Perhaps one of the most anticipated releases from SCX has arrived here for review

Tuesday November 25, 2008

Perhaps one of the most anticipated releases from SCX has arrived here for review. Ever since the first announcement of the Morgan Aero 8, enthusiasts have been commenting on how much they were looking forward to it and felt this was a great choice by SCX to produce. So let us take a close look at this all new hot rod shall we?

Not everyone will appreciate the looks of this model but we certainly do here. This car has the look and feel of an older roadster but in reality it is a modern race car through and through.

It appears SCX has really done a great job all around with this model. Colors and markings are very accurate and they are very crisp and opaque. The very fine white lettering will draw you in and it is very clear to read. A very adequate clear coat seals all of this in place.

I like a model like this. Something very different that truly stands out from the rest. Not that I have anything against the other cars in this series, but many of them have been done time and time again. This little car brings some fresh air so to speak to this series. The large rear wing will not take some of the harder crashes but it does have some flex in it to help absorb some of the impact.

The model is lighted front and rear which is now a SCX standard it seems. All the better for my eyes as I enjoy the added scale realism it brings. The amber lenses on this car really look great at full speed too. Although the rear is smaller, they still can be easily seen at night.

On to the wheels and tires. It seems it has the usual SCX medium compound on the tires and overall they seemed very round and true. Let me put to rest the one question I have heard over and over about this car: YES These wheels are accurate. The 1:1 car says it all.

Box Stock Testing
Artin Plastic Track- 12 Volt DC Aftermarket Power - 25 OHM PARMA Econo Controllers

The first laps with this car told me we had one heck of a slot car here. Very quick although the magnet for me was a little too much. 4.2 seconds was the average which is very respectable. It was not the speed that impressed me as much as the control. Very crisp braking and acceleration, and I had a great control in and out of the tighter turns.

The only thing I felt could be improved is the tire compound. Although it works well enough, the low profile of the tire makes things a little slippery because there is not much cushion to them. Then again, this could be a good thing to some drivers. Instead of flipping over when I pushed it too hard, the car just broke loose in the rear and slid out.

However this is without and tire or wheel sanding. 100 percent out of the box testing. All in all a very impressive running model and most of you should be pleased.

Under The Hood

Once the 3 screws were removed that hold the body to the chassis we get a look inside. The standard RX 42B motor is equipped with a 9 tooth pinion and 27 tooth crown gear. I have to say the gear mesh was smoother than usual and with some break-in we should see a very quiet, smooth operator.

NOTE: I was informed that some models may not have this 42B motor. If you get a car that has the RX-42 you can contact Bryan through SCX Worldwide and he will replace the motor free of charge.

Fair enough I think. Although mine did come with the correct motor, for SCX to inform me of this says a lot about their program. Small things like this make a big difference to me in the long run.

We also see the standard motor pod setup but what I liked was the limited amount of travel. Sometimes this pod can have too much and cause tire to body rub, but not here. Since it is, I do not plan on altering it with tape or glue. I will however solder our motor tabs in place as a preventive measure. As I state in all of my SCX reviews, you do not have to do this. Simply making sure the tabs are clean and properly adjusted will keep you on the road.

Wheels and tires need the standard small amount of work. Remove the tires and sand the hub centers and edges to remove any flash molding. Then install the tires and sand them until you have a good, even contact patch. Oil each end of the motor and a little on the rear bushings.

The front wheels could use a little as well. Although they used the independent front design, this car is not designed for digital conversion. The amount of free-play here is minimal and should suffice most racers. A little drop of oil on the outside is all I did and it helped quiet things down even more.

Routed Track Testing
Routed MDF Wood Track - Flat Latex Paint Surface - Copper Tape/Non-Magnetic
12 Volt DC Aftermarket Power - 25 OHM PARMA Econo Controllers

When it comes to you non-magnet and wood track enthusiasts there is plenty to be happy about. The model runs fairly well here with tires being the only change I see in the future. This depends on your track surface of course so choose the tire you prefer.

What I enjoyed here is the smooth operation. For a smaller model it still has great balance in the corners. Some personal adjustments using some lead here and there will be needed for most. All in all though a very simple model that has a lot of potential.

Final Thoughts

Although this review might seem a little short, there is a good reason. There really is not that much to do here. It runs well right out of the box and only needed some light tuning for our wood track. With a price tag well under the $50.00 mark this makes it even easier to give it a try. I think if you do, you will be happy you did. With Christmas right around the corner, this slot car would make a great "stocking stuffer" for the racers in your home.

- 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!

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