXD you get individual front wheel suspension...

D²) Installation. Another area those not running SCXD seem to know lots and lots about... perhaps better listen to this:
One really good thing about SCX is that you always know what you get. And not the last "Friday go home early" lottery of design of other makes. I really liked Ninco, until they made that, un-necessary, anglewinder. And don't get me started on Scalextric...
Installing the digital chip in a SCX car is not a daunting task. And involves no wires to get tangled in etc. Not even connectors to fiddle with.
Installing the digital chip in a non-SCX car is a bit more work. But sometimes I wonder why to bother. The SCX line-up covers just about everything. And are matched to each other for racing as they are.

¬A) And then the drawback... You can't add MuCaRO to SCXD. Which is a shame really.
(Actually you can, but... perhaps a bit more work than really necessary. Unless you do as me and run SCXD with obsolete (ie possibly cheap) Pro-X points. Or any other system's points and track, apart from Scalextric. The more hardcore approach is to relocate the solenoids from the cars into the points... Hardcore, to say the least.)

E) Ghost/pace cars. As with all systems you can dedicate one controller/ID to autocars. If you race and use more than one on a single ID/controller it might be a good idea to remove the magnet reed switch on the car chip. Which is a straight forward de-solder thing.
But this can be done, which is not the case for other makes. Each other make car not an original ghost/pace car will trigger a lap... So two such will lap you fairly quick with those systems.

F) Magnatraction is easy to adjust to your liking. And a point of note is that even if the RX-motors do generate magnatraction it's far less on SCX Universal track than say Ninco or Scalextric/SCX Classic track as the rail is a lot more flush with the race surface.

...just some input from the top of my head.

Good luck!

 

[Reiner]

Hi

to modify other brands to digital. Scalextric is the best choice. You get chips from Scalextric and Slotit. Slotit cars are one of the best performance. F1 chips to solder in cars make it eays to make nearly every car digital to drive with scalextric. SCS have an electric-mechanic system. This to transform to another brand is difficult. If you only want to drive SCX.. then is it your choice. Otherwise you will have a lot of cars for race. SSD is better.

regards Reiner

 

[slot32]

'sdd is better'is a subjective comment.

why do you want digital?

do you want to feel and race the cars or do you want to change lanes and do pit stops and spend extra money?

Analogue is the best racing experince for me even the other pro digital have their draw backs just look at the power consumption and motors that can be used. cointrol is expensive. stck wiyth a basic parma and power pack and a decent track with grip. sports track by hornby does not have the grip or connections.

 

[MrFlippant]

OH YEAH?!?!?

hehe

But seriously, everyone here will passionately support the type and brand they personally use at the moment they post. I've seen people post in threads like this that get years old, and change between types and brands every time they post.

The important thing to remember is that, in all likelihood, whatever type of racing and whatever brand you choose, you're going to have fun. No system is perfect, and no technology is flawless. They all have their issues to overlook or overcome. The whole point is to have fun, so choose the set or technology that most appeals to you, and have fun!

That's really all that is important.

 

[injectorman]

Rumours at Nurnberg SCX Technitoys bought out by Spanish business angel. Not at the Nurnberg toy fair and no product available here in Oz for a while now. I hope the rumours are incorrect.