[BAracer]

There was a limit to the number of times I could look at that empty hole where the traction control knob should be...

   

And so, a DD301 becomes a DD302 thanks to the upgrade kit sent over from Jensen Beach by Jim!

I used it for the first time at Molesey on Monday evening. It felt really good, I think it is going to become my workhorse controller; why would I not use it?

[BAracer]

It has been niggling me that the three controllers I generally use for all the types of slot racing I do all had different characteristics and feel. So I recently bit the bullet and bought a Difalco DD300 to replace my Truspeed MT I as the bridge between the basic DS controllers I use for rallying, and the Difalco DD302 (pictured above) that I use for wood tracks. 

And just 6 days later, look what landed on my doorstep from Jensen Beach, Florida this morning...

   

   

Identical in feel to the DD302, although Difalco controllers now come with a trigger with slightly more rounded edges, it had the same range of Sensitivity and Brake adjustments as it's big brother, but without the Traction Control facility and replaceable resistor set, and with 17 power bands as opposed to the 30 found on the DD302.

First impressions are at the top end of expectations based on it's use on my home test track, and I can see it being used for Raid events due to the varying motor performances in those vehicles.

[Kevan]

I've never used a Difalco, nobody at the club uses one but they do look top notch.

I keep saying "when my Synapse dies...and the spare one, and the Third Eye Gawronski...and the spare one, and the SlotIt SCP1... then I'll get a Difalco"
...it's not going to happen is it, let's face it 

[BAracer]

If your controller handle fits your hand, and the trigger action your finger, there's not much reason to change a controller if it does what you need it to. 

A Difalco ticks those boxes for me, hence me going all in with them. I'm not getting any older so need to get on with using them!

[Kevan]

...

A Difalco ticks those boxes for me, hence me going all in with them. I'm not getting any older so need to get on with using them!

You are getting older like the rest of us 

[munter]

I keep saying "when my Synapse dies...and the spare one, and the Third Eye Gawronski...and the spare one, and the SlotIt SCP1... then I'll get a Difalco"

...it's not going to happen is it, let's face it  

I'm not so sure. Kevan....a meteorite might smash through your slotcave roof and pummel the case holding all your controllers!

[Kevan]

It's a good job they're all in separate places 

[munter]

It's a good job they're all in separate places  

Meteorites come in showers, don't they?

[Kevan]

[BAracer]

After a lot of thought, I managed to come up with a good reason to get another Difalco!

Racing at the rally events basically involves running lots of cars on lots of tracks. So there is no time to get to clever with a multi-knob controller, which could tie you up in knots with numerous variations to the settings. Hence the popularity of the basic DS XXohm controllers on the scene. The only thing I thought might be of benefit on these events would be to have some sensitivity adjustment to balance out the slight differences in motor behavior between my cars. And having done a bit of Rally Raid recently, there is much wider spread of motor behaviour in those vehicles. So a simple controller with sensitivity knob might be what I am after.

Brousing the Difalco website highlighted one such controller that met this criteria. However, having messaged Jim Difalco, he highlighted that the dd505 I was looking at was only a two wire controller, which I believe means no brakes. But he then mentioned he had made a one-off version of the controller with three wires for a home user in the States. After a further exchange of questions and answers, he thought the three wire version, providing full brakes, would suit what I was describing I wanted for racing rally cars. He also thought it would work for HO racers at the Worthing club, so on that basis, he generously offered to provide me with a second controller that I could share with other racers on both the rally scene and the HO world...so here they are!

   

I tried to go with the most garish colour scheme for my one, purple handle/red circuit board, but it looks great in my eyes. The demonstrator has a more tasteful orange/yellow vibe. If you see me at a rally event, I'll make sure I always have the second one available if you would like to give it a try. Jim is offering a discount to the $100/£80 basic price if he can do a bulk build to order. I can try and make that happen if I get interest from different sources. 

I am happy to confirm I paid the full price for my controller, and will not receive any commission on any future sales! I'm just doing this out of pure enjoyment.