Exin Scalextric STS - Track Details

A Nissan, Mercedes, and Pinzgauer from the STS range

Introduction

The guide slot in STS track is plastic with the conductor rails exposed only on the top surface of the track in the style of current Ninco track. All the track sections are 130mm wide with slot centres 65mm apart except the flexible track and the narrow ends of chicane sections. The main track sections have small rectangular holes along their edges for retaining trackside accessories - borders, barriers and marker stones.

The plastic used seems to be somewhat less flexible than that used for ordinary Scalextric track so the track is less prone to warping but the tabs that hold the sections together can break off if not treated with care. There is some speculation that the plastic used in sts track is decaying making it more brittle. The track connections can also be stiff to join together when new – particularly the narrow ends of the chicane track sections and the flexible track sections.

The above paragraph was originally written some 20 or so years ago. Since then the plastic seems to have decayed even further. I recently brushed one tab with the tip of my finger and it broke off. This is obviously a great shame as it pretty much prevents the track system from actually being used now. I am hoping to put a layout together myself but it will have to be a semi-permanent affair on baseboards to stand any chance of surviving.

Whilst the track seems to connect together with reliable electrical connections, breaks in the circuit might arise. With ordinary Scalextric track, “Power Boost” cables are available to overcome this problem. These will not fit sts track and none were ever produced to do this. Care should therefore be taken when assembling the track to ensure good electrical connections. If electrical problems do arise, there is no obvious way of overcoming them. Wires could be soldered to the underside of some track sections or another connector might be found that fits. The only way to produce the equivalent of the power boost cables would be to cannibalise two hand controllers per cable, which would render the controllers useless and seems rather wasteful.

Track and accessories were packed in boxes or in clear plastic bags with card covers. Most of the boxes were white with the light blue “sts” logo in a diagonal pattern over the whole surface. Only three later accessories were packed in illustrated boxes, the Flexible Track, Suspension Bridge and Lap Counter. Early boxes had white labels showing the contents, later these were changed to yellow. Finally, with the introduction of the new CE regulations, larger yellow labels were used which also served to seal one end of the box.

Track types

As stated above, the main track sections (straights, curves and chicane) have small rectangular holes along their edges for retaining trackside accessories - borders, barriers and marker stones. In earlier track (Type 1) these holes were simple vertical slots cut through the top surface of the track just inside the vertical edges of the section. This meant that the type 1 accessories were placed on top of the track. After some time, perhaps a couple of years, new track sections and accessories (Type 2) were produced where the holes were made so that the top of the track edge was cut away too. (Photo of holes in different track types) This meant type 2 accessories could locate entirely to the side of the track, which allowed the full width of the track to be used.

There is little difference in use between either type of barrier or marker stone. In contrast, the type 1 borders impinge on the width of the track in a way that type 2 borders do not. Type 1 accessories can be used in track of either type. Type 2 accessories can be used with type 1 track but the lugs that locate into the slots will stand proud of the track surface and the accessory will not go down all the way to the bottom edge of the track as they are designed to do with type 2 track.