[GregK]

Scalextric - Mini Cooper: modified C8516

A superb model from Scalextric and one which is one of the most often requested car for me to digitise ...
 
 

Three lovely minis which if they were mine, would also have had 13k or 16k motors
fitted as well ....
 
 

The wiring socket has been removed to allow greater freedom and a lot more
wriggle room. The original connections are the square pads in the centre; the
round pads are alternative soldering points ...
 
 

Four different coloured wires are not really necessary so just two where used; red
for the power to the motor and black for the pickup from the track. The LED
emitter is seen with the red & black wires. This is now ready to be installed into
the first of the Minis .....
 
 

Before that can be done, the wiring for the lights needs replacing. Two very long
pieces are used as these will be cut into the black pickup wires before continuing
on to be terminated on the front lighting board ...
 
 

The chip is now installed with some hot-glue applied to the right side of the traction
magnet ensuring that all wiring is clear of the driveshaft and gearing ...
 
 

A clear shot of how the chip is anchored and the wiring is gently led around the motor.
The red wire by the back wheel is the long lighting wire from the rear lighting-board ...
 
 

One of the features of silicone wire is that the insulation can be easily removed. Here
a sharp knife was gently rolled around the wire enabling a gap to opened up. The long
wires from the rear-lighting board are also opened up in the same manner. This allows
the wire to be twisted one over the other to form a very strong and secure joint after
a dab of solder is applied. The ubiquitous heat-shrink is also applied to insulated the
circuit. The red wire is joined in an identical manner. Finally, the bare ends of the rear
wires can now be soldered onto the front lighting-board.

 
 

The headlamps are well executed
 
 

There can be no doubt that these Minis and the F1 Legends are Scalextric's finest
models by a country mile. Non of these grotty water stickers here, just proper
tampo printing.