As a kid, I grew up on HO Scale cars, the A/FX cars from Aurora. Later in life, I added in Tyco 440's, and then LifeLike's, etc. Pretty much, HO is all I have know, slot car wise, for the last 30+ years.

HOWEVER...

Looking over the 1/32 stuff of late, it is an impressive hobby. I am contemplating taking a plunge into the 1/32 world, but I am woefully uneducated about it. I have a few questions I am hoping you all can answer for me:

1) I am leaning towards the Scalextric Digital track system, which, as I understand, would allow me to have up to 6 cars running on a track with as few as 2 lanes. The cross over points, as I understand it, have a moving part that guides the cars guide pin into the correct slot, as per the signal received (or not) from the controller. I really like that concept of that, it seems very cool. My question is, how reliable are these cross over pieces and the movement mechanisms? (I am thinking of making a permanent 1/32 layout if I go this route, and would hate to have something that is prone to breakage or being tempermental on a permanent track.)

2) I seem to recall hearing about a 1/32 produce that allowed you to "race yourself". If I recall the details, it worked like such: You put a car on the track, told the track software that this was the computer car, and ran it a few laps. The computer would "Learn" the course, and soon have that car zipping around at pretty quick speeds close to, but not over, the limits of traction. You then could "race" yourself with another car. This sound familiar to anyone? If so, was this a Scalextric product, or Carerra or some other brand?

3) The digital cars that are used for the user-derived lane changing: Can other cars be modded to have this functionality? Can you swap different bodies onto the digital car's chassis? Can you run non-digital cars and non Scalextric-cars on the digital track (which I assume would simply mean that the cars would stay in their own lanes, and only 1 car per lane, kinda like the traditional way)?

Thanks in advance for any help anyone can provide. Due to the costs involved, I would want to make sure if I take the plunge, it is done correctly.

I can help with a few of your questions, mostly things I've picked up by "osmosis."

A non digital car will not work on the track, but a digital car should work on a non-digital track.

Some cars can accept a Scalextric digital chip. The other manufacturers make chips for their systems. It does depend on the space available in the car & the chip size. I've heard the F1 chips fit the best.


Hope this is of some help. Thanks, Glenn

Usually the chassis is produced to fit one body and normally not interchangeable with other bodies with out some modifications.

Chris

Just to add on the digital system, whichever digital track you purchase you are pretty much limited to that brand of digital cars as they don't allow you to use other brands on a specic track though some have kits to switch analog to digital if they specifically designed for it. I am new to 1/32 as well having AFX cars as a kid, my current analog SCX track is set up on a 5X9 ping pong table!
Analog while restricted to their own slots allows you to switch brands of cars giving you a broader selection of cars to use. Which is why so many still run Analog. Analog has come a long way as there is Analog pit lanes, electronic lap counters, start lights, timers etc..... Definitely do some research before taking the plunge as it can be costly! LOL Gene

Thanks all.

For the record, this weekend I purchased an SCX Digital set, having decided, after careful consideration and the pros and cons of the various systems, to go the SCX route.

Looking forward to its arrival!

Thanks again everyone for your help.

Just make sure you show the pix of your progression. Have been thinking of the same, but space becomes an issue when you're dreaming of 4 lanes. :) rr

Will do. But the nice part is, with the digital system, no need to have a 4 lane track. 2 lanes with 6 cars all going at the same time. Its truly revolutionary.

BTW, thoughts of owning a 1970 RoadRunner made me fail algebra 3 times in a row in High School...Always loved me those big old B-Bodies...

Don't go there! Don't do it!

1/32 will own you and your wallet....... :jest:

Scott

Don't I know it!

Got my SCX set last night. Wow, it is HIGHLY addictive. I grew up on HO, but man oh man, this 1/32 stuff is a blast. Makes the HO stuff look primitive...lane changing on demand, pit refueling, computer controlled "ghost" car that you can race against, etc.

Very cool stuff.

i too looked into the digital and the scx brand seemed superior,if you
go to youtube there are a number of tips and pointer vids from scx
(the guy is a little rough on the equipment and slightly annoying,but good
info.)

Digital command control slot cars are simply not worth the money. DCC is for trains, not slot cars. I played with both the SCX and Scalextric digital sets at the I-hobby show. I found the pit road thing and lane changing to be annoying. Just a way to beat up some nice cars when you have inexperienced racers around you. I found it frustrating and down right stupid to have to come down pit road when I was in the middle of a door to door race with someone. You can call it "realistic" if you want but to me its just a hassle that can get in the way of a good race.

Also, your stuck with the junk race set hand controllers for life. Normally if you start out with a set that is the first upgrade you would make.

Don't I know it!

Got my SCX set last night. Wow, it is HIGHLY addictive. I grew up on HO, but man oh man, this 1/32 stuff is a blast. Makes the HO stuff look primitive...lane changing on demand, pit refueling, computer controlled "ghost" car that you can race against, etc.

Very cool stuff.

Rolo, are you saying you have the ghost car included with the Pit Box set you bought? Which SCX set in particular? Thanks.

Rudy-

No set comes with a computer controlled car, but you can purchase the SCX Safety Car, it can run in 2 modes:

1) As a regular car, controlled by you

or

2) As a computer controlled car, that once it learns the course, will click off pretty quick lap times and change lanes randomly. Also, it is nice that if you should de-slot or stop your car, it stops as well. Once your car moves again, it moves as well.

Here is a pic of it:

http://www.sportcraftcars.com/SCX/scx13160.jpg

The thing is, as I understand it, you can take the computer chip out of that car, and put it in any other chip compatible car, and that car will now function the same way. So, in other words, if you get tired of racing against a silver econo box, you can pop the chip into say a Chevy Monte Carlo and race against a modern Nascar car.

Digital command control slot cars are simply not worth the money. DCC is for trains, not slot cars. I played with both the SCX and Scalextric digital sets at the I-hobby show. I found the pit road thing and lane changing to be annoying. Just a way to beat up some nice cars when you have inexperienced racers around you. I found it frustrating and down right stupid to have to come down pit road when I was in the middle of a door to door race with someone. You can call it "realistic" if you want but to me its just a hassle that can get in the way of a good race.

Also, your stuck with the junk race set hand controllers for life. Normally if you start out with a set that is the first upgrade you would make.

Jeez, how do you really feel? :rolleyes:

Improved wireless controllers are supposed to be released in early 2009.

Sorry to hear you did not like the experience. As a 30+ year slot'er, I find the new digital system has been like a breath of fresh air blown into the hobby for me. I truly enjoy being able to run multiple cars at the same time with the ability to jump from lane to lane at the push of a button. Already my 2 sons and I have been looking for any free time we can get to run to the basement and have a race. I know I must be onto something good, as usually they don't get this excited for anything that is not X-box 360 or Wii related.

And actually, compared to the costs that HO sets are going for these days, I think these are quite worth the money. Thus far, I have been very pleased with the overall value of what I spent vs. what I received.

While I will always have a soft spot in my heart for HO cars, I am really quite impressed with the 1/32 stuff.

wnovess99 spreading joy in all scales...

Here's some pretty kick ass Best racing line videos that trump all your assertions...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=slEuI0z2Lnc&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05WtdM0htfY

So....got any pictures of YOUR track?

wnovess99 spreading joy in all scales...

Here's some pretty kick ass Best racing line videos that trump all your assertions...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=slEuI0z2Lnc&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05WtdM0htfY

So....got any pictures of YOUR track?

Goes to show ya, Crimnick....
Ya just can't please some people. Go figure.:rolleyes:

I guess I can add digital command control to my HO slotcar of the future wish list!! Scalies look like a ton of fun, but I don't have the space for them where I am living now. maybe someday I'll dabble in the deep end, but for now, I'm staying where I am in HO-ville.

These kids look like they're having a blast!!!! Lane changing, passing, and drafting and crashing!! http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LRx1vDWFX9g

I guess I can add digital command control to my HO slotcar of the future wish list!! Scalies look like a ton of fun, but I don't have the space for them where I am living now. maybe someday I'll dabble in the deep end, but for now, I'm staying where I am in HO-ville.

These kids look like they're having a blast!!!! Lane changing, passing, and drafting and crashing!! http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LRx1vDWFX9g

Well, now almost a week into things, and I am really, really liking it.

HO is always gonna be a special place for me, its where I got my start, and what helped get me interested in cars. I will never forget my A/FX set with Jackie Stewart on the front, and a few Can-Am cars as the graphic. Good stuff.

While I love my HO cars, the fact is, just racing in the same slot has kind of run its course for me. In addition, now I can have my 2 sons race with me at the same time. They are very much into the new system, where as they showed tepid interest in my HO stuff. So, I guess 1/32 is the future for me, as I don't really see LifeLike or Tomy looking to add digital capabilities to their cars, if it is even possible at this point.

Ultimately, I would love to win the lottery, build a huge "hobby room" and have both a 1/32 and HO track...

I'd say for anyone who is on the fence about things to take a good look. You might just be impressed by 1/32 like I was.

I personally started out in 1/32 because the only local, commercial race track was a 1/32 race track - yeah, they had 1/24 too, but that track was almost a 30-45 minute drive one way and the 1/32 track is 5 minutes from my place. So I took the plunge into 1/32, even though as a kid I had raced HO and had all sorts of HO tracks and cars (in fact, still have three cars from my childhood that I kept). As I went along with my 1/32 racing I really wanted to try out some of the new HO cars and tracks so I purchased a LL setup and ended up selling it and upgrading to a Tomy AFX track - my childhood track was a Tyco racing track, so this was my first time using Tomy AFX, aside from when my best friend would show up with his Aurora AFX track that amazingly hooked up to my Tyco track pieces. At any rate, while messing around with HO and racing 1/43, I ended up in a job that gave me ZERO time to make it out to the 1/32 race track near my house anymore to race, much less to just burn some laps. I then wondered if I should get rid of the 1/32 track and then SCX happened to produce and sell 1/43 through Target! I picked up a pair of cars, setup a small 1/32 track layout and bam! I was into 1/43 slot cars!

I guess at the end of the day the "scale wars" seems a bit silly when you finally make up your mind and just step up and say, "I like ALL slot cars!" If it can be raced on a track with a slot and wired controllers, then its just fun!

Hi! I'm PD2 and I enjoy ALL Slot Cars!
PD2:thumbsup:

you won't regret it. Its the most fun of all slot car racing and the cheapest if you keep it simple, and race the cars stock.

Heres my setup www.slotrax.net

Yep, so far, I am keeping the cars stock, and having a blast. Bought a bunch of DTM cars that I will chip and make capable of racing on my system.

I tell you, its already become an addiction...

I raced HO and 1/32 as a kid. I had fun with HO because my buddy had a nice track in his basement. My heart however was always with the big scale stuff. I am a modeler and I like nothing better than to go and buy a model and then convert it into a slot car. I actually even go one step bigger and almost strictly do 1/24 cars these days. You can buy any 1/24 body style/year you desire and the large size makes it easier to customize etc. However the big scale means you need a bigger track and therefore more room.
Anyway it's all cool and a relatively inexpensive hobby.
Jeff from Canada

hey jeff!we love tutorials here.any chance on you posting a step by step on how you build your cars?i am sure we would all enjoy it!neil from canada.

Rudy-

No set comes with a computer controlled car, but you can purchase the SCX Safety Car, it can run in 2 modes:

1) As a regular car, controlled by you

or

2) As a computer controlled car, that once it learns the course, will click off pretty quick lap times and change lanes randomly. Also, it is nice that if you should de-slot or stop your car, it stops as well. Once your car moves again, it moves as well.

Here is a pic of it:

http://www.sportcraftcars.com/SCX/scx13160.jpg

The thing is, as I understand it, you can take the computer chip out of that car, and put it in any other chip compatible car, and that car will now function the same way. So, in other words, if you get tired of racing against a silver econo box, you can pop the chip into say a Chevy Monte Carlo and race against a modern Nascar car.

That is slick ! I lke the idea of running against myself .

Jeez, how do you really feel? :rolleyes:

Improved wireless controllers are supposed to be released in early 2009.

Sorry to hear you did not like the experience. As a 30+ year slot'er, I find the new digital system has been like a breath of fresh air blown into the hobby for me. I truly enjoy being able to run multiple cars at the same time with the ability to jump from lane to lane at the push of a button. Already my 2 sons and I have been looking for any free time we can get to run to the basement and have a race. I know I must be onto something good, as usually they don't get this excited for anything that is not X-box 360 or Wii related.

And actually, compared to the costs that HO sets are going for these days, I think these are quite worth the money. Thus far, I have been very pleased with the overall value of what I spent vs. what I received.

While I will always have a soft spot in my heart for HO cars, I am really quite impressed with the 1/32 stuff.

I'm afraid I have to agree with Rolo here. The cost of HO stuff is on the rise .That coupled with the detail/realism of 1/32 scale and the fact that it doesn't really cost me all that much more for it, well you get the idea.

i just got a great deal at my lhs which is rare as they mark up stuff pretty high usually.scx kevin harvick #21 nascar,digi compatible.20 bucks CAD!that was a 40 dollar savings!1/32 scale,1/43,1/24,ho,its all good as long as it stays in the slot in my opinion.basically i have cars for three different scales,and have fun with all of them!i have space issues here,so HO is my scale of choice at home,but i have some carrera and artin 1/43 stuff,and the scx car in 1/32 and a riggen 1/32 on the way aswell,to race when i go out.digital looks great,but way out of our price range.we run on afx/tomy four lane,aurora two lane a 1/8 mile dragstrip,and a hand routed mdf sectional track in 1/32 scale.we just try to mix it up and have fun.

Just a quick bump for an update:

Since I have posted the original message, my divorce came to a close, I have moved, and started over. After everything settled down, I treated myself to a new F-1 Pit Box SCX Digital set, even though I already had one. I wanted 3 pristine cars again, as I am an F1 junkie, and figured the extra track and other stuff would come in handy, as I do have plans for a permanent layout once I get a bit more settled in my place.

I took the cars out, and had issues with them. I contacted Bryan Young, the SCX rep, and he sent me, free of charge, replacement parts that should fix the issues. In addition, for my "troubles", he hooked me up with an incredible compensation that still has my jaw agape.

A BIG, no make that HUGE, reason in me going with SCX vs other systems was the reputation of SCX standing behind their products. I don't live near any hobby shops, so I knew all my 1/32 items would be mail order. I wanted a product that I knew if I had issues with, a resolution would be easy and painless.

I can not emphasize enough just how pleased I am with SCX and customer service. Three cheers to them, they could give a lot of companies in all facets of business a lesson in how to do it right!

Just wanted folks to know this, as it was a real nice surprise to not only get my issues fixed, but a lil' extra thrown in to make me feel a valued customer.

LONG LIVE SCX!!!!

Kind of bitter sweet story Rolo. First, sorry to hear about the finalized divorce - never a fun event to deal with. But, second, awesome story about your customer experience with SCX. Brian and team have done a heck of a job supporting their customers here in the States. I have even heard of Brian taking road trips to deliver parts as well as see if he can attend to customers in person. I agree that this sort of customer service is what sets vendors apart.

Thanks for sharing!
PD2:thumbsup:

Hi,

THe SPA BLST digital wood track is a very special track (I know the owner quite well). Every lane changes are automatic. The racers play on the track just like an analog track. It's the originality of BLST system : Best Lane choice. THe computer system chooses for you the best lane for your car, and there is also anti crashing system included. So you simply can't compare this system to "classic" slot racing ;)

Personaly, I tested some digitals systems too. Artin digipro for home use, and the DAVIC profesionnal system used in europe (mainly, in France) for endurance championship.

Digipro had fuel consumtion, and a quite well designed digital system for home entertainement. BUT you can't say that is classic slot racing. It's more like a sort of big arcade game, like pinball or pool.

DAVIC is slot racing. No fancy fuel features or whatever : just 2-3lanes changes for a 50-70 meters 4-6lanes track, and 15 racers on it. Plug your regular parma or whatever pro controler on it, use the voltage you want.

The DAVIC digital brings just two importants features : the important numbers of drivers, and the equality of lanes, wich permits to race without segment systems or stuff like that. But, it's mainly "just" "classic slot racing.

Personnaly, I prefer analog system, with a good race management software. But I can understand some people can be interested in that type of digital racing.


BTW, I have two tracks at home, 1/32 3lanes, and h0 4lanes, I started to build it last year, and today, only the h0 scale 4lanes track is playable for now...SO maybe you'll guess what scale I prefer, after has been able to compare it. :wave: