[woodcote]

Many thanks to Sean at Pendle Slot Racing for sending this to us this evening - hot news of a brand new 1/32 range from Scaleauto. The first models are expected this July...

   

I did get a sense of déjà vu when I opened the email - and NSR have posted angrily on Facebook this evening (see here). However, a bit of Spanish vs Italian rivalry in the F1 club racing scene can't be a bad thing - can it?

Scaleauto are offering white kits and single colour schemes for both body styles...

       

Plus four great liveries on the F90-94 shape for eight different F1 drivers - some icons, some cult heroes...

       

       

Inside, this is what you get...

• common chassis  with and without front wheel diffusers. Two different hardness. (hard SC-6670a and medium SC-6670b) 
  
• In-line motor mount with offset 0.5mm (SC-6523c). Modified tool to make offset available.
  
• SC-0025b high torque and magnetic motor. 21500rpm.
  
• Reliable guide set SC-1608 with suspension system. 
  
• 26 T inline gear with NEW lightweight and harder aluminum Ergal center and M2.5 set screw (SC-1112R)
  
• 10 T nylon pinon for smoother friction (SC-1010)
  
• Hard Steel axles 55mm lenght: SC-1211
  
• Front Aluminum lightweight hub: SC 4083f25  (m2.5 screw) 14.0mm x 10mm 
  
• Rear Aluminum lightweight hub: SC 4083f25  (m2.5 screw) 14.0mm x 13mm
  
• Hard front tyre (SC-4762): 18.0x10.0mm 
  
• AS-25 supergrip rear tyre (SC-4763): 20.0x13.00mm
  
• Half thread  mechanized screws. SC-5138
  
• Highly detailed and lightweight body thickness, just 0.65mm 
  
• Front axles adjustable in height
  
• Reinforced chassis
  
• 6 position suspension system optional on the motor mount fixing
  
• Front and rear body height adjustment.
  

   

No news on prices, but do keep an eye out on the Pendles website, I wouldn't be surprised to see the cars added for pre-order over the next 72 hours: www.pendleslotracing.co.uk/brand/scaleauto

[CMOTD]

Four different eras of F1 generic cars now:
NSR 86/89
Scaleauto 90/94 and 95/97
Policar modern era

I am somewhat surprised that there is a market for all these as their main target seems to be club racing.

I realise the Scaleauto pictures are not necessarily the final product but the two different eras look identical to me. Is it the proposed liveries that make the difference?

[BAracer]

I think it's just the noses that are different.

It's funny how NSR are getting so worked up about someone copying a generic car. 

Can a generic anything be copied?

[Nonfractal]

I don't remember NSR getting so bent out of shape when Giovanni montiglio quit NSR, set up Thunderslot and then produced cars that directly compete with the NSR classic GT cars (that Giovanni designed) .
Did I miss something? 

Clearly the NSR response has to be 

- make post '89 bodies for the 8689 chassis
- make them lightweight and beautiful
- issue an open challenge in a multi manufacturer international event

[DPJ]

They are different bodies between the two, clearly. If you look at where the radiator openings start on each model, the Scaleauto starts at the back of the drivers seat. The NSR starts at the drivers elbows with arms on the steering wheel. Quite a bit different. And then there's the different noses and front and rear wings. Yes, of course they look similar, they're both F1 cars from nearly the same era!!

[woodcote]

Generic F1 cars for club racing are nothing new - Nonno Slot, All SlotCar etc. have been there before. However, Policar’s beautiful looking and beautifully handling 70s F1 cars offered something very special and were taken up by many clubs. Andi Rowland - who was behind the development of the Policar F1 system - has made available 3D printed chassis to convert 70s F1 models from Fly, Scalextric, SRC etc to the Policar drivetrain. All utterly fabulous…

Then Policar announced their modern ‘Monoposto’ generic F1 car - using the same drivetrain with FF motor and slim gearbox. As with most of Slot.it’s projects, there was a couple of years’ gap between the announcement and the product being available to the public. Then - out of the blue - NSR release their generic Formula 86/89 car a year ago.

The NSR Formula car is a single-seater version of their usual format - pretty much the same as the All SlotCar platform - with a motor pod carrying a big beefy long-can motor and standard inline gearing.

I was a bit disappointed - the excitement of the Policar Monoposto for modern F1 club racing was blown out of the water by a mini-Mosler. They would not compete fairly on track - clubs would need to choose one or the other. It looked like NSR would be the club racer and the Policar a home racer - although I always thought the Policar model would make a great digital F1 racer, especially with that magnetic nose.

So now we have competition in that long-can mini-Mosler F1 class with Scaleauto coming along with their own version of the All SlotCar format. No longer a single make class. NSR has competition. That might be disappointing for NSR, but surely good news for the hobby?

[Nonfractal]

They are different bodies between the two, clearly. If you look at where the radiator openings start on each model, the Scaleauto starts at the back of the drivers seat. The NSR starts at the drivers elbows with arms on the steering wheel. Quite a bit different. And then there's the different noses and front and rear wings. Yes, of course they look similar, they're both F1 cars from nearly the same era!!

Look closely, the chassis on the scaleauto is deep chamfered to give that shortened side pod look.
This may prove to be a design mistake because it might be a weak point in the chassis where it will bend and break. 

The NSR chassis does protrude further forward so body with a shorter side pod would leave the chassis protruding.
BUT, not all cars from that period were truncated like that.
The 1990 mclaren had a rounded pod face and there is no body protection on the scaleauto chassis for a body designed like that. 

AND.. who cares if the chassis protrudes beyond the body?
All modern slot cars are flat plate chassis that protrude beyond the body. 

NSR have the opportunity to design  modern bodies for the 8689 chassis. 
Hopefully they can make it prettier


   

[woodcote]

A week on and Scaleauto have released this update…

We updated the information on the range of the formula cars 1:32 where we spotted up some additional information and updated some pictures and details from the projects. If you are still in time you can forward this updated information to your customers.

1/32 Formula90-97 - It's Official

We are proud to introduce a new line to our catalogue: 1/32 Formula 90-97. A complete 90's world championship Grand Prix models to race with 2 different body shapes: low nose and high nose using a common chassis. Each car replicates GP models that used 3.5l and 3.0l motors after the banning of the turbo motor used from 1986 to 1989. These replicas are our tribute for slot car to this memorable 1:1 racing moments. To be launched starting in July 2021 with the white kit cars.

After we did a press releases last week about this new range of products it's show up a batch of questions and make us improve some information to clarify some important features from our range.

Specifications was created from zero, testing on track with first prototype already 2020 summer time, but actual pandemic make us stop and resume continuously till now, where seems that a couple of month of freedom give us the time to finish it. 

Please find some updated information in the portfolio of this new Formula 90-97 to indicate what we are focusing as NEW innovative ideas to any prior 1/32 GP racing developments achieved before, details that make us different:

- Complete NEW range of body shape from 90's with LOW nose and HIGH nose version.

- SC-1608 extended guide.

- DIGITAL compatible.

- Separate motor mount with 2 front and 2 rear screws fixing post. Allowing to use 2, 4 or 6 Suspensions points. 

- Self innovative and own designed formula 90-97 chassis with front and rear  body height adjustment and body floating system over 4 points.

- Chassis wire clips undercut to avoid any interference with the front axle.

- 0.5mm Offset in-line motor mount.

- Use of half thread screws for body play adjustment.

- Suspension system fully adjustable from the underside of the chassis without body disassembling.

- Self centered bushings in the rear axle.

- Rear magnet position.

- Rear sponge wheels as standard in the RS version for wooden track

- 26 tooth inline with lightened plastic. Use of Al-7075 Ergal hard coated stopper. 

- Nylon smooth pinion 10th.

- Chassis: front chassis side diffusers to replicate some of the models. 

- Highly detailed driver and helmet reproduction.

- Complete engineered, developed and final part assembly in Barcelona - Spain. 

Beside that we complete the model with top level details already common in the industry as per below:

- Reinforced guide post. 

- Front axle height adjustment using with x M2.5 screws. 

- Longitudinal braces to improve stiffness and designed for minimal lateral torsion.

- Rear end chassis diffusers design.

- Extra 0,65mm thin body and complete design of all pieces specially designed to get a lower Center of Gravity to improve faster cornering and acceleration.

- AS25 high grip rear tyres for plastic track. One of the best rubber compounds to use on plastic track in the market.

- Motor fixing with 2 screws for ensure straightness and avoid self turning.

- Lightened Aluminum front and rear rims with M2.5 set screw. 

- Hard chrome steel 2.38mm axles.

- Our SC-0025b RS standard magnetic motor Sprinter-2, 21.500rpm and high torque, with air cooling system.

Be original, embrace the difference to race, enjoy and get emotion again with this new 1/32 Scaleauto Formula 90-97 cars.

Gear UP & Win!

Your Scaleauto Team

   

[Nonfractal]

Scaleauto's offering is a little confusing. 

Included or not included in the upcoming car? 

Black or grey chassis? 
Bargeboards ("front diffusers") 
Rear diffuser 
Suspension as a factory fit? 

I hope scaleauto do produce a good functional car even if (i have to agree with italy) it is ugly.
Although scaleauto have picked up some design cues from 1990s cars (the beginning of the multi layer swept front wing) , the bodies completely miss the non "square box" side pods and the beginnings of the hourglass body shape. 

..and
That big lump at the back to cover the crown? Ugly.

AlanW

[woodcote]

   

The two white kits have arrive at Pendles, priced at £47.95 each.

The 'low-nose' is here: https://www.pendleslotracing.co.uk/scale...e-kit.html

And the 'high-nose' here: https://www.pendleslotracing.co.uk/scale...e-kit.html

The other colours and liveried cars shouldn't be far away.