When it gets cold.......

[Bill Plude]

Starting (or should I say "Restarting") a new hobby for those cold days in the not so distant future. 1/32nd scale slot cars! They're digital now(the brand I have has tested as the best "foolproof") lane changing, up to 8 cars in a lane and ton of really cool features, including being able to run any brand car with these electronics without major altering.
http://www.modelrectifier.com/slot-cars/NINCO_N-Digital.asp I just got the track set up tonight and had 8 cars ready to go. Already going to take down the wall in the cellar. Expanding from 4x14 to 4 x26. That end may be 6x12 though. Of course the 26' is straightaway. Here's the cars I have. I have one ordered online too. The stock cars are exactly the length of a dollar bill.

 

[Monkey Wrench]

Man, do those look FUN! My son would destroy those in 92 seconds!

Good for you, Bill! Show the whole track in it's glory!

 

[Bill Plude]

I've got the day off and plan on doing some expansion after I get back up. Gotta run down to my RC guys store and grab some straight track. $9 a 16" piece. Not really a big deal. I plan on it being 4 lanes before long. All 4 of my sons(22, 24, 26, 28)are hot on it too. With the Digital you can buy the Pit lane and with it and the control console you can program it for manditory fuel stops. You run too low on fuel your controllor vibrates and car slows. It shows all the info on the console (OR TV monitor if you hook one up!). Another cool thing is each car has its onw memory when it has to exit to the pits, the faster you drive, the more fuel you use.....It ain't your old Strombecker 1/32nd or Aurura HO slot cars anymore!!!

Another thing, when it was tested, there was no noticable power drain or increase when a car was added or removed from the track. So none of that burst of speed in your car when somebody else goes flying off and you're heading into a turn. LOL

 

[4u2nv]

Me and my nephew were just playing with my old set. Its a set my uncle had when he was a kid. Its a Richard Petty Set. Still worked like new. Them look pretty kick ass. No need to worry about the contacts I guess then huh? Very cool.

 

[Bill Plude]

Oh yes, they're regular slot cars with braided contacts the chip that goes in the car must be some kind of signal decoder. When you put it in you have to hold a button on your digital controller to get the car and controller hooked up together, kinda like a Spektrum DX radio. Dam, I think I might have just answered the question that I've had about this and Ninco just hasn't put it into words because chances are the slot car guys wouldn't understand "DSM".........

 

[Lessen]

awesome Bill! yeah, slot cars will be a definate once my son is old enough. Can't wait to see some track pics!

 

[Bill Plude]

This curved end section will be extended 18" towards the camera and the guard rail will disappear and it will become 4 lanes. I'll bring back my model railroading senic skills and there will be a small mountain there and the mountaniside will have the retaining wall for the curve built into it. Of course today there will be a 6" high board all around the outside of the table to keep the cars off the floor. I didn't get this set up till around 9 last night and didn't think the neighbors would like hearing the skillsaw screaming that late. LOL
As you can see, wires have to be taken care of and all the finer points. Thats a3' and a 2' extension I had made for my aquariums! LOL

 

[WoodiE]

A friend and I was just talking about slot cars the other day - this would be an awesome hobby to get into during the cold months. I'd really like to see the track after you get done building it. Sounds like it's going to be pretty nice.



-Michael

 

[okihost]

Pretty cool Bill, you have any suggestions for a decent started kit for a newbie? I find it hard to tell what is a good set and what is junk. I have two 6' banquet tables in the basement I can probably use during the winter to run a small setup on..

 

[Bill Plude]

How wide are they and what scale do you want to run. If you run HO scale you can put a ton of track on them at a lower cost and the cars fly! True HO is 1/87th but now I think they've gone to 1/64th

 

[okihost]

Well the cheapest would be the best I guess, When I was young I remember the small tyco sets, these were my fav not including RC's

I am looking to start with only about $200, figure I would be better off starting with something brand name even if its small to start out rather then going the toys r us route.

 

[Bill Plude]

I'll do a little looking around and get back to you in a few hours. I think HO would be the way to go. 200 bucks should be a great start!

 

[WoodiE]

Being that there is no steering on these - how do you get them to change lanes?



-Michael

 

[Revo Rancher]

Bill:

Concept works on principle already being used in model trains. The voltage is static (in model trains I think it is 18v vs max of 16v with a rheostat controller). The chip reads a carrier signal that tells it what to do with the voltage, polarity, etc. Trains even have programmable sounds if your engine is equipped. The technology in trains is called DCC (Digital Command Control). The voltage is a bit higher than the rheostat controllers fromt eh past, so regualr cars cannot be used, for obvious reasons, but some may be converted, I suppose.

 

[Bill Plude]

Yes, with Ninco's system all other brands of analog cars will be able to be converted without a problem as long as there's space. The other 2 companies that have it were in such a hurry to get their product out they aren't able to have any other brands adapt to their systems, they can't even convert their old cars to thier new digital track.

They will change lanes when a signal is sent from the controler through the track to the "switch" in the track that is upcoming for the car. When the car gets to it, it will switch and then immediately changeback to straight

 

[jetmechG550]

Cool, my local ring...I mean track also has slot cars. I had the little HO's when I was younger and I really liked it. The bigger one's like that have always intrigued me but I was afraid to jump into another money pit!

 

[Lessen]

awesome! Can't wait to see what kinda scenery you do... that'll cool stuff. :thumbup:

 

[Bill Plude]

I've got some new pictures. I went and bought the Mini Cooper set today. I like the cars and figured it was a good price, I saved money buying the set compared to if I had bought everything seperately. The 2nd picture here has all the new track in it but it's hard to see. The 3rd pic is from the end of the table looking down to the far end of the cellar. I'll have light down there tomorrow and there's a good chance I'll be calling in to my volunteer job tomorrow too! Taking down the plywood that seperated the cellars gives me enough to just about reach the end. It's enough until the digital stuff comes in anyway!

I think tomorrow I'll add about 8' to the back straight and some elevated curved roadway to the close side, since both sets I bought came with elevated bridge sections. I could talk about this all night.LOL... Here's the pics.

 

[Bill Plude]

Well I added more wood and track also bought 3 more cars The Honda and Supra have the hottest engines that Ninco makes in them(they scream!). The Shelby Daytona Cobra is from Revell/Monogram and to tell the truth I'm impressed with how smooth it runs. It will only be fair running it against others of the same brand though. I said smooth, it isn't blazing fast. I'll get more, they have some nice classics. Today's pics....

 

[ZANDOR]

Thats too cool bill.Now i want to do a small track.
I was looking but could not find any nascar cars.
I would like to do a talladaga tri ovil...
how many cars at one time can run on a track like that???