What's in the 2024 Scalextric Catalogue? - Printable Version
+- SlotRacer Forum (https://slotracer.online/community)
+-- Forum: News & Events (https://slotracer.online/community/forumdisplay.php?fid=38)
+--- Forum: News (https://slotracer.online/community/forumdisplay.php?fid=39)
+--- Thread: What's in the 2024 Scalextric Catalogue? (/showthread.php?tid=4135)
+- SlotRacer Forum (https://slotracer.online/community)
+-- Forum: News & Events (https://slotracer.online/community/forumdisplay.php?fid=38)
+--- Forum: News (https://slotracer.online/community/forumdisplay.php?fid=39)
+--- Thread: What's in the 2024 Scalextric Catalogue? (/showthread.php?tid=4135)
What's in the 2024 Scalextric Catalogue? - woodcote - 7th-Jan-24
[attachment=33327]
The usual unveiling takes place this Tuesday, probably around lunchtime - or once the traffic jam from the Hornby launch at 9am has settled down.
However, the format is a bit different this year. What we'll see on Tuesday are all the new sets for 2024, but only the cars scheduled to arrived in the Spring and Summer. That does remove the frustration of seeing a car announced in January, pre-ordering it, but not having it in your hands until 12 or 14 months later. Most of the remaining 2024 cars will be unveiled on the eve of the UK Slot Car Festival in May - and many will be on display at Gaydon as prototypes or pre-production samples.
Whether spreading the excitement over the year increases our enjoyment or dilutes it remains to be seen... but it does work well for the company, allowing them more flexibility over release dates and a more ordered flow of new products being released into the marketplace. It'll certainly make the Slot Car Festival an essential trip for all Scalextric fans.
I can promise you some excellent new stuff on Tuesday, just not as much of it as we're used to. Part 2 in May will more than make up for any gaps.
RE: What's in the 2024 Scalextric Catalogue? - Scott - 7th-Jan-24
A wise move for Scalextric, I think, although perhaps the bigger issue is the quality issues which feel more disappointing if you've waited months and months for the delivery.
RE: What's in the 2024 Scalextric Catalogue? - woodcote - 8th-Jan-24
[attachment=33363]
The word from the Scalextric team is 11am (GMT) tomorrow.
In that case, we'll go live here as soon as the announcement hits the Scalextric social media platforms.
RE: What's in the 2024 Scalextric Catalogue? - rallyhub - 8th-Jan-24
Fingers crossed for some nice rally cars.
RE: What's in the 2024 Scalextric Catalogue? - Gpa113 - 8th-Jan-24
Fingers crossed for Ecto 1, the Ghostbusters Cadillac Miller Meteor Ambulance
Unlikely, but I can hope.......
RE: What's in the 2024 Scalextric Catalogue? - Scuderia_Turini - 8th-Jan-24
I'll second Hub's call for more rally cars (of any era).
Leo
RE: What's in the 2024 Scalextric Catalogue? - Journey Man - 9th-Jan-24
I would like to see some TCR cars as there is not one company that makes them
RE: What's in the 2024 Scalextric Catalogue? - KensRedZed - 9th-Jan-24
Ecto 1 Rally Car?
[attachment=33404]
RE: What's in the 2024 Scalextric Catalogue? - Kevan - 9th-Jan-24
I can live in hope but....
[attachment=33405]
RE: What's in the 2024 Scalextric Catalogue? - woodcote - 9th-Jan-24
This is a much quicker presentation than usual, featuring all the new 2024 sets, but only the cars scheduled for release between now and the summer. The 2024 Scalextric catalogue is published today and will contain these releases. An A4 pamphlet will follow in May to cover the rest of the year's cars and accessories.
This is focussed on 1:32 scale - news of 2024 My First and Micro Scalextric products is posted in a separate thread over in the HO forum. Don't forget, it's the 1:64 scale stuff - aimed at young families - that bankrolls a lot of what you'll see below and at Gaydon in May...
1. Scalextric sets
Most of the 2023 sets stay in the catalogue and there are three exciting new additions…
[attachment=33378]
The first is the Williams Racing race set, a welcome return to a proper fully-licensed current Formula One Scalextric set. This includes the 2023 Williams FW45 cars of Alex Albon (standard livery) and Logan Sargeant (Gulf livery) and a basic track layout. It is competitively priced with an RRP of £139.99 and is expected in the autumn. The two liveries are exclusive to this set.
[attachment=33379]
Equally impressive is a fully-licensed WRC set featuring two 2023 Ford Puma liveries. Puma Rally1 Hot Laps isn’t just a standard set - it sees the first appearance of a new piece of Scalextric lap timing kit alongside a standard powerbase and controllers.
Hot Laps is app-based racing, using your phone to record lap and sector times - rather like the widely-used LapTracker and LapTrax apps - but also featuring SEGA Rally-style gameplay. Challenges include head-to-head, beating your previous lap time, check-point racing etc - all with different difficulty levels.
This is a step away from Spark Plug and ARC, by simply adding app-based lap timing and gameplay to standard Scalextric equipment. The app is rally-themed, but easily transfers to other formats of racing. A phone cradle is included in the set. I'll post some more images later if I can get my hands on them.
The two cars have blacked-out windows and rear-wheel drive. This set and app are scheduled for release late summer / early autumn and the RRP is £159.99.
[attachment=33380]
The third new set is a Scalextric website exclusive offering - Super Sierras - which replaces the popular Super Saloons set. Super Sierras features two previously unreleased liveries on the RS500 - Karl Jones’ (Duckhams) and Chris Hodgetts’ (FINA) BTCC cars - both of which are high-detail with proper windows and lights.
Expected in plenty of time for the important Christmas present market, this standard set will retail at £159.99.
2. New Cars - Spring & Summer
(a) New Tooling
The first small slice of 2024 new tooling is well down the pre-production path and ready for Spring / Summer release. We might even see some in April / May. There are four new moulds - one much-requested 1960s saloon car, an iconic European hatchback, a vehicle that screams New York City as much as the Empire State Building or Statue of Liberty and a reworking in true 1:32 scale of the second-greatest Batmobile.
[attachment=33381]
After much nagging, Scalextric have given us a Ford Anglia 105E. The first release is a Broadspeed-prepared and liveried racer as raced to victory in the 1966 British Saloon Car Championship by John Fitzpatrick. The Anglia was Ralph Broad’s first Ford - he kept the body, engine block and gearbox casing pretty much unaltered from the road car and then worked his magic. The heart of the Anglia’s BSCC success was the 997cc Cosworth Formula 3 engine that revved to 10,000 rpm and delivered just under 120 bhp. Fitzpatrick was dominant in the under-1000cc Class A and pipped John Rhodes Class B Mini to the championship on a countback of class wins.
Compared to the George Turner model, the Scalextric Anglia is much narrower and smaller - true 1:32 scale. That does mean a slim-can FF motor is required, so most non-mag runners will need to swap in their favoured low-revving FF replacement or tweak power settings in race software. Mag runners will be fine and the Anglia will have the same motor specs as the Cortina, Mini, Beetle and Escort.
Although 1966 was towards the end of the Anglia’s production cycle, there are loads of options for road cars, police cars, TV and Film models, hotrods, plus rally liveries from the RAC, Monte and Safari. A few notable Anglias still compete in historic racing and rallying today too. RRP is the now standard £49.99 and is expected in May.
[attachment=33382]
First produced in 1974, the Volkswagen Golf (or Rabbit in North America) was hailed as a long-term replacement for the Beetle. The Mark 1 shape - including the first GTI - remains a design classic and a Giorgetto Giugiaro masterpiece. The Golf fulfilled and then smashed through all VW’s commercial expectations, the standard car becoming the reference point for all future hatchbacks and the GTI the catalyst for the hot-hatch explosion.
This first Scalextric release is a red GTI. There are plenty of collectors out there who lap up a decent road car and this one ticks all the boxes. Of course, there are lots of potential rally liveries, British Saloon Car Championship and - if Scalextric have produced the body kit - some sensational Group 2 saloon car options. The Scalextric model is fitted with an inline Mabuchi S-can to match the other Group 1 and Group A saloon cars. Again, RRP is £49.99 and it should hit the shelves in April.
[attachment=33383]
Probably even more famous than the London black cab, the Checker A Series taxi just oozes American nostalgia. Built between 1959 and 1982, they have become very collectible - with many safely in the hands of the TV and movie production industry. I really didn’t see this one coming, but it is an inspired choice…
Although the yellow New York City cabs are at the forefront of my memories, these taxis appeared in a multitude of pain schemes, depending on their location. Apart from the TV series Taxi, Checker A Series appear prominently in Taxi Driver, Friends (Phoebe drives one), Scrooged and Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters. As for cameo roles, the Checker appears in hundreds, if not thousands of other films and TV programmes based in New York. It was simply part of the landscape.
The Scalextric model is powered by a sidewinder Mabuchi S-can, allowing room for a full interior. There are lots of lights, including on the roof. For this release - a yellow NYC cab - the for-hire lights are on, so there’s no passenger inside. RRP is £49.99 and it is expected in April.
[attachment=33384]
When Batman hit the big screen in 1989, this sleek recreation of the Batmobile fitted perfectly the dark, art deco style of Tim Burton’s Gotham City. It also paid homage to the long, narrow shape of the Batmobile from the 1940 and 50s Detective Comics publications. A purist might argue this is the most authentic and best of the live-action Batmobiles.
Scalextric did release this Batmobile as C0465 back in 1990, but it wasn’t anywhere near 1:32 scale. Following on from some ‘big’ releases like the Bluesmobile and FAB1, the Scalextric team have squeezed this new, correctly scaled version of Michael Keaton’s Batmobile into the XL sized Scalextric box. It comes with lights and is powered by a Mabuchi S-can. As with the real movie car, the windows are blacked-out. RRP is £53.99.
(b) New Liveries
There are some quality choices here across a nice range of the existing tooling - although very much weighted to the ‘classic’ categories. And don’t forget, there will be plenty more new liveries and brand new tooling unveiled later in the year - this selection is just for the relatively quiet Spring / Summer period.
[attachment=33385]
We start with a new authentic livery on the Pagani Huayra Roadster BC. The livery shown is the Bianco Benny / Crystal Clear Carbon scheme of the original 2019 presentation car. This replaces the purple Drago Viola Edition in the catalogue. The Scalextric Huayras are in the super-resistant range - although offering great detail and liveries - and are packaged in cardboard boxes. RRP is £38.49 and the car should be available in April.
[attachment=33386]
This 1990s GT1 / DTM ‘throwback’ livery on the RAM Racing Mercedes AMG GT3 Evo was a firm fan favourite and should look stunning on a slot car. Although the livery was subsequently run in the 2023 British GT3 Championship, Scalextric have modelled the car that raced at the December 2022 Gulf 12 hours - driven by Ian Loggie, Morgan Tillbrook and Mikael Grenier. RRP is £49.99 and the D2 Mercedes is expected in May.
[attachment=33387]
Ford GT40 fans will always be happy with yet another livery - this time Terry Drury’s car that he shared with Keith Holland at the 1968 BOAC International 500 at Brands Hatch. Essex-based Drury started out as a Ford development engineer, making his first forays into racing with an Anglia and then a Lotus Cortina. He acquired a GT40 for the 1967 season and then a second (#1073) for 1968, which he bashed up pretty badly at Monza, but was back in one piece for the Targa Florio and the latter part of the year.
Having wrecked two GT40s in two seasons, Drury took a break from the track. He returned as owner of Terry Drury Racing, campaigning strongly in the British Saloon Car Championship through the 70s and 80s and then embracing historic events. He passed away in 2017, so this is a nice tribute to a popular character of British motorsport. RRP is £49.99 and the GT40 is scheduled for a May arrival.
[attachment=33388]
A Ford needs a Ferrari to race against - and Scalextric have a David Piper 330P4 for us. This is the ‘open top’ version of the car that first appeared in red as part of the Daytona triple pack last year. RRP is £49.99 and it’ll be here in June.
[attachment=33389]
In my opinion, there haven’t been enough Scalextric VW Beetles - so this historic racer is a welcome addition to the catalogue. In period, this car raced from 1965 in SCCA events across the Pacific Northwest and is now a popular sight at West Coast historic events, owned and driven by Steven Smith. There was a Beetle that competed in the Under 2.0 Liter category during the early days of Trans-Am, but the owner says this isn't the one. It is a very nice livery indeed. RRP is £49.99
[attachment=33390]
After last year’s fan car and the John Watson standard version, we have a model of Niki Lauda driving the standard Brabham BT46 at Monza in 1978. Lauda won the race - thanks to penalties for Andretti and Villeneuve - but everything that day was overshadowed by Ronnie Peterson’s death. Like all the classic Grand Prix offerings, the RRP is £53.99 and the Brabham is expected in April.
[attachment=33391]
Also from 1978 is a World Champion Edition (in the green box) JPS Lotus 79 of Mario Andretti. This should go down very well with collectors. An Andi Rowland chassis is already available to convert the Lotus 79 to a Policar drivetrain. There’s one for the Brabham too. RRP for the Scalextric Lotus is £53.99 and we should expect it in May.
[attachment=33392]
If you missed out on the first Land Rover, here’s your chance to grab a red one. This was used by the Fire Brigade as a support vehicle so will fit nicely on a scenic layout as well as being a lot of fun to drive. RRP is £53.99 and the red Land Rover is due in May.
[attachment=33393]
There’s another Lamborghini Countach, this time in Verde Pino green and fitted with gold wheels. It looks absolutely cracking and is another model to please the road car and supercar fans. RRP is £49.99 and expected availability is May.
[attachment=33394]
Only one rally car in the Spring / Summer collection - and it’s the Ford Escort WRC of Juha Kankkunen and Juha Repo that finished second at the 1988 Rally Monte Carlo. By 1998, Ford were fully focused on their forthcoming new World Rally Car and development of the Escort was left hanging. Nonetheless, Kankkunen ended the year fourth in the standings, albeit win-less. This is expected in April - not long to wait - and the RRP is £53.99. I hear on the grapevine that the new Scalextric rally cars have sold particularly well so far - the Colin McRae Subaru and Carlos Sainz Escort WRC both flying off the shelves and the Pumas having just arrived.
[attachment=33375] [attachment=33376]
The final two cars are web exclusive offerings and boxed versions of the cars already mentioned in the Super Sierras set. Both are well-known BTCC cars and are a nice addition to the Classic Touring fold. RRP is £49.99.
That’s it for the Spring / Summer cars. As in any recent year, there will be loads more scheduled for an Autumn / Winter release - and most of these will be unveiled in May.
3. New Accessory
[attachment=33377]
Although tagged on the end, this wireless controller is not an insignificant part of the new range. It pairs the Spark Plug dongle with a BlueTooth version of the standard Scalextric / ARC handle to give a plug & play wireless controller that plugs into any current standard powerbase with the square plug, including the ARC One powerbase. The upgrade pack - presumably a controller and Spark Plug - has an RRP of £39.99 and is scheduled for the autumn.
I’m looking forward to having a play with this - hopefully there’ll be some to use at Gaydon - and see what features from Spark Plug roll over to the new set-up. Rumour has it that maximum power levels and throttle curves will be adjustable via the Spark Plug app. It could be that this combination unleashes the true potential of Spark Plug.
And that’s your lot... I said it was quicker than usual! How did the reduced list and scheduled availability in the next 6-7 months work for you? I'm not 100% convinced I'm fully satisfied... But then we get to do it all again in May, which I'm looking forward to already.