[conti_rowland]

I too have had long discussions with Adrian about these problems.

I have tried to understand and in the context of the fact that Scalextric is a childrens game I understand but whereas 20, 10 and maybe 5 years ago they could get away with it in todays global market where things really can be made MUCH quicker I am starting to believe that better can be done.

I give an example from 2009. Jenson's Brawn was available as a highly detailed static model in 1:8th scale by July 2009 so why not the Scaley car?

I too think a cheap kiddies car and highly detailed car at full price could work but still don't think we need to wait in this technological world.

Cheers

Andi

 

[Philip P]

I am a big fan of Scalextric and in particular their F1 cars. There have been some cracking issues over the last few years (Lotus, Ferrari, Brawn, Mercedes). I understand Adrian's comments and accept them. It does not mean I like them, but I understand.

However, I think that Doug has hit the nail on the head. The more serious collector (i.e. not the "toy" buyer who is purchasing a car for their children), such the majority of people as on this web site, would rather wait a year longer, pay a bit more (e.g. the cost of the limited edition Brawn/Mercedes cars) and have F1 cars that look like the originals.

I think that evidence of this is the rate at which the Lotus 49's, McLaren M23 and Ferrari 312T etc sold.

Right, back in my box.

Cheers,
Philip

 

[Screwneck]

At least they got the massive size of Hamilton's head right. He could stuff a fat load of self-absorbed ego in that big yellow blob

 

[Rakete]

Why try to fool us?????

If they're going to put out a 2009 bodied car with the wrong graphics for the body what does it matter to just make the car late? I mean how different (besides the numbers) is the livery from one year to the next, not that much - at least on these McLarens. I for one would have no problem buying a correct 2009 car in 2011 than a faux 2011 car. Really, whats the difference???

Regards,

-- Rakete --

 

[Spa67]

If the intakes were not the most noticeable feature of the car maybe they could get away with this. I'm sure that scalex did not know the car would change so much, but it did.

For someone who does not care about these details its a perfectly fine car. Why not just call in a Mclaren Mercedes and not put the year on the box?

What the folks at Scalex don't seem to understand is that to a hard core fan this is just plain insulting.

Let's say you asked for a jersey of your favorite football player for xmas. Your mom shops for Mr "so-and-so's" jersey, and buys what she thinks is his current uniform. Xmas morning you open the gift and you can't hide the disappointment on your face because it's the wrong shirt. Your mom figures it out with your older brother's help and now she's upset too.

DO YOU GET IT NOW????

 

[marctownsend]

It's been said I know but an accurate 2009 car would have been far better. This is a poor effort regardless of the body shape, JB's helmet?!? Silver colour...

I understand why this happens and I guess they rely on folk like the comic who said this years car was similar to last years just buying it anyway. Ignorance really is bliss.

 

[Dopamine]

I too understand why it's almost impossible to make an accurate F1 car, but what I don't understand is Scalextric's mislabelling of their cars. Why not be honest? It's not a 2011 car, it's an older version decorated in this year's livery. Why not say so? Carrera can do it, and still sell everything they make, so why must Scalextric persist in this game of trying to fool their customers? It leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

 

[Adrian Norman]

Hi Dopamine and others (above)

Re 'Fooling'.
Believe me, licence owners are very, very particular as to how their image is portrayed. The higher the profile of the licence owner, the more stringent the requirements upon us. They instruct us quite specifically on the extact description to appear on the product, as all high profile licence owners do. We do not get to choose how we would like to describe ANY of our high-profile (F1 teams, GT teams, etc) products. Life would be Oh so simple if we could!
For modern F1 cars, it is the case that we do not get the choice of what livery we put on to the car, irrespective of the car year/shape. This is completely controlled by the licence owner in their efforts to control their brand image and sponsor requirements. Tis is true just as much for a car that is 3 years old as a car from this current year.
Let me assure you all, we work hard with all licence owners to ensure we represent their car model likeness as they require. If the licence owner wants the car in a particluar colour shade (contrary to the real car colour), with or without certain sponsor names/logos, with or without particular bodywork details, released before or after a certain date, in certain packaging with appropriate graphics, only sold in specific markets, etc, etc, - this list is endless. We have to comply to all of this. We do so as a pleasure, as well as for business, to bring our valued Scalextric enthusiasts the products they have asked for.
Historically, the same has always applied right back to the earliest cars when sponsoship became so important to their brand image. You can thank Colin Chapman

. Take a look at any Scalextric F1 car and I suspect that you will very rarely find an exact replica.You only have to go back to the 90's and look at the Benetton and Ferrari car s produced then to see that details and liveries are not as accurate as today's offering are. We strive to improve.

The good thing is the enthusiast Scalextric F1, and other race series, fans out there (this is you guys) are interested enough to investigate our models and compare with the real car. Model cars will never be the same as the real car, It is impossible. Despite this, we try to achieve a close a model as possible to the original car whislt at the same time making it viable whilst complying with the licence owners requirements.
There are no secrets here, this is what all toy and model making companies have to do.

As always, I'm happy to try and throw some light on your questions and perceptions of the Scalextric world.
If you are going to the NSCC Hornby Scalextric Weekend, I will be glad to explain at length as part of the Q&A sessions we hold.

Happy Collecting & Racing
Adrian

 

[LMP]

I didn't remember seeing quite the same reaction when the generic 'Start' F1 cars of Jenson Button and Michael Schumacher were painted in vaguely representative liveries, despite the fact they were both the same shell which wasn't actually a real anything.

I'd go for those versions, at least they have proper motors in them

 

[Dopamine]

Thank you for the explanation, Adrian. I am, though, sad that Scalextric, a brand dear to my heart, produces cars like this and cites licence owner demands as the reason. I can't help but think that if Carrera can negotiate a licence that deals with similar issues in a much more upfront way, then Scalextric should be able to too.

 

[Spa67]

I don't know how else to explain it.

Frankly, I don't care if McLaren approves. Probably OKed by a bean-counter that doesn't know a NACA duct from a hole in the ground.

Aerodynamics is everything in F1 The evolution of the shape of the car is the physical manifestation of progress in the sport. We're not talking about rivet counting here, we are talking about the soul of the car.

There are hundreds of engineers that spent thousands of man hours in wind-tunnels and on massive CFD computers to come up with that shape. Scalex has insulted them too.

If Scalex want's to go back to making Javelins and Electra's fine by me. It's a shame because the high-detail is what got me in the hobby. Times are tougher than they were seven years ago, and Chinese goods are more expensive. But the graveyard of dead companies is filed with the corpses of those who disregarded customer loyalty and quality in favor of short-term cost cutting.

I'm a Button fan. The charge in the Canadian GP was one of the greatest events I've witnessed in 25 years of being a motorsport fan. I'd like to have a model of that car to put on my track.

 

[thestig514]

Hi all,

It's not Scalextric's fault that the livery is basically unchanged since last year! And there would probably be moaning if there wasn't a 2011 car released

For example, I presume the 2011 Mercedes will be a relivery of the 2010 car, but the livery has changed quite substantially:

2010

2011

Back to the Mclaren: There is one small thing that bugs me: Button's helmet! Where's the detail?

Last year's car:

This year's car:

QUOTE (Doug @ 11 Oct 2011, 18:45) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Will the detail change before production?

Cheers,
Chris

 

[Wankel Ickx]

QUOTE ...to bring our valued Scalextric enthusiasts the products they have asked for.

Somebody here asked for this? Really? Name and shame, I say!

 

[Dopamine]

QUOTE (Wankel Ickx @ 14 Oct 2011, 23:50) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Somebody here asked for this? Really? Name and shame, I say!
The licence owner did, apparently.

One can only hope that they are pleased that they have protected their image so well, because they sure as hell haven't done the image of Scalextric any good whatsoever.

QUOTE (Adrian Norman @ 13 Oct 2011, 18:29) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Believe me, licence owners are very, very particular as to how their image is portrayed. The higher the profile of the licence owner, the more stringent the requirements upon us. They instruct us quite specifically on the extact description to appear on the product, as all high profile licence owners do. We do not get to choose how we would like to describe ANY of our high-profile (F1 teams, GT teams, etc) products. Life would be Oh so simple if we could!
For modern F1 cars, it is the case that we do not get the choice of what livery we put on to the car, irrespective of the car year/shape. This is completely controlled by the licence owner in their efforts to control their brand image and sponsor requirements.

 

[Philip P]

The top two images in Chris' (thestig514) post also help to highlight the issue. The changes in the car shape between the 2010 and 2011 Mercedes cars are not huge and therefore a re-paint of the 2010 car will not look too bad. (Not ideal, but not a disaster!)
The difference between the 2010 and 2011 Mclaren is so very different that the re-livery just does not work.

Sorry Adrian, as I said in a previous post, I am a big fan but I shall only be purchasing the Mercedes.

Cheers,

Philip

 

[Rakete]

I understand Adrian's post and the logic behind it - but I'm still a little mystified - yes the license owners have the power, but why just over slotcar manufacturers? We seem to get the correct detail on the diecast cars (minichamps) year over year and I'm not quite sure how their manufacturing process would be any less complicated than a slotcar, so in the end, I still just don't get it. BTW Minichamps seems to go way farther down the grid than the slotcar makers.

Oh well...

Regards,

-- Rakete --

 

[Savage]

Shape etc aside, and I won't add to the list of complaints, but as a query: I often wonder why the chrome paint isn't better replicated, we have seen chrome look slot cars before .... is it a tampo issue with not being able to apply or rubs off on the chrome effect ?

 

[davekp]

even Burago can get it right

and i still don't understand why it takes 10 months to move a few decals/ tampos

 

[Wankel Ickx]

Well, the answer to all your confusion is here in this thread and kinda obvious:

QUOTE ...to bring our valued Scalextric enthusiasts the products they have asked for.

You boys ain't valued.

 

[alfetta]

Come on get a Grip on reality Gentlemen. We are talking about Toy Manufacturers. If you want an accurate Model of a car, Then build it for yourself. Failing that play with the Toys available.
Alfetta