As we all know, the Scalextric type 59 Bugatti is a very rare beast and anybody rich enough to own one will never play with it because it is worth too much. Fortunately Pink-Kar produced a lot of replica versions so we could all have one in our collection. Although the body was a perfect imitation they really weren't much use as racers. They had a rubbish open frame motor like the original Airfix cars, a useless front guide/wheel assembly and a high centre of gravity so they tipped over at the slightest hint of a bend.

However, in the powersledge thread I mentioned that Scalextric used Bugatti bodies to test out their new power train and it is perfectly possible to convert the Pink-Kar version to this type of motor which will transform its handling and give you a very nicely performing, if somewhat sedate, race car. NSCC member Mike Ronald had the original idea and wrote an article about it for their magazine many years ago. I have updated and reproduced his instructions below. Build photos provided by Clive Mills (Mazda). The full article can be found in the March 2008 journal copy on the NSCC website.

If you want to have a go then this is what you do:

Parts needed
1) Pink-Kar Bugatti. It is essential to start with a good car - no distortions in body alignment. They are not at all rare and, as always, patience is a virtue when searching for one. Ignore the silly money ones on eBay and eventually you will find one at a reasonable price. Don't worry if it is a non-runner or has front steering damage as you will be junking those bits. You just need a body, chassis and wheels in good condition. Phil Smith occasionally has non-runners at cheaper prices. He doesn't list less than perfect cars on his website so you would need to email him and ask.

 2) Powersledge motor complete with all the relevant bits. These are easily found at swapmeets but make sure they are complete and running as spare parts are non existent. If all else fails then get a complete Panther or Europa Vee with body damage which sell for next to nothing.

3) New front axle or reuse original rear one with the crown gear removed.

4) “HAMA” beads - see later.

5) A household pin.

6) Roundels/number decals.

The only tools required are a very fine saw, a half round needle file, craft knife and wire cutters, although a Dremel will make the job easier.

Procedure
Remove the body and put to one side.
   
Now remove the motor, rear axle and front guide/wheel assembly.
Compare underpan to photo. Cut with very fine saw and deburr. There is a groove just behind the original motor mount which is a guide for the cut. Once you have cut the chassis there is no going back, so take care.                           
   
Offer up a pre-tested, strong running sledge motor - if tight fitting, open out the rear axle holder with a half round needle file. This should be done a bit at a time, as you require it to be a loose fit but not sloppy.
   
Now to the upper body - remove front body screw pillar. I did this by simply snipping away with narrow wire cutters but a Dremel will also do the job.
   
The powersledge rear axle is too long so replace or cut to the size of the Pink-Kar original then re-assemble body top to the short underpan and sledge motor. You will find the guide sliding bit has to be at its shortest, which puts the guide nut in-line with the radiator. You may find that the nut on the side of the motor just fouls the bodywork - in which case remove the tiniest sliver of plastic with a craft knife to enable a perfect fit.
   
Remove the radiator (chrome bit and black insert), cut to accommodate the nut on top of the guide assembly. Reposition and glue back in place.

You now need some "HAMA" beads which are kiddies’ play items - they are normally used to make pictures and can be found here: LINK. Take a round needle file and make a half round slot in the two sticky out bits at the front of the body top. Take care here as there is not a great thickness of plastic at this point and over-enthusiasm in the filing department could lead to disaster. These beads hold the front axle and are glued into the slots you have just made - Araldite is best. They must, of course, be horizontal so insert an axle with wheels and check before gluing.  The beads come in all the Pink-Kar Bugatti colours so no painting is needed. Use two black beads as spacers on the front axle.
The front Pink-Kar wheels are a push fit to stub axles so will need to be drilled out to fit a standard axle. If the front wheels do not quite touch the track then you will need to remove a small piece of plastic from underneath the cockpit (driver) to enable the powersledge assembly to sit a little higher.

   

A household pin, with its head cut off can be positioned at the front of the radiator and axle to reproduce the round bar at the front of the body.
   


RS Slot Racing have Ortmann tyres (ref 28n) to fit the wheels which will give much better grip than the originals. Radius the edges slightly so the car can slide out on the twisty bits.
A small paint job completes the work - radiator badge, driver and cockpit tidy - plus a set of Scalextric roundels/numbers.
   
The powersledge motor has been much maligned but a good one has a reasonable turn of speed and is perfectly suited to these cars. The finished version is a delight to drive but don't forget that the motor is ancient and keep the voltage down to 12 volts at the most.

And Finally............ if you like the result then the Pink-Kar Auto Union can also be modified in similar fashion.
       

A rather nice new bunch of Carrera Evolution 1/32 scale analogue cars have just arrived in the UK...
 
Carrera Evolution CA27612 Porsche Kremer 935 K3 Vaillant #51

   

First up is yet another iconic livery to add to Carrera's retro DRM (Deutsche Rennsport-Meisterschaft) grid. I have the BASF BMW M1 and a Zakspeed Capri, and I strongly suspect this will join them. The number 51 Vaillant car was a Kremer K2 raced by Porsche legend Bob Wollek in the 1977 DRM, picking up four wins and four second places to finish runner-up in the championship.
 
I've not seen a picture of the 1977 car with the multiple 'Vaillant' decals across the hood and the roof, but Wollek's #2 car did have those in 1978. I have seen a Kremer 935 active in historic racing carrying the same livery as the Carrera model and with the number 51. Either way, I like it very much. RRP £39.99.
 
 
The other three Evolution models - plus another carried-over from August - are all modern GT3 and GTE cars. Two are liveries of Porsches that ran at the 2018 Le Mans 24 hour race, celebrating 70 years of Porsche sports cars.
 

 
Carrera Evolution CA27607 Porsche 911 RSR GTE Porsche GT Team #93
 
     
 
Piloted by Patrick Pilet, Nick Tandy and Earl Bamber the #93 car of the American Porsche GT Team ran consistently in the top three of the GTE Pro class during the afternoon and evening. A lengthy pit stop during the night to fix an electrical problem dropped them out of contention, but the team fought back to 27th place (twelfth in class) by the end of the 24 hours.
 
Originally due in August, the Evolution version of this car is expected very soon. RRP £39.99.
 
 
Carrera Evolution CA27608 Porsche 911 RSR GTE Porsche GT Team #91
 
     
 
One of two heritage liveries used by the German Porsche GT Team at Le Mans in 2018, the #91 car harks back to the Group C Rothmans Porsches of the 1980s. An experienced driver line up of Richard Lietz, Gianmaria Bruni and Fred Makowiecki qualified the car top in GTE Pro. Always running near the front of the class, the #91 Porsche finished second to its sister car - the #92 Pink Pig. RRP £39.99.
 
 
Carrera Evolution CA27592 Audi R8 LMS #22 - Bathurst 12 hours 2018
 
   
 
The Valvoline Jamec Pem Racing Audi qualified second on the grid for the 2018 Bathurst 12 hour race. The trio of Kelvin van der Linde, Garth Tander and Frédéric Vervisch were running well and tipped to win the race until a crash ruined their chances. It was an accident-packed race, with sixteen safety car periods and a horrific three-car crash that ended the race early. Thankfully all three drivers walked away without serious injury. The Team Valvoline Audi is a cracking livery. RRP £39.99.
 
 
Carrera Evolution CA27593 Mercedes AMG GT3 #31 - 12h Silverstone 2018

   

The ROFGO Racing Mercedes AMG GT3 competed in the 2018 24h Series, including at the Silverstone 12 hours with a driver line-up of Roald Goethe, Stuart Hall and Daniel Brown. ROFGO Racing was an extension of Goethe's incredible collection of Gulf-liveried historic race cars. The team was competitive in this 'low-cost' gentleman-driver series, finishing runners-up in the Silverstone 12 hours. RRP £39.99.
 
 
All the Carrera Evolution cars are fitted with twin traction magnets, inline E200 motors and 9/27 gearing, giving them similar performance characteristics. Each car comes with a bag of spare detailing parts, spare guide flag, braids, plus a smaller red guide flag for use on other makes of track.
 
 
Many thanks to The Hobby Company Ltd for the release details. The 2019 Carrera catalogue can be found in the SlotRacer Online Library here. The two 2019 Special Edition cars (not in the catalogue) are here.

Carrera's UK distributor The Hobby Company Limited have let us know of two new Limited Edition DTM cars due this autumn...

Carrera Digital132 CA30904 BMW M4 DTM Zanardi - 1,999 pieces worldwide

   

After a near-fatal accident in a CART race at Lausitzring in 2001 and the amputation of both his legs, it looked like Alex Zanardi's motor racing career was over. However, nothing could stop the inspirational Italian from getting back onto the track and he competed in the European Touring Car Championship from 2004 to 2009. He followed that up with a highly successful handcycling career, which included four gold and two silver medals at the 2012 and 2016 Paralympic Games.

In 2018, aged 51, Zinardi made a one-off appearance at the DTM race at Misano driving the #12 BMW M4 DTM modelled here by Carrera. Qualifying in last place in both races, he finished Race One in 12th place of 13 finishers. In Race Two, he worked his way through changeable weather conditions to finish an emotional fifth. In-race radio communication is banned in the DTM unless the car is in the pitlane, so when Zanardi was told of his result after the chequered flag he could not believe it... "This is the best joke of the weekend," he said. "Come on, you're kidding me! I am an old man, you cannot tease me this way."



After performing the donuts he made famous during his championship-winning CART years, Zanardi added: "Fifth place is the payoff for the whole weekend. I am very happy with this result and at my age, I won't get too many more opportunities to celebrate racing successes like this. Seriously, I am very grateful to have been given this opportunity by BMW. They always believed that I could do it. This trust is a great gift - and I am happy that I was able to vindicate that. Many thanks to the DTM family too, for welcoming me with open arms. I will always have a place in my heart for this weekend. It has taken me 51 years to experience it - but at least I got that chance."

The Carrera model is beautiful 1/32 representation of Zanardi's M4 DTM, complete with the 5th place position indicator to commemorate his excellent result. The car comes with working front and rear lights and is chipped for use on the Carrera Digital132 system. All Digital132 cars can also be used on analogue Carrera Evolution layouts.

This model is available now from most UK Carrera retailers, RRP is £89.99.


Carrera Digital124 CA23887 Mercedes AMG C63 Time Twist - 999 pieces worldwide

   

Franz Klammer dominated downhill ski-ing in the mid-1970s - winning 25 world championship events and a gold medal at the 1976 Winter Olympics in Innsbruck. After retiring from ski-ing in 1985, the Austrian took up motor racing, driving in the DTM first with an Alfa Romeo and then two years with a Commodore and Lui sponsored privateer Mercedes 190 E.

The Carrera Time Twist Limited Edition presents a fabulous livery on the latest Mercedes C63 DTM car - paying homage to another great Olympian and over 30 years of Mercedes involvement in DTM. The car includes a digital chip and working front and rear lights. Up to four Carrera Digital124 cars can run on a Digital124 layout or as analogue cars with an Exclusiv powerbase and power supply.

The model is due to arrive in the UK in October and will retail at £109.99.


Many thanks to The Hobby Company Ltd for sharing the details of these new 2019 Carrera Limited Edition cars.

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This is doing the social media rounds...
Its not a slot, just a representation but its good publicity for the hobby.  The event is the launch of the all electric MINI in Milan.

Leo

Carrera's UK distributor - The Hobby Company Ltd - have three new 1/43 scale Carrera Go!!! sets due for arrival in two weeks (10 October). These will reach retailers in plenty of time for the busy Christmas season.

   

The first set is a new F1 set, featuring a Vettel vs Verstappen line-up, 4.3 metres (14.1 feet) of track and - as in all three of the new sets - the latest version of the Go!!! powerbase and wired controllers. And yes, both F1 cars feature a 'Halo'. RRP is £49.99

   

The second set of the three features brand new Muscle cars and a medium-sized 4.9 metre (16.1 foot) layout, including a loop-the-loop and a squeeze track. The cars have lights and interchangeable detailing parts. RRP is £44.99

   

The final set is the biggest (at 5.3 metres / 17.5 feet) and probably the most eagerly awaited. It's another in the hugely successful series of Carrera Go!!! Mario Kart releases, the Christmas 2019 set featuring brand new Mach 8 Karts. RRP is £69.99.

There are many more 1/43 products in the Carrera catalogue than are available in the UK. However, everything in the catalogue is available on special order. If there's something that you want, talk to your Carrera retailer who will be able to order for you via the UK distributor.

Many thanks to the Hobby Company Ltd for the pictures and release details.

   

This is a graphic I produced for Worthing HO Racing a couple of years ago. It shows the modern HO in-line chassis that we use at WHO and is useful for identification purposes. It's a graphic that often ends up being shared on social media by HO enthusiasts from all over the world, so why not have it here too...

If you want to save or print a high quality version, the pdf is attached below...

   

Gaugemaster's annual slot car open day takes place on Sunday 27 October at the Engine Shed, just next to Ford station near Arundel in West Sussex. There will be various tracks to race on and prizes to win - including in the Mini Challenge on our WHO Racing Scalextric ARC Air layout. For many, the highlight is lots of heavily-reduced un-boxed car and track bargains, plus discounts of between 10 and 20% on all slot car items.

Here's the ARC Air track in action last year...

   

Gaugemaster - one of the UK's top model railways retailers - is launching a new website which will include a Club Hub to share details of modelling clubs and events. Gaugemaster also distribute a number of slot car brands (Slot.it, Policar, NSR, FlySlot, Le Mans Miniatures etc) and are therefore keen on including slot car clubs (and RC clubs) in the Hub too. There are, of course, other perfectly excellent ways of finding slot car clubs near you (such as this: slotracer.online/find-a-club/), but this could be a useful tool to reach a wider audience of modellers.

Here's the blurb from the recent Gaugemaster Right Lines newsletter (more here)...