Slot Cars?

[rpstar]

Im sort of new to the car modeling hobby but I keep seeing the term "slot car " associated with car modeling. Could someone tell me what slot cars are and what are the similarities and differences with normal car modeling. Thanks

[hirofkd]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slot_car

[Layla's Keeper]

You'll have to also realize that slot cars generally fall into two categories.

On one hand, you'll have the "scale" slot cars which are more concerned with how close a replica to the real car the slot car is. In 1/24th scale, the primary manufacturer of scale slot cars (or as we racers call 'em, toy cars) is Carrera.



This is a typical Carrera 1/24th scale slot car. Primarily plastic construction, small motor (typically of Mabuchi manufacture), narrow hard rubber/vinyl tires, magnets to stick them to the track, intended to run on hard plastic home set tracks.

Now, on the other hand, you have racing slot cars (the real deal, buckos) which use brass or stainless steel chassis (or in the really top dollar fast stuff, EDM spring steel and piano wire) and lexan bodies. The biggest slot car manufacturer in the world is based right here in Ohio, Parma PSE, and they're strictly for the racers.



Here's an RTR (ready-to-run, for the uninitiated) Parma 4" chassis MG EX-257. 4" is the industry standard wheelbase for a competition chassis. Chassis are two piece (typically) to allow for weight shift that aids in cornering, the tires are foam rubber and the motors range from the basic Parma spec series 16D "Deathstar" to custom built strap-can shunted 27 Opens with ball bearing endbells.

They run on commercial tracks found across the country (there are four in Northeast Ohio, including America's oldest single location hobby shop "The Slot Shop" in Elyria, Ohio, and my hometrack "Shifters Raceway" in Eastlake) and there are several competitive touring leagues.



This is a typical commercial slot car track.

[klutz_100]

Originally Posted by Layla's Keeper

You'll have to also realize that slot cars generally fall into two categories.....

That's really interesting!

I'm always amazed by the ammount of knowledge you have "filed away" - so that's why you just got a PM