20th-Apr-19, 09:51 AM
2019 is turning out to be a big year for Micro Scalextric. The UK's best-selling 1/64 scale slot car system celebrated its twenty-fifth birthday in February, around the same time that a major redesign was announced.
Scalextric Micro MR-1 was officially launched at the 1994 London Toy Fair. Introducing a 1/64 scale side-line gave Scalextric a cheap entry-level system for younger slot racers. The appearance of Scalextric Micro came as a real surprise, with the British HO magazine HOSRA calling it "the best news in H:O we've heard for a long time".
Scalextric had done a deal with American company Marchon to rebrand their MR1 system. The original Scalextric Micro MR1 releases included some Marchon cars, alongside a new range of Formula One cars to be manufactured by Scalextric.
For the small group of UK HO racers, branding the new range as 'Scalextric Micro MR1 1/64th' opened up exciting possibilities for the growth and recognition of their branch of the hobby.
February 1994 was the start of a rollercoaster - Scalextric Micro MR1 was renamed Micro Scalextric in 1995, together with a modified track system and chassis that have remained essentially the same ever since. The sets have featured TV and movie characters, plus road and racing cars - around 200 different models in total.
There have been notable highs and lows in the past twenty-five years, but Micro Scalextric and My First Scalextric have remained the first taste of slot car racing for many thousands of young racers. Although cheap, robust and fun, the Micro Scalextric system can be a fiddly and frustrating experience - not always the perfect introduction to a new hobby. Addressing those frustrations was a major motivation behind the development of a new 1/64 scale system for 2019.
Four new sets and five individual cars were announced in January. These are expected between June and September, with all but one set featuring characters from the Warner Brothers Looney Tunes, Wacky Races and Justice League brands. Equally important is a completely new track system and chassis.
I spoke to the man behind the project, Scalextric Brand Manager Martyn Weaver, to find out more. "We see My First and Micro Scalextric being the entry point to slot car racing and the Scalextric brand for younger kids. So it is important that we do all we can to ensure that they have a positive experience with both our brand and concept of slot racing."
"The new track system is made up from more components meaning there are more layout options available. This increases the opportunity of changing and customising the layout, and with it being easy to assemble again adds to the positive experience that can be had."
Retailers and the media had their first look at the new Micro system at the Scalextric launch in January and later at the London, Nuremberg and New York Toy Fairs. The reaction has been very positive. The Warner Brothers sets and cars are certainly very eye-catching and the track looks more like a smaller version of standard 1/32 scale Scalextric track.
I was lucky enough to get my hands on pre-production samples of the new track and cars at Hornby's HQ in Margate. I was impressed. Even though I am a slot car racer who usually gives TV-themed cars a miss, I immediately fell in love with the new Looney Tunes and Wacky Races cars. The Justice League cars didn't have the same impact, but are growing on me. The Scalextric design team have had a lot of fun with all the these cars and that certainly comes through in the quality and character of the models. They look fabulous and I want them all.
The new Micro Scalextric track is a massive change. Most HO systems have stayed pretty much the same for the last sixty years - vertical rails on hard plastic track and powered by 18 volts. The new track has flat rails and is powered by 9 volts, allowing mains or battery power to be included in the sets.
The track feels reassuringly robust and stays firmly connected when in use - we did a lot of high speed laps on three different circuits and there were no track breaks. The controllers are the same as those developed for the 2018 sets - perfect for small hands and with four adjustable speed settings, just like the bigger controllers in the latest 1/32 Scalextric sets.
The new Micro Scalextric chassis is designed for the new track. It has the same braids as before, although on a different and more robust braid plate. The most obvious difference when I looked under the car is that there is a small screw at the front. This holds the braid plate, chassis and body together, giving an extremely heavy-duty assembly. With a new slimline can motor and enclosed rear axle, the chassis is quick, compact and very strong - just what is needed in an entry-level system for younger racers.
Overall, I really liked the new track and cars. A lot of investment must have gone into developing the new Micro Scalextric system and, from my first look, it seems like time and money well spent. Scalextric have four new sets that will provide a positive first impression of slot car racing, which is important to the company and to our hobby.
I suspect the new system will also appeal to existing enthusiasts who like the smaller size, but prefer flat rails and braids. With a bit of work, almost all HO cars can be converted to running on the new track system. One solution is to solder braid to their pick-ups - or use an HORacePro Slide Guide - and increase the voltage to 18 volts. Alternatively, any HO body can be fitted to the 3D-printed SL2 chassis available from Shapeways and built up with components from the new Micro cars. I can't wait until the first sets arrive in June and see what is possible.
Scalextric Micro MR-1 was officially launched at the 1994 London Toy Fair. Introducing a 1/64 scale side-line gave Scalextric a cheap entry-level system for younger slot racers. The appearance of Scalextric Micro came as a real surprise, with the British HO magazine HOSRA calling it "the best news in H:O we've heard for a long time".
Scalextric had done a deal with American company Marchon to rebrand their MR1 system. The original Scalextric Micro MR1 releases included some Marchon cars, alongside a new range of Formula One cars to be manufactured by Scalextric.
For the small group of UK HO racers, branding the new range as 'Scalextric Micro MR1 1/64th' opened up exciting possibilities for the growth and recognition of their branch of the hobby.
February 1994 was the start of a rollercoaster - Scalextric Micro MR1 was renamed Micro Scalextric in 1995, together with a modified track system and chassis that have remained essentially the same ever since. The sets have featured TV and movie characters, plus road and racing cars - around 200 different models in total.
There have been notable highs and lows in the past twenty-five years, but Micro Scalextric and My First Scalextric have remained the first taste of slot car racing for many thousands of young racers. Although cheap, robust and fun, the Micro Scalextric system can be a fiddly and frustrating experience - not always the perfect introduction to a new hobby. Addressing those frustrations was a major motivation behind the development of a new 1/64 scale system for 2019.
Four new sets and five individual cars were announced in January. These are expected between June and September, with all but one set featuring characters from the Warner Brothers Looney Tunes, Wacky Races and Justice League brands. Equally important is a completely new track system and chassis.
I spoke to the man behind the project, Scalextric Brand Manager Martyn Weaver, to find out more. "We see My First and Micro Scalextric being the entry point to slot car racing and the Scalextric brand for younger kids. So it is important that we do all we can to ensure that they have a positive experience with both our brand and concept of slot racing."
"The new track system is made up from more components meaning there are more layout options available. This increases the opportunity of changing and customising the layout, and with it being easy to assemble again adds to the positive experience that can be had."
Retailers and the media had their first look at the new Micro system at the Scalextric launch in January and later at the London, Nuremberg and New York Toy Fairs. The reaction has been very positive. The Warner Brothers sets and cars are certainly very eye-catching and the track looks more like a smaller version of standard 1/32 scale Scalextric track.
I was lucky enough to get my hands on pre-production samples of the new track and cars at Hornby's HQ in Margate. I was impressed. Even though I am a slot car racer who usually gives TV-themed cars a miss, I immediately fell in love with the new Looney Tunes and Wacky Races cars. The Justice League cars didn't have the same impact, but are growing on me. The Scalextric design team have had a lot of fun with all the these cars and that certainly comes through in the quality and character of the models. They look fabulous and I want them all.
The new Micro Scalextric track is a massive change. Most HO systems have stayed pretty much the same for the last sixty years - vertical rails on hard plastic track and powered by 18 volts. The new track has flat rails and is powered by 9 volts, allowing mains or battery power to be included in the sets.
The track feels reassuringly robust and stays firmly connected when in use - we did a lot of high speed laps on three different circuits and there were no track breaks. The controllers are the same as those developed for the 2018 sets - perfect for small hands and with four adjustable speed settings, just like the bigger controllers in the latest 1/32 Scalextric sets.
The new Micro Scalextric chassis is designed for the new track. It has the same braids as before, although on a different and more robust braid plate. The most obvious difference when I looked under the car is that there is a small screw at the front. This holds the braid plate, chassis and body together, giving an extremely heavy-duty assembly. With a new slimline can motor and enclosed rear axle, the chassis is quick, compact and very strong - just what is needed in an entry-level system for younger racers.
Overall, I really liked the new track and cars. A lot of investment must have gone into developing the new Micro Scalextric system and, from my first look, it seems like time and money well spent. Scalextric have four new sets that will provide a positive first impression of slot car racing, which is important to the company and to our hobby.
I suspect the new system will also appeal to existing enthusiasts who like the smaller size, but prefer flat rails and braids. With a bit of work, almost all HO cars can be converted to running on the new track system. One solution is to solder braid to their pick-ups - or use an HORacePro Slide Guide - and increase the voltage to 18 volts. Alternatively, any HO body can be fitted to the 3D-printed SL2 chassis available from Shapeways and built up with components from the new Micro cars. I can't wait until the first sets arrive in June and see what is possible.
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