Scalextric

[Norman Verona]

I want to buy enough stuff (Ebay?) to build a fairly large Scalextric for the guests in the gites.

I know nothing about Scalextric (I had a train set when I was a kid and bought another for my son when he was 5   ).

I see that the newer ones are referred to as digital.

1) Is the track the same

2) Are the cars the same

3) which controllers should I get

4) which transformer do I need. (what voltage is the system)

Obviously I will need 7 type cars. I've seen Caterhams but are they readily available?

Thanks.

[Azzacat]

What a cool idea, its been a long time since i last had mine out! Fnar Fnar!

remember having a set years ago that you could change lanes with a flick of a button on the controller, the cars from what i recall had 3 brushes that ran on 6 wires laid in the trac, TRC it was called

Great!!!  

[Mitchamidilly]

Ebay is a rip off for most things IMO. I have two set for my 3 year old and the most we have paid is £50. Sets come with 2 cars so a bargain for a new det. Keep your eye out for deals with the like of Toys-am-We (Toys-R-Us)

Paul

[Lurksalot]

I have no experience of the digital lane changing styuff , but still play for hours with 2 le mans sets coupled up . ( only so that I can still beat my 6year old daughter )

[Howard]

The newer track is not not compatible with the old one.

You need all one type or the other. They are both the same size but the way they connect is different.

I think there is an adapter piece to join the two systems, mind. All the cars will run on either track.

By the look of it, the new system may be less prone to damage when disconnecting the track pieces. The older one was susceptible to distortion at the connection of the rails particularly at the hands of younger, careless owners resulting in loss of continuity or cars jolting across the joints.

The new cars are so much better than the old ones.

They have magnets built into the underneath and the level of grip is astonishing. Inevitably the skill required is less too.  Maintenance is easier - replacing the pick-up brushes, and the underneath of the cars tend to be enclosed now - no exposed wires.

The detailing and finish is now remarkable.

It's still 12v, but I'm not sure if the power connectors to the track are the still the same or have changed with the new system.  Best to get one system and stick with it.  Get a working set and add track to that.

Caterhams are readily available. I (and my son, between us)  have got one in Gulf colours and a Lotus 7 with an aeroscreen.

Also got a TVR Cerbera and a 911 both with working headlights and tailights,  and a selection of older Scalextric cars made in the sixties and seventies for my nostalgias sake   .

There was also a development called U-steer.

Steer well away from it.  It was cr@p and is of collectors interest only.  I've got one

[Lurksalot]

It's still 12v, but I'm not sure if the power connectors to the track are the still the same or have changed with the new system.

The newer non digital is now 16 or 18 volt now I'm sure

but the connectors are the same and you can get booster cables to send current to the furthest part of the track if you have flat spots

I think the cars you've got deserves a thread on it's own

3 minis  

escort  

911    

TR7      

healey 3000  

loads of porsche , mirage , le mans stuff  

loads of old plastic F1 type stuff  

Jps , mclaren , sauber , and afew I've made myself  

[Norman Verona]

Thanks chaps. I noticed  seller on Ebay with new, boxed stes "The biggest race in the world" (or something like it) at £145.00. Looked up the retail price on the Scalextric site - £150.00

However there were some complete sets private people were selling which, if the prices didn't go balistic, seemd OK.

I'll keep a watch over the next few weeks.

As I've got to clear the rubbish out of the pig pens and build a tressle to mount it on there's no rush.

[Asterix]

my 2p...don't buy micro scalextric

[Chris Elworthy]

Funny you should ask that.....

[timd]

If you go for the standard type track, I've got an extension pack somewhere you can have for the cost of postage if you like? Sold all mine a while ago but nobody wanted the extra track!

[westy666]

QUOTE

Funny you should ask that.....

pah ... 3rd place ... I was robbed!

have to say tho norm, the cars at this club night we went to didnt have magnets and also had 'brakes' which added a whole new dimension to the race and made it a bit more grown up.

Cant remember how it worked now ... but someone else from northants gang might have been listening (i probably had my face buried in a bag of crisps at the time    

[Darrell O'Neill]

Interesting thread... thanks

My kids are 7 weeks old now, already been looking into this  

[Norman Verona]

Chris, saw that which is what reminded me.

Timd, I'll take you up on that. I'll pm you to arrange.

Asterix, I assume it's miniture stuff so I wasn't. There seems to be 2 scales, 1/24 and 1/32. Is 1/24th the micro?

We have a pig pen (theres a photo on the gite website) which is probably 35 ft long and 8ft wide. We can fill that with track. Will the cars/track go uphill. I'm thinking of making a "bridge" with the track on the floor at one end with the track rising to table top height over the 30ft so people stand inside the track. (the "bridge is os we can step over the track to get in).

Have to get electric in there but that shouldn't be too dificult.

Oh, help, I'm in planning mode again - anything can happen now!  

[zoso]

If you go for the standard type track, I've got an extension pack somewhere you can have for the cost of postage if you like? Sold all mine a while ago but nobody wanted the extra track!

Think i've still got some bits of the old style track nocking around upstairs too...

If you want it you can have it for the postage too.

[V8grunt]

Norm...

Now you've sold your house why not by 6 go carts and build a little track.