[Top Down]

Given identical components - body, chassis, wheels, tyres, etc. (other than gears of course), which should be the better motor configuration, inline or anglewinder?

I know there'd be lots of variables but basically, I have an inline Slot.it BMW McLaren F1 GTR running a 22k ScaleAuto long can 'Endurance' motor, an unused anglewinder pod, time on my hands but no track to test it on.

So do I swap all the components over and hope the change of config. shows a general improvement, or leave it alone?

[dvd3500]

This will be fun...

[Top Down]

Not wanting to start a fight. 

Just want to know, would changing only the pod from inline to anglewinder make any noticable difference, for better or worse.

All this 'configurable' stuff is new to me.

[CMOTD]

Inline vs angle vs sidewinder offer an endless source of discussion and amusement! A Google search will reveal differing opinions all over the various forums, anglewinder often claimed to be best and certainly the high end stuff like NSR and Thunderslot  use it almost exclusively. The fastest cars I possess are anglewinder but they would probably be so in the other configurations as well! BSCRA type metal chassis cars are virtually all anglewinder but the advantages with plastic chassis are not so clear cut because there are so many variables to take into consideration.

Not much help but the only advice I can offer is 'try it and see'.

[Scuderia_Turini]

The context is important. If running with traction magnet(s) the difference will be minimal. Without magnets the track layout will have a bearing depending upon the numbers of right and left corners. The motor torque of the in-line layout will favour one or the other more.

Leo

[Top Down]

Ah! Forgot to put it in context. No magnets, Scalextric Sport track.

... and here are the two track configurations. Each can be raced in either direction but generally it's coming down the main straight towards the camera.

   

   

[Top Down]

The motor torque of the in-line layout will favour one or the other more.

So will the anglewinder be a little more neutral overall then? (More 'predictable' in the corners.)

[Gordon Steadman]

All my best handling cars are sidewinders. Gears revolving in the same direction, weight over the wheels etc. etc. I assume that anglewinders started as the motors of the day wouldn't fit between the wheels and running at an angle was the nearest thing. I can see no other technical reason for doing it as, is theory, the weight distribution becomes unbalanced.

Given the choice that's what I do but inlines can be made to handle pretty well too. Only way to be sure is try it!

[Top Down]

Well I started to strip the (new to me but secondhand) car down to change the pods but spotted one or two issues that might have explained its poor performance, so for now I've just reassembled it after a few tweaks.

It now sits nice and flat on the 'reference block' (I forget what they're called!)

I changed the front wheels and tyres and although they are now smaller in diameter all four wheels now touch the ground, the guide sits deeper in the slot and the front end no longer has a sort of 'spring' in it. Previously you could push the body down to reduce wheel arch clearance and it would just bounce back up. Now the clearance looks right without that need but the front axle is still free to 'float' up and down, without binding.

Hopefully all this will help it's drivability - although I'll still have the option to try an anglewinder if it doesn't. I think the ScaleAuto 'Endurance' motor could be a little lacking in punch but I'll wait and see if my tweaks have improved things before swapping that out.

Still interested in opinions on AW v. Inline though - and thanks for the input so far.

[CMOTD]

All my best handling cars are sidewinders. Gears revolving in the same direction, weight over the wheels etc. etc. I assume that anglewinders started as the motors of the day wouldn't fit between the wheels and running at an angle was the nearest thing. I can see no other technical reason for doing it as, is theory, the weight distribution becomes unbalanced.

The switch to anglewinder set up was partly due to the restriction in motor size that you can fit in sideways but also the fact that sidewinder gears are a large diameter and it doesn't need much tyre wear before they are scraping on the track.