Saturday June 11, 2005

On Target!

The NINCO LOLA TOYOTA

Some models that are released take a little time before they begin to catch on in popularity. The CART/Champcar series of models by NINCO just might qualify as one of them. We first reviewed this series back in November of 2003 and I was impressed with the model and now we have yet another to add to the field.
 

Regardless if you follow the 1:1 series, these models from NINCO are a great deal of fun. Our latest #4 TARGET LOLA/Toyota arrived here safe and sound from MRC and I was immediately impressed with the overall fit and finish. Differences in the body are clearly evident when compared to early releases and according to prototype photos I have seen, it appears NINCO has done and excellent job in their 1/32nd scale effort.

Tampo stampings are clean and crisp and my model showed no signs of fading. The clear-coat on this model is what really gives this car a superb finished look. This model is sealed very well and there are no signs of dust or thinning at the bottom edges.

The wheels and tires on this model are the strong points of its predecessors and such is the case here. The large slick rear tires are very true and concentric and provide excellent grip. Just a slight sanding of these tires makes them hook-up even better on smoother surfaces such as Artin and Carrera and work equally well on NINCO track. Our first model kept the original rubber in place and this model will follow the same path. One thing that will become noticeable is that the Tampo markings on the tires will wear off in time. This is no real issue for myself, but I mention it for those that it might be. However, with racing comes a few "character" building marks along the way, so if you intend to race it these markings will slowly go away.

The steering on these models is something that some enthusiasts do not care for, but I feel it adds a good amount of scale detail to it. Watching this front end turn as you dive into the corners just looks better to me. It is also more durable than you might think. Of course very hard crashes will result in the system coming apart or breaking, but we have not had the system break on our models. Most times it is the sway bar that is connected to the underside of the front guide that simply pops loose. We snap it back in place and continue to race.

Turning the model over we see that the 20,000 rpm NC-5 Speeder motor is the power-plant of choice. And as with most NINCO models, the button magnet is in place located close to the center of the chassis. 3 screws hold the body to the chassis and are easily removed to expose the inside.

I will advise you that if you do decide to remove this chassis, to pay attention to the front steering mechanism. Since the guide wires run underneath it, this system has to be removed to completely separate the chassis and body. I use a very small flat tip screwdriver to pop this assembly out.

The NC-5 is equipped with a 9 tooth pinion that turns a 24 tooth crown gear with the axle held in place snugly with 2 brass bushings. This gear combination really makes this car have excellent punch out of the corners along with very distinct braking. In fact this model has now become a favorite here due to the way it handles, even with the button magnet. You might find some slight amount of flex in the motor under load, and if so, just use hot glue or clear silicone near the motor mounts to tighten it up.

The NC-5 is a powerful motor and it really shows itself on larger tracks with long straights. On smaller home tracks such as our new NINCO layout, the NC-5 is a handful, but with some driver tuning it is still a great car to drive. Our first model has had plenty of break-in to say the least, and having both a brand new car and this early model is a good contrast because it shows just how much a good break-in period smoothens out your models.

One reason I like these models as much as I do is simply the lighter magnet and placement of it. Although some enthusiasts want models heavily stuck down with magnets, I prefer a model that actually poses more of a challenge to drive. This car delivers this challenge to me and I seem to end up driving it for longer periods trying to beat each new lap-time.

If you remove the magnet you should still find a very smooth model although the NC-5 might just be too much for some of the smaller layouts out there. I took an NC-2 motor and dropped it in to test it on our smaller Artin and NINCO layouts to see if the control factor would increase. For my driving style it certainly did, but other racers here that tested it were able to tame the NC-5 very easily. Either way, it just shows you can easily tune this model to your current track configuration.

Whether you are a fan of the 1:1 series or not, I think you owe yourself a closer look at this model. In our scale, the racing and challenge it provides is fun that I think you won't want to miss. With more liveries coming available, I know that my current stable will see even more.

- 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 MRC For Providing Us With This Sample!