Wednesday March 03, 2004

Fly Alfa 147 GTA Cup

This new release by Fly may not be on everyone's must have list but for those that have been waiting it has finally arrived. While we wait for other companies to begin releasing new models, Fly certainly is giving us plenty to choose from as model after model keeps coming through the pipeline.

I will admit that I don't really follow this series in the 1:1 world as much as others, but that's the beauty of our hobby. I don't have to. In fact, slot cars are a great way for you to learn more about the 1:1 prototype. Such is the case with this little Alfa as I searched for prototype information and photos. From where I stand it seems Fly has once again captured the prototype nicely in 1/32nd scale with smooth, accurate lines and Tampo-stampings just as precise. Of course there are possibly a few items here and there that are incorrect, but they are such a small issue that most will not notice them and even if they do, it won't offend many.

I found the livery to be eye-catching and Fly's efforts in the detail department to be excellent. Items such as the Tampo markings on the glass to fine grill mesh both front and rear, do seem to attract a closer look. Once there, you can see the intricate interior complete with full roll cage and nicely detailed driver figure.

Wheels and tires are done well with visible brake rotors (it seems brake rotors are of major importance lately) and new softer compound tires. I think we have seen the last of the older style "wear-bar" tires as the latest releases are void of them. The tires still needed a good sanding however to get them where I like them, but once they were trued provided acceptable grip.

The detail doesn't stop on top as we see underneath. Fly is still leaning more towards scale detail on the underside of the chassis, with even the exhaust system now being a separate piece. 3 screws mount the body to the chassis and were easily removed. Once inside we see that our model is in the front-motor configuration with stub axles holding the front wheels in place.

As with most front-motor models I highly suggest you secure both rear bushings and the bushing for the motor shaft. I was happy to see that our model was void of excess free-play in all these areas and that they were secure and did not spin under load out of the box. However, I still suggest you take some preventive maintenance and use adhesive just in case they loosen up after long periods of racing.

The standard Mabuchi motor is driving this shaft which is equipped with a 9 tooth pinion turning a 27 tooth crown gear. Also the familiar B73 bar magnet is snapped snugly in place. In fact, this magnet placement differs from others as the chassis is VERY stiff and hard to bend for removal. To remove it, use a small flat-tip screwdriver to pry the prongs away from it on each side instead of trying to flex the chassis to release it.

After oiling all the bushings and each end of the motor with 3 in 1 oil and slightly adjusting the braid, it was time to hit the track. Out of the box this model functioned as intended with no visible signs of tire rub or gear mesh issues. I was concerned because the rear tires are VERY close to the body and wanted to see if at speed they would expand and rub on the body. I cannot vouch for all the models, but ours was free of any of these issues.

That doesn't mean I was happy though. For some reason this model was a "chatter-box" with a sound that reminded me of a bag of nails in a blender. I took the body off and inspected the gears, drive-shaft and bushings...nothing. Then I looked closer at where the pinion was positioned and it was again very close to the chassis. Fly has molded a pocket there to allow for clearance, so I checked to see if it was rubbing...it wasn't.

This really bothered me as I could not seem to locate the culprit. Until I removed the body that is. It seems the vibration of the model shoots straight through all the intricate roll cage and interior assembly as once I removed it (the body) all was much better. I then placed the body back on the chassis and backed off the body mount screws a half-turn. This really helped things and soon we were beginning the break-in.

Braking and acceleration were very crisp and should please most of you. This little car can dive deep in the corners and handle on a dime due to its short wheelbase. Lap times were slightly faster than that of the BMW with best times in the 5.3 second range. Fan of the 1:1 series or not, this Alfa turned out to be a lot more fun than I ever expected. After 4 days of hard driving it has settled down into a smoother, much quieter model and the more I drive it, the better it gets.

This little Alfa wasn't on my "must have list" but after driving it I will add another for a matched set. If you are a fan of the series I would take a closer look at this offering and consider adding it to your stable. This model needed minimal work to get it to run smoothly and because of that Fly gets an "atta-boy" from me.

- 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 Scalextric-USA for providing us with this model.