Tuesday October 16, 2007

When NSR released the Mosler I passed on it because I had already invested in several of The NINCO versions. Later that year I had a chance to race an NSR version at a commercial track and must admit the performance was impressive. Enter the Renault Clio. I was asked to take a closer look at this pre-release version by CincySlots.Com and could not wait to see how this little model would perform. If it was anything like the Mosler, it would seem NSR is on the right track.

On this review I really cannot comment much on the exterior of the model. It is a pre-production sample which means it is in unfinished form. Overall it seems the body shape is very close to the prototype but of course nothing is perfect. Again, I won't be critical here as the end product could change before release. However, some have made comments that what really matters is track performance. I disagree, and in a big way. Part of the fun of this hobby for me is a model that has excellent scale detail combined with smooth performance. If this level of paint and detail will be the final product I cannot say I will be impressed. However, time will tell and I am sure reports from enthusiasts will better inform us upon its U.S. release.

Wheels and tires seem a shade on the small side but still nicely done. More importantly they are very round and true which means the most to many racers. The tires are very soft and fit the wheels well, but I noticed 2 lines in the tires. Removing them shows the aluminum wheels with 2 distinct ribs in the center. With these tires being such a low profile, being very soft and that they press on tightly causes this. I am not sure on this as the tire contact patch is limited and wear will obviously start here at the raised rib lines. I do like the size of the Allen set screw being 050. This size is very common and my Sonic double ended wrench fit the screws perfectly.

Looking underneath is where things get really interesting. We see the separate motor pod assembly with the SHARK 25 (25,000 RPM @ 12 V) motor sitting at a very slight angle position. The pod was in a loose, floating setup and I wanted to get this car on the track to see just what was all the fuss about. I may not be much of a fan of the 1:1 Clio, but in slot car form I could end up loving it if I enjoyed the drive.

But first a quick peek inside. Only 2 screws up front are found for body mounting while the rear is held in place with a clip design molded into the chassis. Inside we see our SHARK 25 motor equipped with a 11 tooth pinion that turns the 32 tooth spur gear. Gear mesh was smooth with a very durable and reliable design. The motor pod has a button magnet set in the rear position with an extra pocket for a mid-position option.

Track Test

On the track there is no shortage of power. This motor is fast and responsive and is really best suited for a large home or club sized track. On our smaller 4 x 16 foot layouts it was a little over powering, but SMOOTH. On the Artin with the magnet in place this car was cranking out 3.7 second lap times easily with a few dives into the 3. 6 second range.

On our new 3 lane wood track it managed a 5.4 second average which is not impressive time wise, but still a smooth operating slot car. The strong motor is hard to tame on our smaller course but on a larger layout I could see it doing much better. One item I noticed is when I accelerated at full throttle the tires would simply expand and almost come completely off the wheel. This will mean some adhesive will be needed to keep them in place during hard racing.

Final Thoughts

NSR has created some nice performers on the track and if that is what you are looking for, perhaps this model is for you. I think it will shine the most on large home or club tracks as that is clearly what it is intended for. Price has been issue for some in the past, but if you are one of those racers that upgrade just about any car for maximum speed then this should not matter. Out of the box it has most everything to satisfy the need for speed.

- 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 CincySlots.Com For Providing Us With This Sneak Peek!