Friday October 13, 2006

Fill Up Your Karts!
The NINCO Karts Return...

There are some very different models to choose from in our hobby, but not many are as unique as this little Kart from NINCO. These karts have been on the market for years, but seemed to not catch the attention of many enthusiasts. For those that did manage to get some, they discovered one great running model that had a huge fun factor to it. It has been nearly 4 years since the last new releases, so let us see if anything has changed.

All prior releases caught the scale essence of this type of racing nicely and the same can be said with these. Times do change, and so does the prototype. However, although this model could be closer it is important to mention that having it compatible with prior models is more important than you might think. Perhaps because it is what it is, the scale issues seem to not bother me at all. Actually being around 1/18th scale, they are sized just perfectly for your 1/32nd scale track. Some may ask why do such a thing? Well, why not? I can tell you first hand that innocent newcomers have already snatched this kart from my hands and were literally begging to see it run. "Cool" they said...they are right.

The small details this machine has really catches your attention. Everything from our driver, working steering, brake rotor, to the exhaust and "engine" detail will draw you in closer. What paint and markings that are on the kart is very well done and has a nice clear coat sealing it in place. Some may not appeal to this style of racing, but I know I am not alone in thinking that it truly is one cool looking model kart.

The wheels and tires are one thing about these karts that some either love or hate. The rear tires do need a good amount of sanding to get them true as they usually have a noticeable high center. However, once you do get them right they hook very well. I have never went to after-market tires on previous models and the same will be said for this one. The working steering also adds scale appeal and just makes the car more fun to watch as it zips around your layout.

One thing that deserves mentioning is that these new releases are basically unchanged. Not that there would be much to really change, but I like the fact that they will run right along side your previous collections. Lately, nothing seems to frustrate enthusiasts more than investing in a collection of models only to have a new release arrive with a faster motor or heavier magnet that makes your other models useless until you invest more $$$ to re-fit them. I was worried this would be the case here (such as a "NK-2" or new magnet system), but just as the latest Porsche arrived ready to mix it up with it's previous counterparts, this kart will fit right in. Thank you NINCO.

The heart of this crate is found underneath. The small NK-1 motor sits in light angle-winder configuration equipped with a 7 tooth pinion that drives a 33 tooth spur gear (4.714 ratio). This small motor which might remind you of something out of an HO scale car will surprise you. It has more than enough power to get this kart around your layout. I have never found out the exact rpm of this motor, but then again I do not really care. I am not going to replace it with anything else as I am going to keep them all the way they came.

There are 2 screws underneath. One is for the driver, the other for the steering assembly. I have only ever needed to remove the rear one for the driver to get a better look at the motor. The engine assembly will flip out of the way to expose the NK-1, just be careful when doing so as it is slightly fragile.

Testing out of the box found a nice running model that would slide easily in and out of the corners. You will have to remember that this is not a Honda NSX or Toyota Supra you are driving. This kart has its own characteristics so you will have to adjust yourself to them. Once you do, odds are you are going to have as much fun as we do with them.

Just by looking at these, you can see that there are some fragile parts. This goes with the territory folks. I can report that none of my previous models seen any damage, but there are times when things do happen. The milder motor and slower speeds are a blessing for this design and I attribute that to my models staying in piece.

As far as tuning goes, the only thing I have ever done is put a light drop of oil on the bushings and each end of the motor. Then I turn my attention to the rear wheels and tires. As I said, they can have a high center to them and most times you need to start at the wheel to get them as concentric as possible. You can tune these further with small amounts of lead placed here and there, most notably the front as it can be a little light and sometimes want to pop out of the slot to easily. For me, I just leave them as is.

Simply remove the tire and place the model under power. Then use a very light grit sandpaper (I like Testors Ultra-Fine) and hold it against the wheel as it spins. You will soon clean up the famous "N-Flash" molding in the center and this will allow the tire to seat as cleanly as possible. Nest, it is time for tire sanding. I can say that you will most likely spend a few minutes getting them trued to your liking. However, once this is completed, you will have a kart ready to do battle that is smoother than ever before.

After the tire and wheel cleaning we set out for more testing. Lap times here are not going to impress you as we had an average of 6.1 seconds. However, lap times rarely indicate FUN and such is the case here. These karts are just a hoot to race...period. You can really slide these things around and still maintain excellent control thanks to the smaller, milder motor and light magnets.

Of course not everyone will like or appreciate these little gems, but I certainly do. Once in awhile it is nice to race something truly different and these babies certainly accomplish that.

There have been many attempts by other companies to create something besides the standard car, but sadly most times they fail to deliver. I have to say that this is one case of where they got it right. These karts have withstood the test of time and are now returning once more for a whole new group of enthusiasts to enjoy.

- Harry

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

Thanks Go To MRC For Providing Us With This Sample!