Wednesday July 23, 2003

Summer Budget Racing

Scalextric Audi A4 & Vectra FW Specials

Once again it seems good bargains come our way this time of year and some are better than you might think. Reduced prices on older models has allowed some to find homes to those on tighter budgets and better dealers are passing them on to you. Such is the case with these 2 models, which although won't appeal to everyone, are fine slot cars in their own right.

Both of these models are interesting because not only are they virtually identical in the chassis department, which makes them near perfect adversaries on the track, but that they can easily be tuned to be as fast and smooth as new releases today. No, these models are not at the detail levels found today, but still have a good overall appearance in my book.

Both models employ a half-tray type interior although our Police Car has the tinted windows which reminds you of even earlier models. The Audi does show some interior detail such as the roll bar and driver, and depending on your scale detail preferences this will be enough or it won't be. For my intended purposes it is more than enough.

For what Tampo-stamping is present, I think is done fairly well. In fact all the markings on the Audi were surprisingly crisp and opaque and I noticed only very slight fades on the number markings. The clear-coat, if there is one, is extremely light compared to today's standards. You can however add one yourself if this bothers you and I will perhaps do just that at a later date.

Wheels and tires here are no-frills with both models utilizing identical parts. It is the tires here that most will want to either change to silicones immediately, or begin sanding. These tires are not really that bad, although you can see some wobble to them due to the way they are seated on the wheel, but are most times easily re-seated by hand. The compound of these tires are soft enough, it is the ribs on them that most will want to sand down to get the tire as true and round as possible. Using my standard methods of tire sanding, it didn't take long for them to become nearly perfect and provide better grip on our Artin and Carrera tracks.

However one should know that these wheels are not attached to the axles very well. On both models, it took very slight effort to pop them right off. If this happens to you, first check and make sure the wheel axle shafts are not cracked. Then just add a very small drop of adhesive on the axle end and press the wheel back in place. I used standard Testors model cement for this procedure as it bonds nicely, yet the wheel is still easily removed without breaking it.

Underneath on the chassis we see the old familiar "brownie" bar magnet that by today's standards is very weak and doesn't provide near the Magnatraction we see now. However, here is where we also see the first possibility of an upgrade as the newer, stronger bar magnets will fit right into this pocket. There are small tabs that were melted over to hold the original magnet in place, because there is no added adhesive used underneath like there is in the 2nd generation NASCARS.

Using a small flat-tip screwdriver, you can still pry out the old magnet, but you will most likely break it when you do. Then just using your trusty Exacto knife, trim the excess tabs away so you can fit the new magnet in place. I used a Slot-It Bar Magnet in our model, which provided a great deal more down-force, yet still allowed the car to slide a little in the corners before breaking away. Before installing the magnet, I applied a few drops of Super Glue in the magnet pocket and this will hold the magnet firmly in place.

For the record, those who prefer non-magnet or mild magnet racing might want to just leave the old magnet in place. On the new Sport track along with Carrera and Artin, this magnet adds weight more than anything else, with the magnetic down-force of it being virtually non-existent. On some of my older models, I do just that along with perhaps adding a little weight inside the chassis.

Speaking of the chassis, 2 screws separate the body from it, with the guide needing to be removed for the front screw. Under the hood we see the same Mabuchi motor found in newer models sitting in the inline position that holds a 9 tooth pinion. In the rear we see axle snapped in place with 2 plastic bushings that holds a 27 tooth crown gear. The axle bushings were a tight fit, although I still added a drop of adhesive on each to make sure they stay seated in place.

Up front we see the older Scalextric lighting system, which in all honesty works decently. The small bulb is held in place with a twist mount, that using a flat tip screwdriver is easily replaced or removed. Above this on the body, you see the metal case where the bulb sits inside, and the clear plastic tubes are used to "transfer" the light both front and rear.

It is also here up front where you have more room to tune this model to suit your driving style. In front of the motor, you could easily place a bar magnet or Tweaker, or if magnets are not your style there is plenty of room to tune it with lead instead. Because of the room provided here, you could virtually add any type of motor you wanted if you decided to upgrade it. (More on this upgrade soon!)

Performance is certainly going to vary once you begin the tuning process, however out of the box they have their good points. I enjoy sliding my cars a little, and these definitely fit the bill. I won't bother with lap times here, as they won't really be significant seeing as most of you will tune them to your liking. In fact, I would like to see feedback from any of you who decide to grab one or two of these, or have tuned these in the past. Perhaps your experiences would help other enthusiasts out there get the most out of these models, so feel free to write in and let us know.

All in all, for the money these are a fair deal. Models like these are ideal for younger drivers or newcomers, as well as those who don't mind getting their hands dirty and enjoy the tuning aspect of the hobby. They also provide the room in your budget for increasing your current stable of machines, and as we all know...you can never have too many slot cars...right?

Harry

As always feel free to contact me about this article or just the hobby in general at wiseone@yhti.net, or better yet drop into our Message Forum and share your thoughts with other enthusiasts!

Thanks go to FANTASY WORLD  for providing us with these fun models.