Thursday January 01, 2004

New Ninco ProRace System

It seems lately that many slot car companies are releasing what they call "Racing" or "Pro" versions of previous models. Some come with lighter bodies and different tires, while others boast better running gear and more powerful motors. Ninco now joins the ranks with their new ProRace system of models and of course we had to give this Subaru a closer look.

I have to say that once again Ninco has managed to create an excellent looking model with near perfect application of both Tampo-stampings and clear coat. Detail level here is on par with other prior releases from Ninco that combines a half-tray interior with good body fit and finish which provides more than enough scale realism for just about any enthusiast.

Both the driver figures are visible with the co-driver holding a notebook along with acceptable roll-cage placement, fire bottle and Tampo-stamped dashboard detail.

With this new system, I was wondering if Ninco would bring us this model lighted, but such is not the case. For most this is not an issue at all and with the amount of room you have to work with due to the half-interior, an Overdrive light kit could be easily installed.

Wheels and tires are standard Ninco fare with all 4 wheels being very round and true. Of course these tires are going to need some slight sanding to get them as smooth as possible, and once we finished this, the model ran even better. Small tampo detail on the wheels really seem to grab your attention and I thought it made the model have a more finished look to it.

However this is not what makes this release different. On the back of the box Ninco describes the new changes to the chassis and it was time to get under the hood. The first change is that the standard cross-tip screws have been replaced with brass Metric ones that utilize a flat-tip design. Although this could allow for more fine-tuning of the model for those that like to back off the screws a little to allow the body to float, I can say that the screws are of a very fine thread and it remains to be seen how the body post interior will hold up over repeated removal.

Inside is where we see the real changes that Ninco has included. According to the information from Ninco, this model is equipped with new hardened steel axles as well as ball bearings for the axles both front and rear, and a double-belt 4 wheel drive system. All of this new gear is powered inline by the new NC-6 "Crusher" motor rated at 23,500 RPM under 14.8 volts equipped with a 9 tooth pinion driving a 27 tooth spur gear. Ninco has included the standard button magnet but as you can see it is mounted in front of the motor so it doesn't cause a great deal of heavy magnet traction. It does help keeping the front end pinned nicely to the track, but I am sure most Rally fans are going to remove the magnet quickly. There is room here for the placement of lead for tuning, and I am sure a variety of set-ups can be achieved to suit any driving taste or track design.

The 4WD system should please those who utilize it and the dual belts will come in handy during a race in case one breaks, keeping the system operational. I did find that the front bearing housing assembly was very loose in the chassis mounts and will need some adhesive on them to keep them secure. As loose as they are, I almost thought it was by design, but even if it is...the case of the housing spinning in the mount will only cause premature wear of both the housing itself and the chassis, so I still advise securing them before you attempt any hard racing.

Speaking of these bearings, although I have not broke them apart they do seem to work very well. Part of the reason they are so smooth is that the inner race fits over the axle with extremely close tolerances as it should and there is virtually no free-play between the two. There is some slight clearances as the bearing unit simply slides over the axle. The axle itself has been turned and left un-polished to have an abrasive-like surface that helps the race grip the axle to minimize spinning. I like this design and it seems to work well, but time will tell the tale on its durability. I do feel this is still a big improvement over brass bushings that usually have too large of a inside diameter for the axles and as we began to test this model, the smoothness of this system was a welcome addition.

Performance of this model should also please most of you, depending of course on your driving tastes. I personally feel that the NC-6 motor was a little much for this model, especially if you remove the magnet, but remember this is just due to my driving style. I have heard from other enthusiasts who prefer a stronger motor with higher torque, so this model should satisfy those of you who do.

Out of the box I found both braking and acceleration to be VERY crisp using our Professor Motor controllers but we soon managed to tame this machine in the corners. The only drawback (if it really is one) to this NC-6 powered Subie is that not everyone has Professor Motor controllers, and even using a Parma Turbo 45 ohm controller left it wanting more. If you do have Parma's, we found a 25 ohm model will be better suited for the overall best control. I mention this as many enthusiasts still have the original controllers, and they may not get the performance results they were hoping for.

Although the price tag is a little steep for some enthusiasts, I have to give Ninco credit for the effort put into this model. This release doesn't hide the fact it is intended for the advance Rally enthusiast and if you fall into that category, this model could be a great addition to your stable.

- Harry

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

Thanks go to SLOT CAR WORLD for providing us with this model.