Wednesday July 23, 2003

The Artin 2 Lane

Road Racing Set

For most people, this time of year for the hobby is know as the "Off-Season". A time when the weather gets warmer and folks crawl out of their basements or garages to pursue other interests. It is almost the same for my family as well, because it allows us to pursue a part of the hobby we enjoy a great deal: Outdoor Racing! Usually every year we try and create a track that is portable to bring outside and enjoy on our deck, so of course I needed a new set to build one right? Of all the choices there are today, I just had to try the Artin 2 lane set and I am glad I did.

Everything arrived safe and sound as usual from Slot Car World, and we immediately began to inspect the contents. The first thing I noticed was that they have included a list of all accessories and track components available today from Artin. This is a great feature, as you can easily go through and choose the items you want if you plan to expand your layout. The rest of the instructions are very clear and easy to follow so we got straight to work on assembly. From the time we opened the box until it was fully assembled was just under 25 minutes, which given the amount of track is not that long an effort. So if this set is destined for under the Christmas Tree or for just an afternoon of fun, it won't take you very long to start racing!

Track connections on this track are nice and clean, providing a sturdy, smooth racing surface. 2 clips on the inside snap into place. To disconnect it, simply press down on the tabs and with a slight twisting motion, they come right apart. Slot depth is always an issue with track, especially when it’s too shallow and you have to trim your guides just to race. The slots in Artin track are deep enough for all home set guides that I tested, including Carrera and Ninco without trimming.

The grooves on either side of the track serve dual purposes as well. Not only is this where you connect your turn borders, but small clips can be used here to attach 2 tracks together if you decide to expand to 4 lanes. I have found that connecting the turn borders first, then attaching them to the track according to the instructions to be the easiest way for assembly.

Power is provided by a single transformer rated at 12 volts with 300 milliamps (150ma per lane). This is rather low on the amperage side for most slot cars available on the market, however this can be said for many other brands of transformers found in sets, and upgrading the power system is something most enthusiasts perform quite rapidly. Do you HAVE to? No, of course you don't, as it does work as intended. If you find that the "slot car bug" has bitten you, and you want more out of your system check the end of this article for upgrade information.

The Artin Power Base is as simple as you could ask for, with both controllers and transformer easily plugged in. A red light on the left hand side of the power base indicates you have the power connected correctly. Control is provided by the black "Pistol Grip" style of controllers and they have shown to be more durable than I thought, and as with the power system, they can be easily upgraded.

If you didn't already know it, the Artin system does provide you with a great value. It includes items such as a Grand Stand with figures and a Electronic Lap Timer, which just adds to the racing fun. The Grand Stand is easily assembled, and adds nice appeal to the layout. The figures are unpainted, but you can easily paint them yourself using common paints found almost anywhere.

The lap timer is very simple to operate, and I have to say that we liked it more than we originally thought. First, remove the battery box cover and insert 2 AA batteries. Then after you attach the timer to the track, and you see the LED display, press the red buttons on each side to select the amount of laps you want to race. Once you have chosen the amount of laps, simply place your cars behind the Start/Finish line and begin your race. You will hear some starting music on the first lap, and during the action the counter will countdown the laps as the cars pass through the detecting track. Once the race is over, you will hear some "Victory Music" and fastest lap time for that lane will be displayed.

When it comes to the cars themselves, although not as highly detailed or having strong magnetic down-force as other brands on the market, do not dismiss them so quickly.  I have to say these are very reliable and TOUGH little cars that should provide you with hours of fun. In addition, I want to share with you that this set was ordered just in time for my youngest son's "graduation" from Kindergarten. We had the set ready for when he came home, and we immediately began racing. All I can tell you is these cars are almost perfect for a 6 year old (not to mention some grown-ups I know). Time and again, he would "set me up" right before the crossovers, just to take a burst of speed so we would crash together and go flying off the track. These cars are still going strong, with only a few scratches here and there, and we have logged many hours on them.

All these hours spent racing has obviously determined my final verdict. Just about ANY set offered today allows you to enter this hobby and begin having fun, and this set is no exception. It combines a large assortment of track and accessories at a great value for those on tight budgets, and the quality of it has shown itself in our racing. This set as tested retails for $99.99, and not only is it a great bargain as it comes, you can call Slot Car World and customize this set with different brands of cars if you so desire. I have to recommend this set not only for entry-level, but also for the advanced enthusiast looking to expand, or looking to try a new brand. Having FUN in this hobby is what it is all about, and this set delivers that lap after lap, order one today and see for yourself

Harry

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

Artin Review and Upgrade Section

Thanks go to SLOT CAR WORLD for providing us with this set. They have the full line of Artin products so give them a call today for availability and prices. Check their website for all the latest information often!