Carrying out routine maintenance on slot cars should be very easy. This is especially true if you are handling the larger scale sizes 1:24 and 1:32 which don’t have hard to reach very small parts, unlike with HO slot car models and other scales in between.
Critical to performing car maintenance is knowing the model of your car. Although the basic components of slot cars are pretty much the same, there are some minor variations with each model. Before you open your own, check out model information first so you can be sure that you are not doing anything wrong with your car. If, for any reason, there is a need to replace a part, you should check available parts for that particular in online stores and hobby shops near you.
If you don’t wish to open your car yourself, it is advisable that you have a professional do it for. If, however, you prefer to do it on your own, you should take note of the first step to opening up a model – removing a few screws to separate the shell from the chassis. After opening the model, you should inspect the following:
Braids Braids, or brushes as other drivers call them, are the wires connected to the side of the track that send power to the motor. Although these are generally for keeping the slot car powered and running, they are also very important to keep the car attached to the grooves on the track. Worn out braids won't do that. Worse, they won't guarantee that your car receives the power it needs.
It is, thus, very important to replace worn out braids with new ones regularly. To do this, simply pull off the braids and replace them. New slot car sets often come with extra braids. If you've run out of these, you can always buy them in packs of 4 in slot car or hobby shops.
Gears If your car creates strange noise while running, you have problems with the gears. The best solution is often to replace the worn gears with new ones.
Motor Motors, no matter how excellently built they are, do not last forever. After long hours of racing, your motor should be replaced. A good sign that your motor needs replacement is when problems with speed and performance start to crop up.
Tires Your car's tires should be replaced whenever necessary as well. Bad tires affect performance. Often cars with bad tires often perform slower than those with perfectly good tires. Also, these tend to fly off of the racetrack as they no longer have the grip suitable for racing.
Replacing parts is not the only thing you should do during routine maintenance. Cleaning the entire car should also be part of the process. Usually, cars collect fluff, dirt and other components on the ground. To prevent these from affecting your car's performance, it is best to remove them regularly or after each race. You need not open the entire model every time though. You can simply scrape off the dirt or fluff using a small tool like a screwdriver or a pair of tweezers.
If, however, you wish to remove the fluff or dirt that has collected in the chassis of the car, you can unscrew the car and separate the chassis from the shell. This should allow you access to the gears which usually collect fibers, hairs and dirt.
Toys are effective learning tools for kids since they effectively integrate fun with learning. Kids love to play, and most of the time that's the only activity they care for. Hence, parents have to be ingenious in their attempts to sublimate their kids' learning into more pleasurable activities. If your child is a boy, chances are he'll be more inclined to play with toy cars, even more so with the ones that can move really fast! Also, it's a proven fact that kids have a natural inclination to toys that are controllable. You simply can never go wrong with slot cars.
Almost everyone has already seen slot cars at one time or another. These miniature cars are modeled out of real cars, and are a joy to behold when they are running fast on tracks. A remote control gives you the ability to control its speed, taking care to put on just the right amount at certain points of the track in order for it to stay on course.
Slot car racing has also been a popular sport among hobbyists for a few decades now. If you want your kid to get really serious, it's about time you join slot racing competitions and get your kid involved in them. When kids get competitive, they are going to learn the nuances of the sport by their own volition. This is a perfect opportunity to have them involved in physical science, electronics, and basic mathematical concepts.
To start with your kid's "education", you need to tell him how the whole process of slot car racing works. I would advice not to go with the smaller HO slot cars, the 1 24 slot car or 1 32 slot cars are larger and easier for little fingers to hold, plus not as delicate as the smaller cars. When showing your kid about slot cars, don't make it sound like you're giving a lecture; instead, make it sound as casual as possible. If you're lucky, you might not need to make the initial effort since the kid might ask about it himself if he's really interested.
So tell your kids how slot cars accelerate, decelerate and stay on track as they move through a track's twists and turns. Ask him about the adjustments that need to be made in lieu to a particular track. Should the magnet in the car be toned down for a track that doesn't involve sharp turns? How does car shape affect speed? In this manner, kids will learn how aerodynamics and wind resistance come into play in determining speed.
Making modifications on slot cars allows your kids to develop their mechanical and logical faculties. Slot cars have lots of variables. Values such as gear ratios, magnets, electrical contacts, tire size, tire grip, and weight need to be deliberated on since each of them can determine a slot car's performance in a designated track. Some of these concepts might be too complex for a kid, so don't put too much pressure on him. Give him the simple tasks, and allow him to watch you as you do the more complex ones.
Learning is best when it happens without you being aware of it. This is even truer for kids. Slot car racing can benefit your child in so many ways, and more importantly, he'll get a kick out of it.
It would be a waste if a top-grade slot car is not properly cared for. In the sport of slot car racing, proper maintenance and effective improvisation almost always determine the victor. And if you're serious about being competitive in slot car racing, it'd do you well to heed the tips that are going to be discussed in this article.
1. Keep Your Slot Car Clean
Slot cars can accumulate dust and dirt in its nooks and crannies, which can cause congestion on the wheel hubs, axles, and pick up shoes. If not properly cleaned, these components will have a hard time to rotate freely.
What you should do is remove the body and make sure that the chassis is clean. The moving parts amount to tires, gears, axles, springs and motors. Rotate them and determine if they can move without difficulty. In case there are parts that are worn out, replacing them is the smarter thing to do. As long as all these components are working properly, the slot car will perform better and last longer.
2. Apply Lubrication
Cleaning is simply not enough. Even a clean car will have difficulties in maintaining a solid run if friction is left alone to do its nasty work. To avoid this problem, make sure to lubricate the slot car chassis and the motor. A small drop of oil on each of the chassis axle bearings is a good insurance policy as far as keeping the axles spinning without any interruptions is concerned. Do the same procedure for the front and rear end bells to make sure that the armatures can spin without difficulty. Remember, a small drop on each component will do; otherwise, the operation could become messy.
3. Stick to One Car
You have to choose a slot car that works for you. In case you have a lot of slot cars to choose from, do a test drive on each one and choose the one you can handle best. If you think that some tweaks have to be made, feel free to do so and do a test run again.
4. Practice Makes Perfect
Once you're finished choosing your "baby", you need to do regular drills in order for you to have a better "feel" for all the little but important nuances that are involved in handling the slot car. Believe it or not, each slot car is unique. And funny as it may sound, each one seems to develop its own set of characteristics.
So treat your slot car like a prizefighter. Do a test drive for a few hours each day. Try different types of tracks. If you spot a weakness, do the necessary adjustments and then give it another try. With plenty of time, you can spot subtleties more effectively and know exactly what you need to do with each one.
These are the basic guidelines to ensure that you and your slot car remain competitive in the slot car racing arena. Slot cars are curious things, but if you are familiar with all the little things, you are well on your way to making it big in the sport of slot car racing.
Slot car racing is a very popular hobby among miniature car racing enthusiasts. It satisfies the inner speed demons among us and is a relatively inexpensive hobby for people who love building model cars. In this article, we will provide you with information that can help you not only save on buying slot cars and slot car accessories but also buying advices that will allow you to make the best choice:
Which slot car scale? There are 1 32 slot cars, 1 24 slot cars, HO slot cars and more.
Slot cars come in various scales and each scale has its own pros and cons. The larger scales, for example, have superb detailing and are often geared to perform according to the performance specs of the original cars they were modeled from. These are usually raced in competitions and are often considered among the cars worth collecting.
The main disadvantage of using the 1:24 scale, the largest there is, is that this takes so much space. The same is quite true with the smaller 1:32 scale. For a decent basic racetrack, you should at least have an 8 by 6 feet racetrack.
The space needed to accommodate the racetrack for larger scales is always a major consideration. If you have a small space available for your racetrack, it is often more advisable to stick with smaller scales, like the HO scale.
The HO scale is where the smallest of slot cars are categorized under. This includes small cars whose size ranges from 2 ½ inches to 3 ½ inches.
Now, when it comes to buying, it is very important to first check how much space you have for your toys. If you don’t think larger scales are good for you, it is advisable that you settle with the smaller ones. Also, if there are no race circuits for 1:24 and 1:32 slot cars near you, you should stick with smaller scales.
Which manufacturer? There are literally hundreds of companies that produce competition-ready slot cars for hardcore slot car racing enthusiasts to slot car toys for children. Obviously, you should look for those companies that produce high quality slot cars whose performance is optimized for racing. Among the most common manufacturers are Artin, Johnny Lightning, Carrera, Fly, Ninco, Monogram, and Scalextric. These differ in the quality of cars they produce as well as the price range. The most affordable cars are produced by Artin and the manufacturers that are known for winning the most race are Scalextric, Carrera and Johnny Lighting for individual scales. The high-end slot cars are produced by Fly.
Where to buy? Slot car shops can be found in brick and mortar shops as well as online shops. eBay, a very popular worldwide online bidding site, is where many slot car hobbyists and enthusiasts go for their supplies. Individual online vendors are also some of the best places to visit online to get your car sets. It is also a good idea to check out hobby shops near you.
How to buy? It doesn’t matter where you buy; what matters is how you buy. Slot cars command relatively inexpensive price tags although there are some well-made ones that could cost you a fortune. So do your research first before you buy your own car. It is important to know everything about the car first before you pay some serious money for it.
If you love cars and get off on speed as much as I do, you would do well to try slot car racing. In my opinion, Tyco Slot cars are the most fun, but slot cars have been popular since the late 1950s, and despite the proliferation of many other hobbies ever since, slot car racing is still very much in the mainstream. The fun factor and the customization possibilities involved in slot car racing simply give the sport an immediate appeal to many car and toy enthusiasts.
Slot car racing is an exciting prospect, sure, but being successful with it also involves a meticulous eye for detail and a propensity to mechanics. And in this article, we'll discuss the fundamentals of how slot cars work in order to steer you in the right direction.
First, what is a slot car? Quite simply, it is a miniature car that can run on a fixed track. These tracks are not different from real racetracks, except that they are in miniature form. As the term "slot" implies, a shallow groove is laid out on the full length of a track to guide the slot car as it does its rounds. This groove is formed between two metal rails that are in close proximity with each other and is responsible for keeping the slot cars in place.
Of course, speed for speed's sake is not enough to win a race. Each participant uses his own controller to administer the amount of speed needed to move past opponents and keep his car on the tracks. Anticipating sharp turns, inclines, and dives come into play here; hence, the slightest mistake can send your slot car tumbling off the tracks and cause you to lose the race.
Most slot cars have magnets installed to the front and the back since the downward force they provide can help in keeping them glued on the metal rungs. This, however, doesn't guarantee that the cars won't tumble into oblivion due to sharp turns. Most modern cars, on the other hand, use a sort of microchip to allow them to operate the same way as another car and make it possible to switch lanes at pre-determined points on the track.
Almost all components of a car can be upgraded and modified according to the owner's preferences. Before heading out on a competition, one has to investigate the particular tracks involved in order to make the necessary adjustments. For example, the speed gauge of the controller has to be toned down when the track doesn't have many sharp turns.
Lastly, a slot car track is made up of plastic segments. Each lane has two steel rails, with one of them producing the power needed to move the car and the other providing the ground. The tracks absorb power from a power supply that plugs into a wall outlet. This power sends the electric current to enable the car to move.
There's no sign that slot cars are going to lose their popularity any time soon. Slot car racing is definitely worth trying, and it's not a bad idea to go out and buy a slot car as soon as you can.
Slot cars are powered small vehicles that are assisted by a slot or groove set in the tracks on which they run. At the bottom of the car is a blade or pin that keeps the car in the slot. To make the car run, the metal strips placed next to the slot deliver power to the car motor. Such power is picked up by contacts found beside the guide flag, under the front portion of the slot car. The voltage is controlled via a resistor in the hand controller.
HO slot cars operate on similar principle. The only difference is, in HO models, the current is transported through thin metal rails which are hardly seen above the track surface and are placed farther from the slot. These cars usually have electrical contacts dubbed as pick up shoes. These shoes are directly installed to the chassis and it usually uses round guide pin rather than swiveling flag.
These days, traction magnets are employed to deliver downforce, which helps hold the car in the track especially when it is running at higher speeds. There are also enthusiasts who believe that there's greater challenge in magnet-free racing.
For serious slot car racers out there, here are some tips that will help improve your slot car's speed:
1. Maintain the cleanliness of your slot. It pays a lot to keep your slot clean. You can do this by detaching the body and visually inspecting the car's chassis regularly. Pick up shoes must be clean and should float freely. Also inspect the wheel hubs to be sure they do not rub on the car's chassis. Spin the tires and see if there are bent axles. If there are any worn components, replace them long before they fail. Remember: nothing beats the performance and longevity of a clean slot car.
2. Use oil in moderation. Oil keeps the chassis and motor of your car lubricated but use only the right amount. For your chassis' axle bearings, a small drop at every bearing is sufficient enough to keep it spinning. You'll also need a drop of oil in the front and rear motor end bells to keep the armature lubricated.
3. Choose only one slot car. Avoid switching slot cars and chassis frequently. By using only one car, you can be familiar with its handling characteristics, making it easy for you to tweak it to your preference.
4. Practice. By spending more time on your chosen chassis, it will be easier for you to develop some techniques and tricks that make your car perform better than its rivals. Run your slot car on all the lanes, especially those inner lanes with very tight turns. Do this regularly. A lot of practice makes you know your chassis more as well as its exceptional characteristics. It is also through practicing that you'll be able to find out chassis and motor problems long before the serious competition.
Almost all the tips involved in improving your car's speed are free. Other cost-effective ways of enhancing the performance of your HO slot cars is replacing rear tires and giving the pick up shoes an upgrade.
