Okay you big scale racers, when you decided to get into the 1/32 scale world, what did you start with for a layout and so on? If you were going to do it again today, knowing what you know, what would you do today? :confused:

Thanks, rr :thumbsup::thumbsup:

I've dabbled in all the scales at one time or another and currently I span all of them from Ho to 1/24.

After trying out pretty much all the 1/32-1/24 sets available and the various brands of ho I have found I really like Scalextric sport but it isnt wide enough to run 1/24 on.

I decided to go Carrera which is the widest home set available currently.

I run my ho cars,1/43,1/32 and 1/24 on the carrera track with no problems.

The only thing about carrera is you need a lot of room to set it up in.

The thing I liked about scalextric sport was you could fit a nice 2 lane road course on a 4x8 sheet of plywood.

It depends on your space based on the size track you will be able to accomodate.

I hope this helps abit but I am really enjoying my carrera set up.

Wayne :thumbsup::thumbsup:

I started in 1/32 scale Carrera. I now have 1/25,1/32,1/43 scale cars and I can run them all on the same track. Basement is big enough for four lanes so eventually when I have enough track then I'll have the other two lanes completed. I really like that they have ready made buildings to make the track look like a real track so the only construction besides the bench work was the scenery.
If I could start over I think I might have gone Artin though, from what little I have read , they seem to have had a great digital system with pits avail. too. As it is ,I time my races and and we usually give the win to whoever completes 5 or 10 laps first. I think Artin had more variety in track pieces too?

Back some years ago I spent time with my local 1/32 shop and race track and a VERY knowledgable guy went through Scalextric, NINCO, Carrera, and SCX, taking the time to explain to me the benefits of each track. For what I wanted - home track, that was not permanently setup all the time, would be setup and taken down, changed, and rearranged several times, and I had no interest in running any larger scales than 1/32 - Scalextric Sport was the best choice.

The track material is some sort of plastic that can take some bending and flex. Why is this important? If you are not setting up a permanent track and want this flexibility to tear it down, the track can be "man handled" and any portion of it that gets a little "warped" you just hand reshape. I had the track on some uneven surfaces that it took the shape of and when I laid it out on our flat hard floors, I just went around to the bent pieces and was able to rework the track by hand to flatten it out. Plus, the connectors are not brittle and will not break off - at least for the last 4-5 years I've had my track I have YET to break one. VERY good track.

If I had to do it all over again, I might consider Carrera or one of the other tracks that takes 1/24 just so I'd have the scale to race, but I definitely cannot complain about the Scalextric Sport T2 track! Professor Motor and Parma both make controllers that are compatible upgrades for most all of the tracks too - did a special plug setup for mine so that I could use it at home and at the local track.

BTW - as mentioned by BRPHO and Thunderbolt1, I too race 1/43 and 1/32 cars on my track. The Carrera, SCX, Artin, and Ranch Design cars work perfect on 1/32 tracks.

Hope this helps!
PD2:thumbsup:

PD I was thinking of switching to Scalextric but as mentioned all of the tracks seem to have there good and bad points so I think I might stick with it for now. I did however get some Sloter and Fly 1/32 slots today !

PD I was thinking of switching to Scalextric but as mentioned all of the tracks seem to have there good and bad points so I think I might stick with it for now. I did however get some Sloter and Fly 1/32 slots today !

NICE! Sloter is nothing to sneeze at and the FLY's are cool. What did you get? Post up some pics! I love the new DP's from FLY. Got the first one that was released...haven't had a ton of time to set it up and run it, but many it looks cool! LOL!

PD2:thumbsup:

I made the jump about 6 months ago. Had been an HO addict since I first got into slots, some 30+ years ago as a kid, getting an A/FX set for X-mas one year.

Once the 1/32 stuff really seemed to get traction about 6-8 years ago, I looked at them with a lot of envy, as the sheer variety of cars available and the detail on them was and is amazing. However, I resisted getting into the scale, because, quite honestly, I did not have the pockets to support it.

However, the new 1/32 digital revolution caused me to re-examine things. Long story short, my sons had almost ZERO interest in HO single lane slots, but were really excited and interested in the Digital SCX layout they tried at a train show. So, I did a lot of research into things, and decided to go with an SCX Digital layout. I am extremely satisfied with my choice, and would recommend SCX Digital to anyone interested in starting out. It is a GREAT out the box system, great support, and very user friendly.

Knowing what I know now, I would not really change anything. (Except maybe getting a bigger basement!)

PD2 I bought the Sloter Lola T290 and the Fly Ferrari 250 GTO. There is another Lola I have saved in my cart on that site and I believe it is the Lola T70? I will have to get back to you about that.
Pics? Ok sure but I just bought a computer with all of the goodies for the home and this load of new Slots so it will be a few weeks until I get the digital camera, OK? !! HA ! I have to let the debit card cool off.

Rolo That is kind of how I got into the slots myself. A friend is heavy into everything HO , slot wise. I liked them but kind of small and even though they are nice and he has a lot of detail on his layout (huge!) they just didn't grab me. I went to a hobby shop that had a Carrera 1/32 slot set up with all of the buildings etc . They have huge displays in this store and they tell you to go ahead and try them out , slots, trains, even R/C stuff ! So I did and I was hooked. Thankfully my basement is large, I actually bought this place because it had a nice basement of course it was a bonus that it was covered by a nice house too .

I got into 1/32 about 5 mos ago and went with SCX Analog. While the digital system is very nice I stayed with Analog as the cars that I am really interested in did not come in digital for that brand. Cheaper than digital as well. Gene

PD2 I bought the Sloter Lola T290 and the Fly Ferrari 250 GTO. There is another Lola I have saved in my cart on that site and I believe it is the Lola T70? I will have to get back to you about that.
Pics? Ok sure but I just bought a computer with all of the goodies for the home and this load of new Slots so it will be a few weeks until I get the digital camera, OK? !! HA ! I have to let the debit card cool off.

Yeah, did you see the Slotter that is done with the MB Slots motors? Those are supposed to be some killer racers! I think its a Lola T70 body too, but the components are all racing with a nice racing motor. Check it out next time you hit the sites.

No worries on the pics and cameras. I totally understand. My last 1/32 scale purchase was when the FLY DP's arrived - that's almost been a year ago now. :cry: Guess that's why I have HO and 1/43 - allows me to still be into slot cars and every now and then buy something, but for a lot less. Right now I'm on total cash freeze until things pick up in the "free cash" area...which is hopefully soon!

PD2:thumbsup:

Rolo That is kind of how I got into the slots myself. A friend is heavy into everything HO , slot wise. I liked them but kind of small and even though they are nice and he has a lot of detail on his layout (huge!) they just didn't grab me. I went to a hobby shop that had a Carrera 1/32 slot set up with all of the buildings etc . They have huge displays in this store and they tell you to go ahead and try them out , slots, trains, even R/C stuff ! So I did and I was hooked. Thankfully my basement is large, I actually bought this place because it had a nice basement of course it was a bonus that it was covered by a nice house too .


Yeah, I never would have thought that 1/32 would "bite" me as hard as it did, but it has. I barely even look at my HO stuff anymore.

I find that 1/32 stuff, without traction magnets, to be just a lot more fun. I have tried HO cars without magnets, but it is not the same. I think the larger scales slide a lot more, and I really like the digital system with lane changing/refueling/multiple cars at the same time.

I got into 1/32 about 5 mos ago and went with SCX Analog. While the digital system is very nice I stayed with Analog as the cars that I am really interested in did not come in digital for that brand. Cheaper than digital as well. Gene

Gene I agree, while digital has some nice features all of the cars I really liked were analog, and I tend to want all of the ones I see, soooooooooo :thumbsup:

Yeah PD2 I understand on the "free cash" thing. I've had way too many expenses lately but I always try to budget some slot stuff in nowadays,Although I still feel the occasional itch to build some sci fi models ( don't ask !) .
I think the Lola T70 you are talking about is the one I ordered. I just liked the way it looked so much I went ahead and ordered it.I think most of my cars are 1/32 and I have some of the Carrera 1/43's. I have three 1/25 scale ones. They are okay but I like the smaller scales batter. haven't been biten by the HO stuff yet, when I want to race I head down to my temp. layout and drive the 1/32 stuff. There is just something about them. I guess it's the detail, it's almost like racing a nice diecast car.

Yeah, I never would have thought that 1/32 would "bite" me as hard as it did, but it has. I barely even look at my HO stuff anymore.

I find that 1/32 stuff, without traction magnets, to be just a lot more fun. I have tried HO cars without magnets, but it is not the same. I think the larger scales slide a lot more, and I really like the digital system with lane changing/refueling/multiple cars at the same time.

Rolo, the 1/32 scale cars with out the magnets are fun. I like to slide there rear ends out on every corner! I tried Armour All on one corner just to make it slipery. That was fun.

Carrera track is the only track that is stainless steel. Scalextric cars are the smoothest and easiest cars to work on, for some reason the carrera cars aren't as good as scalextric. and most fly or slot-it cars are hit or miss, and expensive.

Carrera track is the only track that is stainless steel. Scalextric cars are the smoothest and easiest cars to work on, for some reason the carrera cars aren't as good as scalextric. and most fly or slot-it cars are hit or miss, and expensive.

FLY, I'd agree with, but Slot.it? Granted, it's been a while since my last Slot.it purchase, but every Slot.it car I've purchased I've just sanded the tires, pulled the magnet, and placed the lead strip weights in my usual place and it was an awesome racer! Last one I bought was the orange McLaren - car ran like a top! Tell us about some of the issue or "hit or miss" issues you have had with the Slot.it's.

PD2:thumbsup:

We race with magnets, slot its seem to have so much speed they need just the right amount of magnet, not a hair to much or too little.
They are cool because they only have 2 screws, and their aluminum.

Yup, they are the racer's setup and delight! Best car I ever pulled out of the box RTR! If you are ever lucky to get some of the originals that were made by them when they were still coming out of Italy, make sure you try them out and hold on to them. That was back when Mazio made everything by hand there in their shops in Italy. Sweet cars! I think I have one from back then....been a while since I looked through my collection. LOL!

PD2:thumbsup:

Thanks for all the input and insight guys! :thumbsup::thumbsup: rr

we race routed with copper tape,and professor motor controllers,1 amp per lane.way more fun than the sectional track i have driven on.just don't like magnets.i think you have to really drive the car when you can't depend on the magnets.plus,if your sectional track is underpowered,the magnets hold the car back.

i have to agree about the scalextric cars.i particularly like the sidewinder nascar chassis,its the quickest i have.i have two,plus an inline mg lola,and an old school inline alfa romeo 155 rally car.the scalies are my fave.i have the slot.it sauber mercedes,with the older motor(not the hrs motor)and an scx nascar(crap)the scalies are the best performing i have found for the money.if you can afford it buy the hrs chassis from slot.it.really bloody fast,and whisper quiet.good brakes too.

I run my ho cars,1/43,1/32 and 1/24 on the carrera track with no problems.

:thumbsup::thumbsup:

What mods did you do to the ho cars to make them run on the Carrera track? I slipped a piece of tube over the guide and also soldered a bit of slide guide hook up wire (sans insulation!) on to the pickup shoes for a steady supply of power. Only problem was that i didn't want to convert all my ho cars and they did look a bit lost on the large track. Maybe if there were a third lane in the middle for ho!

Back to topic. Currently 1/32 trackless but that will change shortly! Over the past 15 years or so I've had a layout set up with just about every brand that was made. Started with a couple of Riggen sets in the early nineties, then back to ho. After that it was Eldon, Ninco, Eldon 1/24 track (gigantic banked turn!) Carrera, Scaley Sport, and Carrera. I also had strombecker track but never bothered setting it up. I always end up back with an ho setup though. Probably because that's what I had as a child? Good thing there is ebay!!

I agree that Scalextric was the best in being able to fit a reasonable amount of track in a small space but I like the Carrera track the best as far as quality and solid connections that don't lose contact over a period of time. I just didn't have the space for a decent size layout. With 2 of my four kids out of the house I can reclaim my space for a 1/32 scale layout!

On cars, well I prefer to run em and I always thought the Scalextric sport cars ran pretty well compared to Carrera, Fly, and Monogram. The Scaley cars of mine saw the most action.


Dominic

He may have fitted his cars with brushes, like this:

http://www.horacepro.com/guides.html

I've never done it, but I hear they work pretty decent.

PD2:thumbsup:

fyi,the tycopro with foils run great with the appropriate adjustments on 1/32 track.and with the huge track they drift great!we have a couple slide guide cars that run great,too,but the tycopros run on my 1/32 track with no modification whatsoever.all hail tycopro!(that one was for rich,lol!)