Wednesday July 23, 2003

GB TRACK MAN TR 1400 Racing Truck

FIA ETRC 2001 - Markus Bosiger

"Different" certainly describes the racing trucks by Fly GB Track. Not only are they in a league all their own as far as racing goes, the level of detail Fly brings us here is rarely matched. This release of the MAN TR 1400 is no exception to the rule, and also provides us with even more as this model introduces "Suspension Effect" as well. Regardless of whether or not your into these lumbering beasts, you might appreciate the effort put forth in these models so I decided this new release was worth a closer look.

Looking around this model, I can't help but be impressed by the level of detail included. There is so many little items that it would take far too long to list each one, so hopefully my photos can tell the story a little better. Overall fit and finish is excellent given the level of detail with Tampo-stamping also nicely done. One thing that seems to add so much visual appeal are the metal springs used to simulate hoses and wire harnesses. The interior has these connected to the back of the dash panel, and in different colors which draws you to look inside to appreciate them.

However, although the markings are crisp and opaque, it seems that they were applied after the clear-coat. It seems almost a crime to put this much effort into the model, not only in detail but Tampo work as well, and not protect them. This has happened before on some Fly models and I can only hope they remedy this situation soon.

Wheels and tires are the normal found on the trucks, and I must say that only minimal sanding of the rear is needed to allow a smoother drive. The compound chosen on these tires are medium to soft and provide plenty of grip, at least on our Carrera and Artin tracks they do.

From the underneath of the model you can see detail as well, however do not think it interferes with overall maintenance. 3 screws mount a sub-chassis to the main chassis and body, allowing you easy access to the motor and running gear. The 2 other screws mount the body to the main detailed chassis. I have to applaud Fly on this feature because not only does it allow for the "Suspension Effect", it provides the enthusiast easier access to tune the model towards their preference without delicate parts subject to excess handling.

The Suspension Effect is just exactly that: an effect. The 2 screws that are at the front of the chassis are secured tightly against the body, while the screw in the rear is installed only 1/2 to 3/4 of the way, allowing the rear of the chassis some flexibility. And as simple as this seems, it does provide the effect quite well, and if you don't care for the effect, simply tighten the rear screw all the way down. This design also provides this effect without compromising the pinion to crown gear fit, which for myself is more important than any suspension.

The sub-chassis is fitted with the now standard Fly Racing Motor, with a 10 tooth pinion driving a 27 tooth crown gear. The rear axle is held in place with 2 brass bushings, both of which were a little loose on my model, and required some adhesive to keep them from spinning in the chassis mount. Magnetic down-force is accomplished by the venerable B73 bar magnet, which does its job quite well. Up front we see a spring-loaded guide and solid axle assembly. The guide acts almost identically as a self-centering guide, although it isn't the spring that causes it, rather the lead wires are the perfect length and bring the guide back in place. The spring only keeps the guide planted to the rails, and usually works well on some tracks with un-even surfaces.

Performance of these behemoths is better than you might expect, and although you could add more magnet to them, I can't say I suggest it. The main issue for some enthusiasts is how fragile these smaller details can be in hard crashes. I have seen many previous trucks (and cars too) with mirrors missing after only a few tumbles, and adding more magnet will only increase the severity of the crash when it does finally let go. The B73 bar magnet still gives you a little recovery time in the event you get too heavy on the throttle, although most cases still involve the model rolling on its side instead of simply de-slotting. In comparison to the latest Mercedes truck, this model is a very close match with lap times averaging 6.5 seconds on the DS Timer.

In closing, I have to say that if your looking to change things a little in your home racing, these trucks will certainly accomplish that. They do not appeal to everyone, (especially for those on strict budgets as these monsters do not come cheap), yet if your a fan of the actual series, or the thought of a fleet of these in your collection sounds like fun, I have to give Fly a "thumbs-up" on the model. Most enthusiasts either like these trucks, or they don't. If you already have some previous releases and enjoy driving them, I have to recommend this release as well.

Harry

As always feel free to contact me about this article or just the hobby in general at wiseone@yhti.net, or better yet drop into our Message Forum and share your thoughts with other enthusiasts!

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