Sunday January 08, 2006

NINCO Toyota Supra
TUNING STYLE

Although this latest series from NINCO may not appeal to everyone, it certainly shows how our hobby is growing. Companies are turning out more and more models with specific themes and this one is clearly targeted for the younger racing crowd. Tuner Style racing is a subject I do not know much about aside from the movies I have seen, but the popularity of it is obviously strong enough to warrant a new series of slot cars.

Cosmetically, this car has a livery chosen that seems to fit the series. Contrasting colors with simple markings that will either catch your eye or it won't. Other models in this series are painted in a similar fashion and this model should fit right in. Regardless of  the livery, the overall fit and finish of the model is nicely done. A clean clear-coat seals the paint evenly while the flat black markings were as perfect in application as any other true racing livery.

I asked several racers their opinions and the results were actually very surprising. Of course many of the younger racers I spoke with thought the car looked great, but also a few older enthusiasts actually liked it as well. A lot of this had to do with what kind of car it was, since this model had already impressed many racers with it's performance in prior releases.

Overall the car was greeted with mostly positive views, however one item was mentioned by more than half the people I spoke with: The absence of lights. Most felt that a street racer such as this would look "more the part" if it had working head and tail lights. I have to agree with this opinion, however it certainly will not stop me from enjoying the model.

Aside from the livery and a change in the wheels to make it look more like a street racer, this Supra is the same as the racing versions in all but one key area: The motor. NINCO has decided to outfit these Tuner models with the NC-6 "Crusher" motor rated at 23,500 RPMs. This motor should be more than enough power for most enthusiasts although on smaller layouts it can make the car a handful to control.

On our medium sized layout the car ran very nicely. Braking and acceleration are both very crisp and overall control was pleasant. We initially tested this model using PARMA 35 ohm controllers with an after-market power supply set at 12 volts. I then set up a smaller NINCO test track using one standard NINCO power supply and the Vario 16 controller. The car reacted very well in this environment although it did seem to be harder to control in tighter corners. This model coupled with the NC-6 will find larger tracks to be the place for it to be the most enjoyed. I tested this car on our larger oval and this model is very impressive down the long straights.

Lap times were slightly quicker than standard versions with a 4.1 second average. However, I do not put as much stock in lap times that others do. Of course lap times are important, but since I will only race these cars against others identical to it, overall control is what I look for first. One aspect of this model that I personally like is the button magnet NINCO still utilizes. I enjoy models that offer a little more of a challenge to drive and this model delivers it. The car is easier to control in a skid and many times I could "save" it from de-slotting because the model does not just snap off the track as heavy magnet cars tend to do.

Happy as I was with the control, I wanted to now see if I could improve on my initial lap times. As with most models today, this Supra needed a quick tire sanding to get them as true as possible. Once I did this, I headed back to the track and easily turned a 3.9 second lap average. The only other item that needed attention was myself. I was having a hard time finding a smooth flow with this model in our tighter corners, but once I settled down and spent more time with the model, my fun factor increased a great deal.

In the end I feel that for the type of model they are trying to replicate, NINCO has done a good job. If a series such as this is something that might appeal to you, then you should be pleased with this latest offering. The Toyota Supra along with the Honda NSX models are some of the finest in the NINCO line and regardless of the livery, I will add the NSX to our collection very soon.

- 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 Model!