Tuesday November 28, 2006

Scalextric Maserati MC12
Scalextric Sleeper?

Unlike a few years ago, it is becoming harder to keep up with all the new releases. Sooner or later a model will slip by me that deserved a closer look and such is the case with this Maserati. Although it is not technically a new release, there are still plenty of them out there and with Christmas right around the corner you might want to read on about what this model has to offer.

There are many times that I have chosen a model based on it's looks alone. This livery was simply gorgeous to my eyes when I first seen it on the web, and as usual, it looks even better in person. Scalextric has a good reputation for creating beautifully detailed models and this Maserati will satisfy most enthusiasts in this department.

The paint on my model was near perfect. What impressed me the most was the attention to detail on the smaller markings placed throughout the model. All of them were very opaque and clear with no signs of runs or fades. The same can be said of the clear-coat too. Looking around the model you find all sorts of things that grab your attention. Items such as the etched metal screening up front under the hood is very impressive.

The wheels and tires are nicely done and appeared very round and true. Visible brake rotor detail and crisp tire markings certainly gave it a very finished look. I have been pleased lately with the tire compounds on many other brands including Scalextric. These tires have a soft to medium feel to them and looked forward to the initial out of the box road test to see how they hooked up.

Out Of The Box

Our first tests were very positive as the car ran very smoothly with plenty of magnetic down-force.  The added lights both front and rear just add to the appeal of the model for me. Some do not care for lights, but it makes the model more realistic. The test was performed on our Artin Dixon Hills layout using PARMA 35 ohm controllers with our power supply set at 12 volts. I had an average of 3.9 seconds which is impressive given the fact I have not performed even the slightest tuning.

Under The Hood

Turning the model over we see a great many screw holes that mount the body to the chassis, 7 in all. However, for light maintenance such as oiling and perhaps removing the magnet or even changing the motor, all you have to do is remove one small screw that holds the entire motor pod assembly in place.

The motor is in an offset inline with a 9 tooth pinion and 27 tooth crown gear. The reason it is set like this is just to make sure the motor clears the upper body work. The motor has a quick disconnect feature that I have always liked because it can make motor swaps and other maintenance that much easier. Now you can see the graduated thickness bar magnet that gives us our magnetic down-force. This magnet is more than enough for almost any driver, newcomer or advanced enthusiast.

Removing all the screws shows you the rest of the chassis. There is a pocket to allow you to move the magnet up front if your driving style dictates it, or perhaps a light amount of lead for non-magnet/wood track use. Just be careful when removing the body parts as the wiring for the light system is delicate and won't stand up to excess force.

Advanced Testing

I added a light drop of oil to each bushing and each end of the motor and put it back in place. Next, I lightly sanded the rear tires to make sure they were as true as possible and headed back to the track. I immediately had this car dialed in at a 3.8 second average with a few laps clicking off into the 3.7 range. In it's stock form this car is a great deal of fun to drive. I am one of those that enjoy a longer model like this and the performance of this Maserati is a good reason why. It has great braking and acceleration, yet seems more forgiving to me in the corners. Models like this seem to just telegraph a little sooner that you are pushing it too hard and allows me the time to recover.

Lumbering On

Now it was time for our routed wood track test. The first thing most of you will notice is how smooth this car truly is, which says a lot about the quality of the running gear.

The tires were a little on the slippery side, but a quick cleaning had them hooking up just fine. IndyGrips has a tire you can get for it if you want them and the number is IG1020. I did not have any on hand for the testing, but those of you with wood tracks already know how they will perform.

Summing It Up

It is very clear to me at least that this is one impressive 1/32nd scale machine. It has great overall scale detail and it runs very smoothly. It also has great potential for non-magnet and wood track applications that seems to becoming more and more a factor for many enthusiasts.

I sort of hinted that this car was a sleeper due to the fact I just have not heard much about it from other racers. It either snuck by some like it did me, or perhaps it just did not appeal to that many over here. In either case you can be sure I will add another for my collection as this model runs and looks much too good to pass on in the future.

- 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 CincySlots.Com For Providing Us With This Model!