Scalextric Classic Williams F1 - Alain Prost - Home racing World & Slot Car Garage

04/20/2011

#C3094 - 1/32nd Scale Classic Series

This new release by Scalextric is one that I was very curious about. I am not a diehard fan of Formula 1 but in our scale I do enjoy them from time to time. This model caught my attention as it goes back to 1993 and the styling of these models is just more appealing to me than today's offerings.

For fans of this series this release is very welcomed and why not? This driver and team has a glorious history to them. It doesn't seem like 18 years ago does it? Perhaps this choice seems a little odd to some but Scalextric evidently had their reasons.

At first glance the model appears to be very well done in scale. Enthusiasts will notice right away that the Camel sponsorships (over the yellow) are missing of course. This omission will either bother you or it won't. I will say that if you are new to this hobby then get used to it. Tobacco sponsorships along with alcohol are literally taboo.

The rest of the model looks great with excellent paint and Tampo stamped markings. Detailing is at an acceptable level giving the type of car we are talking about. Overall the model is striking in this livery and should please the eyes of most of you.

The stance and width of this car is what I enjoy. As it did in 1:1 scale, these wide tires light body should lead to a real performer on the track. Wheels and tires appeared to be very round and true with visible brake rotor detail adding a touch more scale appeal.

Looking underneath we see the bar magnet exposed in the rear. There are 4 screws that mount the upper half of the body to the chassis. Inside we see the slimline motor equipped with a 9 tooth pinion and 27 tooth crown gear.

The front axle is sturdy, but I imagine it won't hold up long to hard crashes.

The magnet has increased thickness levels on the outer edges so the more you slide out, the more the grip increases. This may or may not be a good thing however.

However, let us stop looking and take this car from the case and get it on the track to see how it runs!

Box Stock Track Testing
New Ozark Speedway
5 x 16 - 4 Lane Carrera Track OVAL
Aftermarket Power @ 12 Volts PARMA 25 OHM Control

From the box to the track this model was very impressive. The magnet certainly does it job keeping it planted but the motor has enough power that you still have to drive it. Of course the braking is very pronounced with the magnet assisting in this, but overall control was fair. I say fair because when you push this model past the limits of the magnet it is going to break away hard leaving you little time to recover.

With that said I can inform you that this model, like many other heavy magnet cars, are not going to stay intact very long with repeated hard crashes. I see the rear wing especially being one of the first victims and the small, brittle mirrors following thereafter.

Advanced Testing
MidMo International Speedway
4 x 16 - 3 Lane MDF Routed Wood - Flat Latex Surface
Copper Tape Conductivity - Aftermarket Power @ 12 Volts PARMA 25 OHM Control

It was here on our wood track where I was really hoping this model would run well. I can safely say that you should be VERY happy. One special thing I want the reader to understand is that this test was done by other enthusiasts and not just myself. We had a race event here at our home and I gave this model to several racers to get feedback.

Bottom line? Impressive. This car is so smooth and quiet you almost think it has had hundreds of laps on it with some tuning thrown in. I pointed out that this car has had NO tuning, not even tire sanding. Yes, impressive is the word. Great acceleration and very decent braking. With just a hint of tire cleaning it really hooked up well and it could be easily tuned for most enthusiasts to enjoy.

Final Thoughts

As impressive as this model is, there is one major flaw that takes away a great deal of appeal: It is by itself. This opinion is not just mine. The enthusiasts I race with all felt the same.

For the pure collector this model is fine. But for many of us "regular" enthusiasts who want to race it as intended, it has no running mates. Which is really unacceptable in our hobby these days. Many clubs are used to several models being released all at once or very soon after one another. Most at the very least offer one other car so you can race them as intended. This team had another car painted similar that could have easily went with it so it leads me to believe this is for the collector.

**Update** I have been informed that a McLaren model is coming soon. I learned this through dealers and our forums. In any event I think this could be a very successful series if Scalextric would support it more.

With that said I suppose I cannot be too critical. If it is for the collector only then this model is a great addition to the classic line. Perhaps Scalextric will surprise us with more in the near future. As nice as this model is, it would be a shame if they didn't.

- 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 Chicagoland Toys & Hobbies For Providing Us With This Sample!
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