Saturday, May 31, 2008

New SCX Digital Chip

Here you can see the new #20320 SCX Digital chip (in the foreground) and the older 20240 SCX Digital chip in the background. The new chip looks smaller around the top side edges and then there's the obvious color difference and much more delicate looking arm on top that pushes down on the guide peg to change lanes. Then there's the tabs that stick out from the front of the chip that make contact with the guide. After having struggled to adjust the older design of power tabs these look much easier to straighten should they become just a bit bent from a heavy frontal hit.
And, why not a shot of the bottom of the chip...dunno what there is to see here that's notable but I thought I'd show it anyway.
You can keep up to date with what cars are compatible with the new chip on this thread on SCX WorldWide.com.

So far these cars will work with the new Digitization Kit #20320

#62510 Audi R10 "Biela" –Rojo
#62750 Audi R10 "Kristensen"-Amarillo
#62710 Peugeot 908 HDI FAP
#62810 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup (997).

63370 Ford Fusion #16 (COT)
63390 Ford Fusion #17 (COT)
63410 Ford Fusion #99 (COT)

Carrera garage inserts - a great idea


Now this is cool! A German chap has designed inserts for Carrera's pit garages that give them a really nice level of detail. Check out the downloads at this link.

And you can read the discussion about these on this thread on Home Racing World.

Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Tuesday, May 27, 2008

New Spirit "LeMans" motor

Spirit have a new motor on the way. A new motor rated at 23.5k @ 14.8 volts. This will be the motor in the new Golf GTI's.

New Spirit Golf GTI's

The Spirit GTI's that will be released will be these street versions. One black and one white.









Sunday, May 25, 2008

SlotCar Indonesia - Tigor's site


TigorL is a slotter that been around on message boards for a while now. He emailed me to ask a question and also gave me a bit of news that he's opened a raceway in Jakarta. Trainz Cafe & DEPO Hobby is his raceway. And you can check out his blog about the raceway at this link:
http://indonesianslotcar.blogspot.com/

A small routed track for sale in LA area

A member on SCI is selling his small routed wood track. I thought I'd make a posting about it since it's such a nice little track. Please note this is not my track for sale and I'm not the one selling it. Contact Bill at the email address below to buy the track.

FOR SALE: SMALL SCENIC ROUTED TRACK
I've built a couple permanent plastic track with scenery, and I wanted to try a routed track (see construction blog on SCI). So, I built this 2'x 10' routed track, and it's now complete, but I need to find it a new home before I move on to my next project (a single lane hill climb). I was planning to put it up on Ebay, but I thought I'd offer it first here.
Two lanes, about 25 feet long, 2'x10'. Uses Ninco electrical for the track so it'll run in either direction at the flick of a switch. Includes the two Ninco controllers and the 14.8V Ninco transformer. It's routed and copper taped (so no magnetic attraction). No cars or accessories. Runs nicely (see the video). Small footprint fits nicely in the corner/back of a room. The track is constructed from two tables, 2'x5' each, that bolt and clamp together to make the 2'x10' table, which fits nicely onto the wall of a room. The legs are 24" and are removable (i.e., they screw in). It's a nice height for sitting down and racing.

$300, Local pickup (Los Angeles). Paypal accepted. Because it disassembles into two 2'x5' pieces, it should be relatively easy to transport locally, but it doesn't make much sense to ship it.

williams@ucla.edu

Saturday, May 24, 2008

Slot cars in the Wall Street Journal

Today there's an article by the Wall Street Journal featured, of all things...SLOT CARS!!!!!
See the video here!


Read the article at this link.
An interesting article written by Julie Jargon ( email her to thank her at julie.jargon@wsj.com ) in today's Wall Street Journal.

DaveK

Friday, May 23, 2008

NSR Ford GT40 photos - lots of them












Indy video, Mark Martin reflects on Summer Nascar races




SCX's traveling man!

I just got off the phone with Bryan Young, he's driving north though Oregon as we speak on his way to a day of demo's at Fantasy World Hobbies in Tacoma Satuday May 24th from 11-4 pm.

FantasyWorldHobbies
1909 S 72nd St Ste A-12
Tacoma, Wa. 98408. ph 253-473-6223
Bryan's shown here during the NY Toyshow earlier this year.

Thursday, May 22, 2008

Mini Car Bench from DS

Instructions for the Mini Car Bench from DS:

Thank you for purchasing the Mini Car bench, we hope that the product will be to your satisfaction and you will enjoy its functionality. It is easy for the car bench to break in and adjust your 1/32 or 1/24 Slot car; it is perfect for quickly testing the car or chassis at any place with or without external electrical power.

Specifications:
• Small size to allow support of any 1/32 car, but has self extracting extension will also allow you to use any 1/24 car.
• Contact plates extended to allow an easy external measurement of car consumption or voltage applied.
• Sponge absorbing for car vibrations; do not allow the car to move over the bench.
• Triple power input:
a. Using an external power unit thought the 2 units of 4mm
banana plugs (red and black) fixed at one of the sides to
not disturb.
b. Using the external bipolar jack transformer connection.
c. Using a 9V battery fitted inside the bench.
• External switch allow to save battery when not used.
• External fine and precise voltage regulator from the maximum given in the input to 0.
• On/off LED indicator
How to change the 9V battery:
• Unscrew the 4 under pan screws
• Fix the 9V battery to the free terminal inside.
• For safety reasons we strongly recommend to fix the battery with double side tape.
• Close the under pan using the 4 screws.



DS is developed and designed in Spain by IBB Auto Racing, S.L.
DS Electronic Racing Products and DS logo is trademark of IBB
Auto Racing, SL

IBB Auto Racing, S.L.
La Masia, 28 · 08710 Odena (Spain)
Tel. +44 938030880
Fax. +44 938055057
www.ibbautoracing.com


DS Electronic Racing Products are distributed worldwide through
MRRC International Hobbies Ltd. Distributors. For international
sales please contact MIH at:

MRRC International Hobbies Limited
PO Box 790
St. Heiler
JE4 0SW - Jersey Islands (Great Britain)
Fax. +44 1 53864988
www.mrrc.com
e-mail: info@mrrc.com

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Wanna see the van? And meet the man?


SCX USA technical manager Bryan Young will be at Fantasy World Hobbies Satuday May 24th from 11-4 pm. He will have a number of demo's going on that day! Why not come by Fantasy World and visit with Bryan...

FantasyWorldHobbies
1909 S 72nd St Ste A-12
Tacoma, Wa. 98408. ph 253-473-6223

Monaco GP - preview


For nearly 80 years, the Monaco Grand Prix has challenged drivers to tame the tight and twisty streets of a race track which winds its way through the second smallest nation on earth.

At just two square kilometres, and with the highest national population density in Europe, Monaco is unique on the Formula 1 calendar. That 350km/h race cars still do battle on its treacherous turns in the 21st century is testament to the enduring fascination of the Monaco Grand Prix.

For most in Formula 1, Monaco is in equal parts a trial and a joy; with the tight confines challenging everyone in the paddock but the history, glamour and unrivalled atmosphere stoking the flames of passion in all motorsport enthusiasts.

With unforgiving walls just centimetres away, drivers are given no margin for error, which makes Monaco one of the most mentally demanding races of the year. In terms of the cars, it may be tempting, logical even, to assume the slowest race on the calendar is the least demanding, but that could not be further from the truth. Monaco is not only a unique challenge for a driver; it places very special demands on a Formula 1 car as well.

The Principality of Monaco is the heady and glamorous location for round six of the 2008 Formula 1 World Championship. The 20 cars and drivers will compete around the 3.34km street circuit, racing between the Princes's Palace and the Mediterranean sea covered in some of the World's most lavish yachts.

The focus for the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes drivers, Lewis Hamilton and Heikki Kovalainen, will be on adding to the illustrious history of the team at the Monaco Grand Prix.

Since the start of the McLaren and Mercedes-Benz era, the team has won the race on five occasions. Mika Hakkinen in 1998, David Coulthard in 2000 and 2002, Kimi Raikkonen took the spoils in 2005 with Fernando Alonso claiming victory just ahead of then team-mate Lewis last year.

The connection to the race stretches back to the 60s, with Bruce McLaren taking the M2B to the track to make the marque's Formula 1 debut. In that time, the team has won a record 14 out of the 65 of Grands Prix staged in the Principality. This began with Alain Prost in 1984, kicking off a winning streak that stretched until 1993, with the exception of 1987. Five of these were at the hands of Ayrton Senna.

As part of the team's ongoing relationship with Steinmetz, creators of the world's finest diamonds, Lewis and Heikki will wear special diamond encrusted Monaco helmets for the race. Each helmet has the signature of the driver pavéd with a line of hundreds of Steinmetz's handcrafted diamonds. This also marks the first time that the Steinmetz logo - or any other sponsor's logo in Formula 1 history - has been incorporated into the design of the helmets through the application of diamonds.


Preview text and photos used with permission from Toyota and McLaren.com, no reuse for any reason.

Mas Slot special edition Fly Porsche 935

A cool looking Porsche 935 (but aren't they all cool looking?) has shown up here in the US. Cincy Slots has allowed me to reuse their photo of the new car.