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After the 'not more cars' call was fended off by a 'I've not bought THAT many' response I thought I'd do a quick check. Maybe  I'd bought three or four cars this year, certainly no more than half a dozen anyway. After all, there's no racing - but I surprised myself when I found it's averaged out at more than two a month. Oops!

Here's January's purchases:

           

Can't resist the ScaleAuto Honda - and I convinced myself I really needed this Dayglo Orange version. (So easy to see on the track.) 

Then there was the 'I haven't got a decent NASCAR' purchase. Upgraded within the rules - wheels, tyres, gears and the max. rev. limit motor. Unfortunately Lockdown hasn't seen it turn a wheel on the club track.

and February's.

           

Another 'easier to see on the track' buy. This time the Revell NSU. Swapped in the 'Pendle-ised' chassis from my existing dark blue NSU. Of course with the green body I've convinced myself it's much faster   because I can see it! I LOVED racing the blue one so can't wait to get this back on a big track! 

Finally a ScaleAuto Wurth BMW. Not my best purchase. I thought it was going to come with the same chassis as the Honda but was disappointed to find it's the much simpler 'home racer' style. Still, after a lot of fettling it's probably quicker than the  multi-adjustable racer style chassis, which I have under a BASF M1. I just haven't really 'bonded' with this one.

Three out of four's not bad going though.

Now where are those from March and April?

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Umm?    Now I've started digging I can see what my wife's getting at. Only two months covered and I've already missed three cars out. I'll go back to those later ....

March and there was the possibility there would be a race meeting in April, with Porsche's as the Owner/Driver class so .....

With a penchant for running pink cars - most other racers won't but for me the colour makes it easy to spot - a Sideways 'Retro livery' Pink Pig joined the fold, along with a bargain black MSC 959 in Pendle's sale. Turns out the black car was the pig, which took a lot of sorting to get running right. However, the Pink Pig runs like a dream, although the spoiler falls off even if you LOOK at it the wrong way!  Still no chance to run these on the club track though as Lockdown was squeezed tighter. (At the moment I think these are the only two NEW cars I've bought this year. Even so, the 959 WAS on sale   )

           

As we moved towards April the club meetings were most definitely cancelled - but that didn't curb the Magpie instinct so.....

How about an iconic Alitalia livery on a Sideways car? Don't like the shape of the Stratos - looks like it might not handle too well - but a second hand Lancia Beta for less than the cost of a new Scalextric car? Just HAD to have it. It's had some hard knocks with the usual casualties - mirrors and wiper - missing but it was also minus a tailpipe and the glass was loose. Both an easy fix. The scrapes give it some patina - and since it's going to be raced anyway ....  

A car I'd lusted after at the Gaydon SCF, a B.R.M 1/24 Mini couldn't be passed up either. Second hand but absolutely mint and in the colours I'd have gone for if buying new (which I try to avoid on principle as it's coming straight out of the box and onto the track), it also required a little fettling as per B.R.M savants suggestions. Smaller front tyres - why sell it with rubbing fronts and include the 'remedy smaller tyres' in the box? - and gear mesh adjustment got it moving nicely. It's a real pleasure to drive. At least on the home test track.

Better save the others for another day as I'm feeling guilty and Josie's getting suspicious. She can count up to eight just as well as I can!  (Seems I have a bit of trouble beyond that though!)

           

[DPJ]

I too have a BRM NSU and Mini - love these cars! And they run extremely well with the typical running in recommendations. Ohh and I put lights in them for night running! The Mini is the wife's
   

[Henk]

The Germans have a saying: “Die Hoffnung stirbt zu letzt”. Hope is the last to die.

Finally I found a Top Slot Chapparal 2J, not immaculate but good enough for me :)

   

   

   

[Anthony B]

Outstanding!!! - On my wish list as well :)

[Henk]

Yes, I am very pleased with it although it cost me deep in the purse. I found it on a Spanish website where some more cars can be found: https://www.todocoleccion.net/s/coches-slot

But I got tired of waiting for Slot.It to bring this although it is announced already.

I missed out on the 3D print from CG Slotcars, the one with the working fans. But I found a website that sells the 3D data files for $10, https://www.cgtrader.com/3d-print-models...m-slot-car

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May's purchases couldn't be more different. 

Both spectacular in their own way, the MR Slotcar Gulf Mclaren caught my eye on Facebook Marketplace. I tried to resist and thought it would be snapped up but when it was still there two weeks later I Googled the spec. looked at a few reviews and decided to chance my arm. I offered the asking price - but to include postage, which was accepted. It looks absolutely mint, came boxed with the original sleeve, tyres and magnet but was set up mag-less and with NSR tyres all round. At half the going rate it was a bargain - and absolutely gorgeous.

I loved watching the 1:1 Legends racing at Donington (or would that be 5/8ths?)   Anyway, I'd kept an eye on the Pioneer prices and they've remained pretty steady. However I eventually managed to pick this one up under list (which seems to have gone up since they were first released?) At the time I didn't know Inaslot also had a web site where it might have been a little cheaper - but without its box. This simple red scheme seems a lot closer to the spirit of the Legends racing I saw but I am tempted to replace the black parts with chrome at some point, along the lines of the Dealer Special version. Lovely little car, as yet un-run. I was pleased to see one appear in the Forum reviews at the time mine was negotiating the post. Great timing.

           

The Vanquish McLaren, bought in June, just fit into my hobby and slot racing ethos for so many reasons. I used to 'subscribe' to Oscar Koveleski's Autoworld mail order catalogue in my teens and his 1:1 car featured heavily. In addition I raced the Aurora AFX HO (1-64) scale version on my home raceway back then - and still have it. Add to that my fascination with Vanquish CanAm cars for their OTT detail and running gear after finding one at Gaydon 2018 and all the stars aligned when this one popped up. Already less than eBay dealer prices, an offer was accepted and the car joined the ranks of my 2020 purchases, also as yet un-run.

Rounding out the half-year spending spree is the fabulous 1/24 B.R.M Castrol Escort. A perfect match, to my mind, for the earlier find of the Martini Mini. Snapped up very quickly when spotted, again second-hand, I was delighted to add this one to the stable. Another yet to be run but I hope to remedy that when I next get the opportunity to set up the home test-oval. However, I've already eased the body mounts and adjusted the gear mesh after holding the rear wheels between thumb and forefinger to swing the car on its axle and finding the original set-up to be much too tight. 

           

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Bringing things up-to-date, well, nearly - but more of that another time, what were in July's parcels?

           

Well, patience pays. Never thought a 'second-user' NSR 86-89 F1 would come my way but here it is - and in a decent, easy to see livery. A bit like the Pioneer Legends cars, when these first came out I fancied getting one - but didn't expect to, so when this came up I moved fast. Again a quick offer with a promise of immediate payment did the trick. The rear tyres had been changed and the mirror closest to the camera has some score marks but other than that it's barely discernible from new. Came complete with case, card backing, etc. Likely to be a home runner/shelf queen though as there's no F1 class at the B St E club.

The Ninco Megane was on 'clearance'. Originally a Ninco 1 the body has been transferred to a Lightning anglewinder chassis. A Ninco Megane was one of my first 'serious' 1/32 buys at Gaydon 2018 as I loved the radical paint job, wild 'body kit', anglewinder chassis and proper alloy wheels. This colourway really rang my bell 

           

August: Didn't realise what a mix I was buying but again, love the Fly trucks - or at least, the Sisu. This Ebay purchase cost less than a new Scalextric generic-resistant F1 car - including postage! Missing mirrors and the aerial, with one twisted wiper still to be sorted and the bumper mesh loose it's cleaned up really nicely and joins the truck fleet. It does have one paint chip where the glare is on the corner of the bonnet but all the 'scrapes' and 'rubs' from barriers and other trucks have polished out nicely. 

Apart from the NSR F1 all the cars/trucks have 'buddies', another of the same class to race against at home, or to give me a choice at the club. So .....

The last car is the Legends Coupe. I ADORE this car. I don't think it shows off to  advantage in photos - but in the hands - Wow! It's exquisite. This one will remain unchanged as the black bumpers, etc. suit it well. This one came from Inaslot's own website, thanks to a heads up on here - and was cheaper than my bargain red sedan - and eBay.

Up to date? Well, there are four more I've bought this year that I'd almost forgotten about so when I've got the pic's ......

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Tying up the loose ends.

The Bentley was bought from the Sales section here back in January and was received and worked on in Feb. Wheels, tyres and gears were changed but the OTT motor was retained as that was the main characteristic that attracted me to 'The Beast'. The Bentley has proved to be a very stable platform. Very chuckable with lovely drifts on the home test oval but like many cars bought this year has still to see any club track time. Once it does it may have to go back to the original gear ratio of 13:34. (I changed it to 11:36, which seems to suit the home oval.)

The Gallardo was one of those cars that seemed to get rave reviews and had the wild sort of styling that appeals to me. When this easy-to-see 'Kermit the Frog' green car came up at about 3/5ths the new price it joined the stable. Another used but like new acquisition it had been the previous owners back-up car so saw little if any track time. I have beefed up the small body-panel attachments with judicious use of GS Hypo cement though, just in case, after seeing various comments and photos of bits 'falling off'!

           

The classic Audi rally car is the perfect foil to the MSC Metro 6R4's and RS200, driving completely differently. I did buy it on appearance, thinking it would be a nice shelf queen but not too good on the track, being too short, tall and narrow. However. it has proved to be a delight to drive, being very stable and solidly planted on the 'road'.  

Finally the Renault Sport team car caught my eye for the gorgeous pearl yellow paint and 'fadeaway chequered flag' from the 1:1 racing. From the Ninco 1 series the body may well migrate to a Lightning anglewinder chassis with alloy wheels, if I can find one at a reasonable price.

That brings me up to date for 2020 and I am, really am, trying to resist buying any more this year. However, I'm not know for the strength of my willpower. 

           

[CMOTD]

Well that was quick! New Legends car from Pioneer, only released yesterday and delivered 10 minutes ago. Well done Inaslot.
   

My red one now has a playmate.
   

A nice touch was the inclusion of alternate pinions to change the gearing if you want.