Friday October 26, 2007

Off The Beaten Path

The New Ninco Pro Truck!

When it comes to releasing models that have a personality all their own, Ninco certainly achieves this with this latest offering. Many enthusiasts have been talking about this truck since the first photos of it were made public and it has finally hit our shores for a closer look.

However, there is more to this release than meets the eye as this model also brings with it a whole new system to enjoy it on and testing it in the right conditions made it even better.

Yes a whole new  system, or at least that is how I look at it. I say this as the good people at MRC also sent along a new Ninco Off-Road Curve accessory pack which really is where this model belongs. For those used to super-smooth tracks and high speed cornering, get ready to stray from the "beaten path".

The first thing that should grab your eye is how well Ninco has done in the detail department. In the past they always seemed to strike a good balance of detail and performance, however this time it seems they really went through extra effort to bring us a higher level of scale realism. From the spare tires (yes they come off and can be used on the model), shovels and roll bar assemblies to an attractive interior that really seems to draw you in to look closer.

Tampo stamping and paint are near excellent as I found no evidence of runs or fades on 4 models inspected. In fact I was impressed with the overall fit and finish of this model and it seems Ninco is ONE Spanish car-maker that doesn't have the problem of adding a good clear-coat to seal in all the markings. Mold lines and rivet detail were clean and crisp and according to prototype photos I feel Ninco has brought forth a good effort in scale.

As I hinted earlier, on a model like this you would expect to see the tires to have some sort of tread on them and Ninco certainly accomplishes this. These tires have huge lugs all the way around but the compound of the tire is soft enough that light sanding easily gets them as true as possible. Again, I feel we have to look at this model differently than I would a "normal" car and realize that it isn't designed to run like one either. Ninco is making us an off-road system and vehicles for the enthusiasts who wanted them and tires like these are exactly what they expect.

Looking underneath the model tells you even more how serious Ninco is at trying to do it right. A spring-loaded drop-arm style guide system is employed to allow the guide to remain as flush as possible with the rails while the model negotiates un-even terrain. Rally and off road enthusiasts are very dedicated racers who take their racing very seriously. I have seen some museum quality rally courses built over the years and details such as "snow" (flour) and "mud" (cocoa powder) along with hand-made obstacles are usually a part of it. This model will see its share of "off-road" action I am sure and this guide system should come in quite handy. With that said, the new Off Road Curve is exactly where this truck will be at home so it was time to see how well this new truck could handle it.

The Off Road Curve track comes with various obstacles such as "mud" and "stone" which are molded plastic that snap in place on the track using the provided mounting holes. The track itself also has un-even surfaces such as smaller amounts of stone and tire tread tracks molded in place. It is designed to fit on the end of any Ninco layout with the straight sections having parts of it in black to transition it.

After fitting some of the snap-on obstacles in place the first lap through the curve was slow going as I wanted to watch how the truck reacted. I have to say it was interesting to see the suspension actually working as intended and the drop arm guide system worked equally as well. I had to "re-train" myself driving through here as you cannot take this curve too fast. Some of the obstacles are not suited to put next to each other as the chassis bottom will rub on them and sometimes become wedged. Going to fast will lead you to de-slot as well as you hit these obstacles too hard, but again the driving style needed is far different than our "regular" cars. However, this track did prove to me that the system that Ninco has designed DOES work (once you get used to it) and should provide most of you with the off road realism you are wanting.

A closer look at our Ford shows the suspension system and the NC-7 Raider motor rated at 19, 300 RPMs at 14.8 volts equipped with a 9 tooth pinion. This motor has plenty of power in my eyes and is actually nicely matched for this model. The rear 27 tooth crown gear is held loosely in place by the brass bushings that snap into the chassis, yet allows them to "float" up and down for the suspension effect.

A small bar magnet is tucked inside our model and I was surprised to see it. It is a bar magnet type that is thick in design and easy to remove from the chassis by use of a plastic clip. As far as it is from the rails it doesn't give the truck a stuck down feel to it at all, but it does help keep it pinned to the track and reduces body instability.

Performance of this model is different to say the least. I can't really compare it to anything else out there, I can only try and judge it by what it truly is: an "off-road slot car". This sounds amusing but telling you how this model drives on a smooth track system doesn't do the truck justice. Acceleration is crisp but braking is lighter than you might be used to. The model had a smoother gear mesh than I expected and with some break-in time will naturally get better. The added weight of the truck bed detail is also something that some racers will have to get used to, but this added detail seems to help steady the model during racing, or at least these were my findings on our small layout.

It is a little top heavy and with the suspension there is a fair amount of body roll. However, once you settle down and get used to its design characteristics it can be a great deal of fun and easier to keep in the slot than I first imagined. There are even different shocks (blue is "medium" and red is "soft", the model comes equipped with the yellow "hard" shocks) that you can use to help dial in the amount of dampening effect you desire. I tried these and I could not notice much difference, but then again my level of this type of racing is purely beginner and I am sure advanced enthusiasts will appreciate the options provided.

In the end, I must admit I was skeptical of this model but my initial view was unjustified. I was looking at this truck in the wrong perspective at first, but after racing it on a track that is was designed for I can only report that it functions as Ninco has intended and those looking to start this type of racing should seriously consider adding one soon. It is a durable model that has excellent scale detail and when used where it should be, can be a great deal of fun. And of course FUN is what our hobby is all about. - 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 model.