Wednesday January 18, 2006

NINCO Porsche 934 "Kremer"

The very latest from NINCO might just catch the eye of advanced enthusiasts as this new Porsche is apart of the "Pro-Race" series of models and offers more tuning options for those that desire them. Our sample arrived safe and sound from MRC and it was time to take a closer look at what makes this model different than the rest.

First and foremost is that the fit and finish of this model was very well done. The paint, Tampo stamping and clear-coat were as perfect as you could ask for. This livery is a very popular one and perhaps will catch the eye of collectors as well. I have to admit my weakness for this livery, so bear with me if you do not like it. I have collected many Jagermeister models over the years and every time another gets released, it seems to find a home here rather quickly:)

NINCO has achieved a good balance of fit and finish along with a decent level of scale detail, or at least enough for my tastes. At speed on our layout there is no mistaking what I am driving, and sitting on the shelf it looks equally as good.

The first thing scale enthusiasts will notice is the wheels. NINCO has stated that they chose these wheels due to the styling and performance they offer, regardless if they were ever on the 1:1 prototype or not. As always, it is up to you whether you feel this is a glaring issue. I have to say that I see no performance advantage in these wheels as they are plastic like most any other wheel. The recent Pro-Driver kits came with aluminum wheels which can make a difference but in this case I can't say I agree with the decision. The tires were still very true and only needed minimal sanding to get them right. NINCO states that the rear tires are of a new compound and although they feel slightly softer in my hands, the difference is very slight compared to other models. I have to rely that NINCO did create a new compound and look forward in hearing from any enthusiasts that have the model and would like to share their findings.

Looking underneath we see this model is equipped with the NC-6 23,500 rpm Crusher motor. We also see the Pro-Shock suspension system is in place, but this time NINCO has outfitted the car with 2 different types of shocks. Yellow (Hard Action) in the rear and blue (Medium) in the front. The body is held in place by the flat-tip screws that allow you to fine tune the model a little easier by loosening them and letting the body float slightly on the chassis.

I have stated before in the first Porsche 911 review that just do not see a performance advantage of these shocks on a model such as this and I still stand by those statements. The amount of travel these shocks have is so slight that all it really allows is tire to body rub and excess body roll. On a model that sits this high, body roll is the last thing you want to see as it just cause the model to tip over easier than it should instead of sliding out.

However, to be fair there are some enthusiasts that feel the shocks improve performance. It all boils down to individual taste and driving attributes. I have seen many times where a racer sets up a model with less magnet because he or she enjoys their cars a little loose. They still are competitive with other drivers who have their models set up differently, it is just easier for them to control and they prove it on the track.

So it will be up to you if this system will give you the performance you want. I have taken several of these models and simply hot glued the bushings in place to stop the body roll and prevent any tire to body rub. In these cases I found the model to be much easier to control and I really enjoyed the end result.

It seems that someone felt the NC-5 Speeder motor was not enough for this little model and added the NC-6. In all honesty, this is more motor than this car needs, in fact on small to medium sized layouts it hurts overall control more than it helps it. On standard NINCO power and control this car is a handful to control to say the least. Even the Speeder motor can be a little touchy in the tighter corners. On models such as the NSX and Supra, this added power is a little more balanced, but on a smaller, high center of gravity model such as this I found it a little excessive. The gearing is also different as this model comes with a standard 9 tooth pinion but with a 24 tooth crown gear (marked on the gear). This gear change does allow for very crisp braking and acceleration so those that enjoy this type of control should be pleased.

Again, I must remind the reader that these are my personal findings. Many enthusiasts enjoy the more powerful motors and find them just as easy to control. I still feel this model regardless of the gearing would be best suited on larger layouts with broader radius curves to allow this motor a little more room to open up, but for some of you, you might find it equally fun on a smaller system.

At a suggested retail price of $74.98, this model is clearly aimed at the advanced enthusiast with a larger budget. When our models begin to reach these prices it simply puts them out of reach of the average enthusiasts. The argument over the prices of some slot cars is an old one and only you can determine if this model is worth the price or not. I like to look at the price of a slot car and then figure how many hours, days, weeks, months, or even years I will own and race it. When I look at it with this perspective, and look back on models that I have countless hours racing and having fun on, the price I paid was well worth the enjoyment...if not more.

In the end it all boils down to your preferences. You might feel this model is worth the investment for your current series and if so, then by all means give this model a closer look. The hours you will have fun with it more than make up for the price.

- 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