Retro Roundup: SCX SRS2 Series Slot Cars 1992-93

My Mazda 787B. I'm missing my dashed stripes... :-(

A while back, I highlighted a few of the Spanish Scalextric SRS (Super Racing Series) cars that I had acquired over the years. Those cars featured an advanced chassis, higher-than-average performance RX motors, and light weight (about 65 grams) to offer a little more to slot racers in the 1980's through 1991. With more of a pin-type guide and a fairly strong magnet, I found them to be excellent performers on my old home track, and were quite fast. While some people have swapped out their original guides for a more traditional type, I have not found that to be necessary to this point.

The XJR-14 in the Castrol (masked "Silk Cut") livery.

In 1992, SCX in Spain took the original idea and developed a new breed, called SRS2. While the original intent of increasing performance was maintained, the newer cars featured hard plastic bodies in place of vacu-formed Lexan bodies and also added front wheel steering to their modified SRS chassis. They also featured a normal guide blade in place of the original series' pin guides, and the tire and wheels were of a more traditional type as well.

The chassis of the SRS2 was a modified version of the original.

While the first SRS series featured a fairly wide range of cars, the SRS2 series included only a Mazda 787B (Mazda and Renown liveries) and a Jaguar XJR-14 (Castrol and Bud Light liveries). With their greater weight (now about 77 grams) they didn't seem to be as quick as the original SRS cars, but still offered good performance. Personally, I did not see much advantage to the steerable chassis, but it wasn't a detractor, either. While not comparable to some of today's more performance-oriented cars, they offered good fun for their time, and with a little tuning could be made reasonably competitive.

As you can see, the front wheels do actually steer. Not sure how much it helps.

My only disappointment is that the Renown-liveried Mazda I have (a replica of the 1991 Le Mans winner) did not include the dashed-line decals that separate the green-and-orange sections of the paint job. Based on photos of the slot car, they should have been included. I've tried in vain to find something in 1:32 scale that could work; being white and clear, the decals are hard to replicate without special printing equipment.

Magnets vs. No Magnets. Because Everyone Likes Options.

I am not going to get into a Magnet/No Magnet controversy. Among the knowledgeable hobbyists I know, most will say they have a preference for non-magnet racing, but in the end, they will also say that it is simply up to personal preference and that you should do whatever you like best, or what fits your particular situation.

For people like myself, whose track is also used by many inexperienced or even first-time racers, I find it better to keep the magnets on and turn down the voltage a little to ensure that any "kids" who insist on going full throttle don't wreck constantly and turn our track time into one big marshaling session. Racing with no magnets takes time to master, and that time is not always available.

Racing with no magnet may be something you'd like to try.

This video from Slot Cars NZ is one of the better introductions to magnet vs. non-magnet racing I've seen. Avoiding unnecessary zealotry, the presenter simply describes some of the added fun non-magnet racing has to offer--and then proceeds to compare both types of racing by first removing the magnets, then preparing the tires for better traction, cleaning the track and finally--adjusting his technique. As he moves through each step of the process, he uses a track timer to show you the effect each one has on the speed and handling. By the time he's through, his lap times are pretty close to what he was able to get with a magnet. It's an excellent presentation.

While I primarily use magnet cars on my home track, I have a few that do not use them, and they do offer an interesting challenge. Likewise, I like to have a few non-magnet cars on hand for wooden tracks, or for situations when they are not allowed for racing. In the end, we each should do whatever makes us happy and lets us enjoy the hobby. Cheers!

Stealth Mode: The Quiet Simplicity of The Idler Wheel Drive

I was watching a recorded episode of the Worldwide Slot Car Chat earlier this week and listened to an extended conversation regarding the ubiquitous Fly Vipers that not only changed the nature of modern slot cars some 20+ years ago but which seem to reside in almost everyone's slot car garage. Many people have multiple models of this car, since they were very popular and continue to be widely available at very, very affordable prices.

At first glance, this Viper looks like a lot of others.

Strangely enough, I don't own one. But I do own a Viper--a Carrera model that was among some of the first cars I ever purchased. Listening to the owners go on about the shortcomings of the Fly version--with its front-motor position, "drive shaft" and inevitable handling and tuning issues, I decided to dive into my storage box of cars and retrieve my old Viper and check it out again, as I knew it had very little in common with the Fly cars.

Aesthetically, it is wholly comparable to the Fly cars, with nice detail, sparse but decent-looking decals, and overall--leaving an excellent impression. Flipping it over and looking at the chassis reveals something different, however; when I showed it to the other people in our chat, they were surprised to see what appeared to be a sidewinder setup. They were even more surprised when I showed them a photo of the body removed--revealing an extremely simple idler drive (also known as a "friction" drive) with a rubber contact wheel in place of a pinion gear, contacting directly with the right rear tire to drive the car. You'll also note the two spring mechanisms in front of the motor that helps adjust tension so the drive maintains good contact with the rear tire.

Have you ever seen an idler-drive slot car? Here you go...

With so much discussion of pinions and crown gears, tooth-counts and related tech talk, it was fun to see the reaction to this ultra-simple setup. In truth, this car was always a pleasure to drive...comparatively quick on my old track and best of all--superbly silent. It was almost like racing in stealth mode, with no gear grinding or whining at all. In addition to this one, I also have two other Carrera models with the same setup, a green Jever Porsche 911 GT1 EVO 98 and the 1999 Audi R8R LMP. As I seem to recall, the Porsche was the fastest of the three, with the Audi a close second, probably due to the fact that it may have been a bit heavier.

Both of these cars are nice runners, too. The Porsche is the quickest.

Not really sure why Carrera decided to use this drive in its cars, or why it stopped. It may have provided some relief to mothers, who only had to listen to their children's shrieks of joy while playing--without the added gear noise. Obviously performance would be an issue, but on my old 50 foot track, with a generous amount of curves, these cars were still competitive...and a pleasure to drive.

 

First Model Racing Memories: Even Before Slot Cars

Even before I had slot cars of my own, I was able to enjoy the hobby via the gifts my older brothers received for Christmas. A set just like the one you see below was given to my older brother as a gift in either 1961 or '62, and it actually predates the type of slot cars we have today. While not the original--which is long gone--this set is actually a rail racing kit, manufactured by the Ideal Toy Company (ITC) in the early 1960s. Instead of riding in slots, the guides (and the electrical current) followed the path of raised steel rails that were mounted above the surface of the track. This system was used by a few other early manufacturers as well, in the UK and Europe.

This Ideal Toy Co. set had vacu-formed hills and a rail track.

My father actually put this thing together prior to Christmas and had it mounted on a 3' x 5' sheet of plywood, so my brother could play with it immediately. I couldn't have been more than 4 years old at the time, but I clearly remember it being the hit of the party when we entertained our extended family in the basement rec room that holiday season. I can't recall what eventually happened to the track, but I remember the two 1:24 scale Mercedes 300SL coupes hanging around for years; the white one gathered dust on a shelf above my father's workbench for what seemed like ages.

I suppose we did look like these kids playing with the track.

You can still find the sets on eBay occasionally; the one in the photo appears to be in practically new condition. I found this image to share on Worldwide Slot Car Chat when I talked about my own hobby history--but after recently visiting Professor Motor's slot car site, I discovered in his bio that he must have received the very same set from his grandmother for Christmas in 1961. It's a small world!

These big, honkin' Mercedes 300SL Coupes were a lot of fun.

 

 

TV News: Childhood Classics Making a Comeback

It's always good to see the slot car hobby get some recognition, and this has certainly been the case during the Pandemic, where so many people have been forced to stay home and indulge in activities by themselves or with other family members. As a result, many have discovered the fun of slot cars for their kids, or rediscovered the fun they have to offer as adults looking for a great way to pass the time.

Like many manufacturers, Carrera has seen a recent boom in sales.

WPRI-TV in Providence, RI recently featured a segment that included an interview with Carrera of America president Frank Tiessen, where he discusses the importance of family time, screen-free play, and the resurgence of nostalgic games and toys. Carerra has been celebrating their 55th year of manufacturing, and has seen a solid resurgence in sales over the past year. Check out this interview from WPRI's The Rhode Show.

Hearns Workshop Chair Range Will Ensure Your Race Fans Have a Place For Their Fanny

These are some nice-looking chairs.

The explosion of 3D printing has made it possible for hobbyists worldwide to enjoy a wider range of track accessories than ever. With printer prices coming down to manageable levels, you can always print your own - but the hardest part of the job is to design the objects themselves in CAD, and create a quality file that will look good and be true to scale.

Melbourne's Hearns Hobbies has established Hearns Workshop, which will specialize in the creation of finished parts, accessories and other bits and pieces that will be useful to modelers and hobbyists. Last week they featured some new 1:35 scale chairs that they are working on, which would probably work fine for any 1:32 scale slot racing track. If you've got a spot for a cafe or beer garden on your layout, some of these would look great. Now all we need is a table!

Hearns Workshop also has figures in several scales; one that caught our eye is this magnificent "Selfie Girl" who has taken time from watching the race to make good use of her cell phone. Drop her in front of a driver and you've got a wonderful little vignette. 

SLOT TV: Collecting Some of the Best Web Video Content

Our RPM Seal of Approval

The simple fact is, you could type "slot car videos" into your YouTube search bar and stream interesting results for a couple of weeks, months, or maybe even longer. Obviously, in terms of scale, subject or types of slot car racing, not everything you come across will be of great interest, but all kinds of awesome content is out there if you just know where to look for it.

While experienced hobbyists may have a good grip on exactly where to look, I thought it might be a good idea to try and organize some of the best video channels that would interest slot car hobbyists who are into 1:32 scale, as well as folks who may be relatively new to the hobby and hungry for more information. The sites we've curated here are among the best slot car channels we've seen on YouTube - and have won our definite Seal of Approval for their usefulness, quality and output. If you have suggestions for additions, please pass them on and we'll be happy to add them to our list.

Also, at the bottom of the list, we have a link to our own Slot Car TV 1 Channel, where we've collected a number of interesting individual videos that you might like. Be sure to check them out. As time goes on, we'll add some videos of our own to the list, so stay tuned.

 

 

Collection Catch-Up with a Dynamic Racing Duo

 Since I had not been buying a lot of cars for a while (prior to early this year) I find I have to focus on filling some "holes" in my slot car collection. As I am primarily interested in "full-bodied" cars, like Le Mans, Group C / IMSA and Can Am cars, I try to find types or models that I don't already have, or from various slot car manufacturers.

Two more additions to the racing stable. It will be a while before they see track time.

  For example, The Slot.It Porsche 962 with the Copenhagen livery is a nice companion for the Slot.It 956 Warsteiner livery car that I already have, not to mention the much older Scalextric 962s I own, which include a silver Texaco "360" car and a black and red Kenwood livery. Both of those cars run well and are quite fun--though they obviously aren't in the same class as the Slot.Its.

 I love classic Le Mans cars, so it's no surprise I have plenty of Fly Porsche 917s, Lola T70s, Ford GTs, Ferrari 512s and a few others form the mid-60's through the early 70's. What I did not have was a Ferrari P4, which many people consider one of the most beautiful racing cars ever made.

 For whatever reason, I always seemed to be in the wrong place at the wrong time; too late to get the earlier Scalextric releases at a decent price, and I delayed getting back into the hobby long enough that now the more recent Policar releases are out of stock in many places and prices are going up. Fortunately the newer Scalextric 412Ps are available at very good prices, so I will have to get by with that until I can add a P4 at some point in the future. This car looks great--I'm not a great fan of the sky blue rims on this livery but for now it will do. For the most part, I like my Ferraris red - so this one fits the bill.

SRC Getting Closer to Releasing Toyota TS050 LMP

 While I am not quite as enthusiastic about the looks of modern LMP cars (all the bumps and lumps and fins tend to detract from their overall aesthetics) I still want to make them part of my slot car racing experience, and already have some Lola B10/B12s, Audis, an Aston-Martin and a Scaley Ginetta.

Having recently dominated the LMP1 category at Le Mans, the Toyota TS050 is soon to be available as a slot car, courtesy of SRC, and photos of the test cars have been showing up all over social media. Apparently SRC has designed the car with different body molds to ensure that the three versions that ran from 2017 to 2020 are represented.

This is a significant departure for SRC, which hasn't focused on modern-era cars that much. Most of the reaction I've seen is very positive--and many enthusiasts are already clamoring for them to make a Porsche 919 to go along with it! The photos I've seen look great, and I'll be happy to grab one when they're available. There's a nice interview with the SRC folks in the Toyota UK magazine HERE.

It's All About Fun at The Scale Car Garage

 A decade or more ago, when I was more actively running my cars and track, there were a fair amount of slot car YouTube videos online. Obviously there are even more today--but one major difference is that it's not just individual hobbyists uploading race videos, but help folks sharing their knowledge about how to build and tune cars, create tracks and scenery, print 3D parts and accessories, and much more. Better yet, most of these people have created their own video channels, so the number and quality of what's available is really better than ever.

John gives a visual tour of his own home track, based on the famous track at Spa.

One of my current favorites is John Kit, whose Scale Car Garage show appears on his Fast Sports Channel. John's videos are fun and packed with helpful and easy-to-understand information. He's covered diverse hobby topics like car building, casting car bodies and track figures, and shared a number of interesting slot projects he's been working on--including adding scenery to his own track, Kit's Spa. Another great thing about John's videos is that he doesn't assume his audience are slot car experts, so he doesn't use a lot of hobby jargon that many newbies might not understand.

Watch any of his videos, and it's easy to tell John enjoys his hobby as well as sharing it with others. It's also nice that over the years, he's taken the time to share his hobby with his daughter, who's become quite a talented car builder in her own right!

Whether you're a seasoned slot driver or a newcomer to the hobby, I encourage you to drop in at the Scale Car Garage and catch some of the action. I'm sure you'll have a good time.

Another Source for 3D Printing Slot Car Body Files...

While I am greatly intrigued by 3D printing, I have yet to dip a toe into the technology yet; not so much because of cost (though good printers have become rather affordable now) but due to the fact that I have so  many other projects to do first --like build a new track--that I don't feel like committing to the expense right now. I have visions of the printer and software just sitting in my workshop and on my PC while I get up to speed learning how to use it, and I figure I can do this later.

Still, I've picked up enough knowledge to understand the possibilities, especially by watching various episodes of the Worldwide Slot Car Chat, where it's common to see awesome 3D creations on display. There are of course a number of sources for model files for cars, figures and track accessories; I just wanted to highlight one I recently came across - available on www.cults3d.com and offered by a seller HORA80.

A Maserati Merak - offered by HORA80

Understand that these are not the printed bodies themselves, but the 3D files you will need to print your own. You'll still need to run them through a slicing program and set them up for whatever 3D printer you (or a friend) own, and actually output your own body. That said, the range of files and cars available here is pretty stunning: Sports Cars, Racing Cars, Off Road SUVs, Classic American and European Cars, Commercial Vehicles--just about anything you might want. The site says that all model files are prepared to be printed at different scales and the file has several versions with different wall thicknesses to facilitate printing.

Something you don't see every day...a 1972 Ring. Bros. AMC Javelin

While I cannot personally vouch for the quality of the model files (it looks like over 1000 may be available) I can only point out that there have been almost 4,000 downloads and sales of over $30k. With almost 1000 followers, it would seem to follow that HORA80 has probably established a pretty solid reputation as a source for good 3D print files.  At $9.80 USD a file, it seems pretty reasonable way to get a car that's may not be available any other way except for printing your own. 

If you do decide to give them a try, be sure to let me know how things worked out!

Two Lovely Lamborghinis

 Up till now, the only Lamborghinis I have in my collection were an old Scalextric red Diablo with a partially-broken wing and a yellow Ninco Diablo in a very cool Corona livery. Unfortunately, the latter arrived as "used" - and while the seller insisted that the rear wing was in the package, it was missing when it arrived. At some point I will restore both and get them running decently, but in the meantime, I found a couple garage-mates for them.

Looking forward to seeing these two Lamborghinis square off on the track.

The Ninco Gallardo is a sharp model with a livery that I've always admired. The Carrera Huracan GT3 Italia is every bit as attractive, with a livery in colors that my best friend (who is of Italian ancestry) will be sure to like. It will be a while before I get them on the track, but it will be interesting to compare the two.