Basic Tyre Truer for Scalextric, Carrera, Fly etc

Basic Tyre Truer for Scalextric, Carrera, Fly etc - Printable Version

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RE: Basic Tyre Truer for Scalextric, Carrera, Fly etc - woodcote - 24th-Jan-22

Oh my… I’m really not sure what raw nerves I’ve touched on here! The title of this thread is “Basic Tyre Truer for Scalextric, Carrera, Fly etc” - nothing more.

Our hobby is broad and I truly don’t believe that most of us who have fun with Scalextric, Carrera, Fly etc will ever need anything more than the cheap & nasty rig that I have cheekily called a tyre ‘truer’… although, to be honest, that is what it is. Just not a very sophisticated one.

But it does a job - and the results thrill those who’ve never tried to improve their tyres before. Indeed the results are in the lap times (see post #9).

I’ve been thrilled seeing guys getting back into the hobby during the pandemic using similar set-ups and getting excited about tuning their Scalextric cars in basic, but effective ways. What depresses me is if enthusiasts see tuning cars as something beyond them - put off by elitism, dense jargon and expensive tools. Improving the performance of a Scalextric, Carrera or Fly model is something everyone can do - very cheaply and easily. Our SlotRacer’s Manual has one such introduction: https://slotracer.online/manual/tuning.php

Of course, be careful sanding tyres with digital chips in place. Ideally remove them. Wherever I’ve written about using a rig like this, I’ve said it loud, clear and often - including in the opening post of this thread.

I also say to anyone wondering whether they should build a rig for nothing or buy a ‘proper’ truer for £150-200… build the rig, experience the benefits of improving tyres - and have fun. If, at some point, you’ve become a proficient car builder, successful club racer and you really need those extra hundredths of a second to get on the top step of the podium, borrow a big-time truer and see if it’s worth investing in your own.

In the meantime, I’m more than happy with what I’ve got and how I ‘do’ this hobby. I appreciate other people ‘do’ it differently. Chacun son truc…

RE: Basic Tyre Truer for Scalextric, Carrera, Fly etc - Kevan - 24th-Jan-22

Another option is the 3D one John posted a few weeks ago, I did print one but not got round to putting it together, it'd be perfect for club nights.

RE: Basic Tyre Truer for Scalextric, Carrera, Fly etc - woodcote - 24th-Jan-22

This one: https://slotracer.online/community/showthread.php?tid=2642

Yep, great for cars with removable metal hubs - but not for Scalextric, Carrera, Fly etc… a different breed. Don’t forget the humongous majority of slot car enthusiasts do race Scalextric, Carrera, Fly etc at home - and don’t race at clubs. Tuning is also for them.

RE: Basic Tyre Truer for Scalextric, Carrera, Fly etc - KensRedZed - 25th-Jan-22

Your reasoning is spot on, Andy. Thumbup

We use all three systems in the clubs where I race.

1) Hudy for tires on aluminum wheels
2) Razor for tires on plastic wheels mounted on axles
3) Proses style truer for profiling the edges of the tires between races/heats.

Originally everyone in the club said "Get a Hudy, and you're all set". Not entirely true. You get what you need or you aren't competitive.

If I were to just race at home with my neighbours. I might skip the truer altogether and go with slip on silicones. Clubs have rules that need to be followed.

RE: Basic Tyre Truer for Scalextric, Carrera, Fly etc - Kevan - 25th-Jan-22

(24th-Jan-22, 11:29 PM)woodcote Wrote: This one: https://slotracer.online/community/showthread.php?tid=2642

Yep, great for cars with removable metal hubs - but not for Scalextric, Carrera, Fly etc… a different breed. Don’t forget the humongous majority of slot car enthusiasts do race Scalextric, Carrera, Fly etc at home - and don’t race at clubs. Tuning is also for them.

Yes, also some cars you can't take the axle out without removing the wheels and some of those have knurled axles which often means breaking the wheel hub.

RE: Basic Tyre Truer for Scalextric, Carrera, Fly etc - OXO cube - 25th-Jan-22

below are my tyre truers
all perform a different roll
but essentially do the same job
[attachment=20974]
from left to right :-
3DP hudy 'type' tyre truer , file freely available on 'thingiverse' , works great and a fraction of the cost ...... off axle single tyre truing
my own design 'proses' type 3DP tyre truer plate , used mainly these days to re-skim already trued tyres , or truing smaller scales (1/43,1/64)..... on car tyre truing
Area 3 tyre truer , ( similar design to RSM & Razor ) , as can be seen is my 'go to' atm ..... on axle both wheel tyre truing ( tbh i only true one at a time , then turn the axle over to true the other side , but thats just me )

realistically , this hobby can become expensive depending how far down the rabbit hole you go , but then again it is all personal preference
as Andy states a sanding plate of any description 'IS' a basic truer as described in the title , and the proses one is probably the cheapest factory produced item out there
heck my 1st ( and i bet alot of others ) was sand paper taped to the track , with patience can give good results and was a great introduction to the 'mystery'

luckily i have access to a printer which helps , if anyone wants the STL file for the truer plate , just PM me Thumbup

Kev

( ducking already Bigsmile

)

RE: Basic Tyre Truer for Scalextric, Carrera, Fly etc - MrFlippant - 25th-Jan-22

Kevan,
I know that's true of Scalextric, and other brand's, front axle, but which cars have a rear axle that cannot be popped out, or otherwise removed without pulling off pressed-on wheels? I'm sure they exist, I just don't know of them. Maybe some really old toy cars?

RE: Basic Tyre Truer for Scalextric, Carrera, Fly etc - Kevan - 25th-Jan-22

(25th-Jan-22, 04:39 PM)MrFlippant Wrote: Kevan,
I know that's true of Scalextric, and other brand's, front axle, but which cars have a rear axle that cannot be popped out, or otherwise removed without pulling off pressed-on wheels? I'm sure they exist, I just don't know of them. Maybe some really old toy cars?

Front axles are what came to mind but if you're going to true a set on a car the rear axle is only half the job.

RE: Basic Tyre Truer for Scalextric, Carrera, Fly etc - MrFlippant - 25th-Jan-22

I totally agree. Not many ways to get around that other than being extra careful while working them loose. That's one thing I appreciate about Pioneer cars, and other makes that make the front axle pop out easily, even with press-on wheels.

The only method I've seen used for front wheels without removing them from the chassis is to get a belt sander, preferably one that can be set up as a flat, horizontal surface like a table. Take the guide out, and then hold the front wheels to the sander as it's going, but at a slight angle, so that it both rotates the wheels and sands them. :) I've done that only once when the host of the race had it set up for that purpose. LOL

RE: Basic Tyre Truer for Scalextric, Carrera, Fly etc - Kevan - 25th-Jan-22

That's one way, another one I've used is a dremel.