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Post by Carl on Dec 4, 2022 19:03:15 GMT
René,
As always when completed, your models are amazing and sometimes appear to be full scale. I remember John's post and eager anticipation of Ronnie Peterson in the Lotus 72 and Jo Siffert in the BRM P160, both awesome in full scale and as models.
It's likely all of us are reminded of John's absence whenever we spend time around our table... I still sometimes wonder what he will have to say next.
Cheers, Carl
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Post by René on Dec 4, 2022 23:55:09 GMT
René, As always when completed, your models are amazing and sometimes appear to be full scale. I remember John's post and eager anticipation of Ronnie Peterson in the Lotus 72 and Jo Siffert in the BRM P160, both awesome in full scale and as models. It's likely all of us are reminded of John's absence whenever we spend time around our table... I still sometimes wonder what he will have to say next. Cheers, Carl Thanks Carl.  Yes, John’s absence is almost tangible at times and I too wonder what he has to say sometimes. I miss his comments. |
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Post by René on Dec 31, 2022 16:23:33 GMT
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Post by René on Jan 2, 2023 16:05:40 GMT
This time no slot cars but an upgrade to the power supply of my track! I know this is kinda geeky  but I am really enjoying it and it makes a real difference. The setup I had was good with a solid German made transformer with six voltage positions and hand controllers by Parma and DS electronics. All good quality and with active braking function and so. But I was reading about the hand controller from Slot.it and the use of a power supply with more fine control possibilities and that sounded very interesting. This is the previous 'old school' set up with brake switches, a Scalextric pacer system connected and Parma hand controllers.
 So I got me the Slot.it controller with loads of setting possibilities and a fully adjustable, stabilized laboratory power supply combined with a DS International connection box. The new adjustable power supply and connection box. I had to break down the previous setup to install this. A bit of a shame because the old set up looked cool but it was worth it. So much more control on the performance but more so the actual 'feel' of each individual car. The new electronic Slot.it hand controller. There is no physical contact point to the resistor anymore so the trigger feels very light. A bit like 'fly-by-wire' technology in F1. Takes some getting used to but it's all progress... 
 Too many settings on the controller to explain them all and I am still discovering for myself but it has for instance two types of braking. One hard 'full lock' brake type or the more ABS like braking (called Sweep). And you can adjust both from zero to full of course. Or combine the Sweep braking with a hard brake button. It also has a Power Trim function which is more comparable to traction control. When you exit a corner and give full throttle, it will build up the speed gradually. Only in fractions of seconds but it does make a difference, certainly with cars that have loads of power. And then there's the sensitivity control (Min Speed) that gives you control on how sensitive the car responds to the controller input. And of course there are endless combinations possible with all these settings. Also on the top and side there are even more switches so lots to discover. Excuse me for this nerdy post but I like this stuff and it's all part of the hobby.  |
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Post by Carl on Jan 2, 2023 17:37:11 GMT
This time no slot cars but an upgrade to the power supply of my track! I know this is kinda geeky but I am really enjoying it and it makes a real difference.
Excuse me for this nerdy post but I like this stuff and it's all part of the hobby. René, Not a geek or a nerd, but a technophile
Because it would lessen a driver's control in the cockpit, you should not share this with other team principals.
Seriously, you have made a great improvement to your system with this advanced and fascinating technology!
Cheers, Carl
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Post by robmarsh on Jan 4, 2023 17:16:26 GMT
Wow Rene, this is fantastic and the new controls are so interesting with the myriad of combinations at your fingertips. Fascinating, and you will more than repay your investment by the hours of extra fun you will now have.....qualifying laps here we come.
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Post by robmarsh on Jan 4, 2023 17:17:13 GMT
I too have missed John on this site and can echo the same feelings and sentiments as you guys.
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Post by René on Jan 4, 2023 18:34:36 GMT
Wow Rene, this is fantastic and the new controls are so interesting with the myriad of combinations at your fingertips. Fascinating, and you will more than repay your investment by the hours of extra fun you will now have.....qualifying laps here we come. Certainly Rob. Next to old school tuning with tires, gear meshes and lubrication, this adds a new level of optimizing the performance of a car. It's certainly fun and I have a digital timing system already installed so racing against the stopwatch and trying to shave off those few tenth/hundreds of a second can keep you busy for hours! |
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Post by mikael on Jan 15, 2023 12:38:56 GMT
Very interesting and impressive, René - it always is.
A completely different form of the slot car hobby is the competition form. Actually, I find both interesting (if only I had more time ...). The competition cars are, of course, not models of anything "real", but they are, in a way, actual racing cars in their own right (just tiny ones).
I came across the videos below, posted by a British top "driver", about the 2022 slot car World Championships. I found them interesting, as so many aspects are just like real racing (downforce, balance of the car, driveability, etc.). Real racing en miniature, you could say ...
A negative is that these cars are so fast that it's almost impossible to see them with the naked eye!
(The videos bring back some memories for me, as I fondly remember watching the 1978 Danish Championship (it was in December '78, with my late dad; I remember it very clearly). That fascinated me greatly, and just after, I built my own 1/24 competition chassis (purchasing also a rather costly motor). Due to the distance to a club, the car was, however, only run on our home-track (a standard and very simple (just an oval) Carrera 1/24 track). But it taught me good deal, like how to make proper (neat) and strong soldering, etc. Of course the chassis, as well as the motor, is long lost ...)
Again, if only I had more time ...
1/24 sports car class
1/32 Formula One class
1/24 "touring car" class
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Post by René on Jan 15, 2023 20:50:15 GMT
Thanks Mikael. Yep, the competition slot cars as shown in the videos is a completely different world. Very professional though and quite fascinating. There was a club in the neighborhood when I was a kid and I’ve been there a number of times. The cars were indeed insanely fast and I remember the orange sponge tyres! Personally I prefer the realistic looking cars and they are also raced in clubs. Unfortunately none in my neighborhood… Soldering, yes. I am not super good at it but good enough. You need to with this hobby. |
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Post by René on Feb 5, 2023 18:28:55 GMT
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Post by mikael on Feb 5, 2023 18:52:20 GMT
Inspired by the conversation in Grand Prix Seasons Past, here are my Scalextric Ferrari sharknoses! Beautiful little models.
Wauw! Amazing, René :-)
Interesting that all three cars have different layout - and impressive that this is captured in the models!
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Post by René on Feb 5, 2023 20:23:21 GMT
Inspired by the conversation in Grand Prix Seasons Past, here are my Scalextric Ferrari sharknoses! Beautiful little models. Wauw! Amazing, René :-) Interesting that all three cars have different layout - and impressive that this is captured in the models!
Well spotted again Mikael. Slotcars have evolved enormously, from the toys from our childhood to the super detailed collectors items they are now. Simply using the same mold in different colors is not good enough anymore. |
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Post by René on Feb 22, 2023 18:24:05 GMT
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Post by René on Feb 22, 2023 18:33:18 GMT
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