The May 2022 edition of Slot Car Magazine has just been published - ready for a busy weekend at the UK Slot Car Festival later this month. Ric and Marc will be there with boxes full of the latest magazine, plus plenty of back issues - and some goodies to give away in a prize draw. But you don't have to wait until Gaydon to buy your copy... it'll be available as an ebook from Lulu and as a print magazine from Pendle Slot Racing.

Here's what's in Issue 66...

• TTS March 782 by Marc Abbott. It’s big... it looks good... it has a metal chassis... but will the drive match the promise? Marc finds out.
  
• Book Review by Gary Cannell. “Amazing Hobbies – Slot Cars” by Carlo Tonalezzi is given the once-over by the equally amazing Gary Cannell.
  
• What The Flux Is Going On? by Tony Di Pastena. We’ve got to get Back To The Future with Tony’s comparison of the Scalextric DeLorean versions 1 and 2.
  
• Travlin’ Man by Andy Player. Andy tries not to get (us) lost with the Slot-Nav navigational idea for rallying. Now, where were we?
  
• Scalextric Honda Civic by Andy Player. What the BTCC? Andy tests the latest Civic version. Was he impressed? Did he take the magnet out? Is the Honda a winner?
  
• Scalextric Modified Series by Andy Player. A great day at Brands as Andy caught up with some drivers, reading a certain well-known magazine, at the Scalextric-sponsored event.
  
• Micro Scalextric by Andy Player. A few little marvels! Andy gets his lucky mitts on some pre-production images of Micro cars coming from the forthcoming range.
  
• Words Of Wisdom by Ric Woods. David Wisdom is an enigma in the world of scratch and modified builds. Here, he lets us delve into his thoughts and processes.
  
• Renault 5 Alpine by Hub Habets. Hub found this little blue Renault by Le Mans Miniatures irresistible. Did it match its looks on track?
  
• Ron Trackside Figures by Hub Habets. If anyone can improve or enhance a good-looking product, Hub can. He seems more than impressed with Ron’s work too.
  
• WIN!!! from SRC. Look... just grab your phone, tablet or mouse and send us an email. You, yes YOU, could be the proud owner of two slot cars. Yes TWO! YOU!
  
• Hang On To Your Bits by Tony Di Pastena. Take a pile of discarded junk and start recycling. Tony did and planet Slot is all the better for it.
  
• NSR McLaren by Mark Long. A moment of pre-Christmas madness saw Mark spend all the housekeeping on just one car. Was he impressed? Has his Mrs taken legal action?
  
• Competition from webuyanyscalextriccar.com. What a hoard of goodies they have to give away! Plus, it’s so easy to enter. Go on, give it a go...
  
• Pretty In Pink Pt1 by Gary Skipp. It’s a sad day when your trusted favourite long-distance car has fought its last battle, but Gary hasn’t forgotten the good times.
  
• Ferrari 412P by Ric Woods. Always reserving a soft spot for his classic sports cars, Ric has a close look at the latest Policar Ferrari.
  
• The World Of Dilworth. Does West Hamley wallaby a centre for abandoned exotic pets?
  

   

If you're a regular reader of the SlotRacer Digest, Slot Car Magazine - or are an avid user of Facebook - you'll probably know of the fabulous classic 80s F1 cars hand-made by Kostas Dzingovic at his workshop in Thessaloniki, Greece. Kostas has recently put together a presentation of the cars he produces and I've reproduced some of it here.

The Golden Era project started when Kostas was a young slot car builder and collector. His first creations were to fill a gap in his favourite era of Formula One - cars that no-one else made in 1:32 scale. Four years ago, he turned this hobby into a business. Until now, all models were hand-made and finished - and the cost is what you'd expect. However, the plan is offer an option of unassembled kits - bringing the Golden Era cars to a wider audience.

If these were static models, they would be exceptional - but these are slot cars! For each model, various driver and Grand Prix options are available...

   
Alfa Romeo 179 1980 V12. Available drivers: Bruno Giacomelli & Patrick Depailler.

   
Alfa Romeo 179C 1981 V12. Available drivers: Mario Andretti & Bruno Giacomelli.

   
Ferrari 126CK 1981. Available drivers: Gilles Villeneuve Monaco GP / Dutch GP & Didier Pironi Monaco GP / Austrian GP

   
Ferrari F187 1987. Available drivers: Gerhard Berger Japanese GP / Monaco GP & Michele Alboreto Japanese GP / Monaco GP

   
Lotus 99T 1987. Available drivers: Ayrton Senna Brazil GP / Monaco GP / San Marino GP & Satoru Nakajima Monaco GP / San Marino GP

   
Ligier JS11 Ford V8 1979. Available drivers: Jacques Laffite Brazil GP, Patrick Depailler Spain GP, Jacky Ickx Silverstone GP

   
McLaren MP4-3 1987. Available drivers: Alain Prost Brazil GP / Detroit GP & Stefan Johansson Brazil GP / Detroit GP

   
Renault RE30 1981. Available drivers: Alan Prost France GP / Canada GP / Italy GP & René Arnoux France GP / Canada GP / Italy GP

   
Brabham BT49C 1981. Available drivers: Nelson Piquet Germany GP & Héctor Rebaque Monaco GP

More cars are in development, including the 1981 Ligier-Matra JS17 we reported on in the Digest a couple of weeks ago (see here).

What will be available are some accessories - driver figures, umbrellas and trophies from the era...

   

Kostas can be contacted via goldeneraf1slotcars@gmail.com or the Golden Era F1 Slot Cars Facebook group.

   

hi guys 
looking for a 1/32 hudson hornet model kit or body for a build i would like to do 
have searched the net but only found 1/25 kits 
does anyone know of a 1/32 kit or a suitable plastic model body anywhere ?
or am i wasting my time and these do not exist ?

thanks in advance 
kev

Does anyone know how to connect a dead track section for use whith Lap Timer 2000 on a modern PC?
Thanks in advance!

Hi All 

Would like to introduce myself, my name is Joel, I am a slot car enthusiast and have been designing 3d printed chassis’ and parts for some time now. So thought I’d share my models for those who might be interested.

My models are only available on the Shapeway’s site at this point. They have set prices, as their equipment is of the highest caliber, offering multiple materials with amazing quality, also making it easy to get hold of for the international market.

I’m currently still loading models weekly, my Shop on Shapeway’s is JA Slots, link below:

https://www.shapeways.com/shops/ja-slots

Thanks

Good morning/afternoon/evening,
My name is Matt and I run Time Trials - a Facebook Group where racers around the globe copy a 8x4 Scalextric track and attempt to set the fastest 10 lap sprint. As of May 2022, we have recently started our 4th Season, racing modified mighty metros and close-to-stock 90s Touring Cars. There are 7 rounds, each taking 2 weeks for racers to set their times and send to me. We currently have 15 or so racers and 150 spectators in the group. I have attached the Championship posters, a typical track we use and last seasons championship score. We arent professional racers, but that doesnt mean we don't enjoy the hobby, and times are usually separated by tenths rather than seconds. I hope you've found this interesting, and I look forward to seeing you on track!

Hi everyone. First post here after buying a Carrera Digital 132 starter set.

I'm just getting started and looking to expand with more track and cars. I'm wondering whether my only option is to stick with the Carrera brand or whether there are any (cheaper) third parties for track?

For cars, is it possible to convert / mix and match? I see people showing interest in a range of brands and I'm guessing they have a single system so presumably this is possible to some extent.

If there are any online resources to help get me started that would also be great. Struggling a little to find my feet as Carrera doesn't seem to be as widespread as Scalextric here in the UK.

Pendles have some Slot Car Market items added for the weekend: https://www.pendleslotracing.co.uk/speci...arket.html


Jadlams have also just unloaded 20 cars and ProScale building kits into their Clearance section today: https://www.jadlamracingmodels.com/scalextric/clearance

It's supposed to include the two Castrol NSR Abarths for £54 each, but they're not showing yet. They are here, if you're quick. Free postage.

Gaugemaster also have half a dozen or so cut-price (£60) NSR cars on their site - https://www.gaugemasterretail.com/magent...-cars.html - these aren't the older GT cars that have been knocking around elsewhere and include a Porsche 917/10k, Martini-liveried P68, Corvettes and an Aston, plus those rather nice pink BWT Porsches. Free postage too.

I must have lost my mind!!!

Have I now joined the dark side???

Last friday night I was lying bed (as one does) and started looking at FB marketplace. I have the control in of only looking at ads within a 100 kms from here - so essentially locally only.

ANd I saw this advert. AT first I could not believe it. Then I thought this is not your hobby. Then I panicked over what my wife would say. Then I thought no it must be wrong

ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY EUROS for this?

It must be gone I thought - what the heck _ will send a mail and see. so no real  issue or harm in just sending a mail?

Sat am phone beeps - and gues what - I was the first. WHAT???? holy guacamole how do I tell swmbo. Uhmmmm put my big dress on and broached the subject, and amazingly she said yes.

SO I bought it    



                                                                   


22 Loco's - 17 work
55 Coaches
32 freight type trucks
Hundreds of tracks
at least 50 points
Buildings
 
Just one of the loco's is worth more than what I paid.

Question is - what to do now???  

PS I blame epilot for this - getting me into railway mags for scenery  

It's been a long road to get here, but we are settled into our house in Toronto (close to our daughters family)!  I have measured the basement (my new mancave), and came up with this design.

I have about the same skill level as a carpenter as I do as an astronaut, so I got the track CNC cut.  Here is the tight corner at the end (or beginning of the straight, depending on which way we are going!) of the straight.

...and this is the drivers station end.  Individual power supplies, and almost enough room to be comfortable, but not quite!

The track is made out of MDF, with a high gloss white laminate.  The brown pieces are the joints where the two sections of track meet.  They will be industrially glued to the bottom of the track, which should...SHOULD give me a seamless track!  Because I am assembling it, there may be gaps the size of the Grand Canyon!
More to come.