Sunday January 04, 2004

New Scalextric Sport
RENAULT R23 F1

The new year not only brings with it more model choices, but more enthusiasts as well. This new Renault F1 release by Scalextric seems almost perfect timing for those just joining us in this great hobby as well as for the veteran collecting the series. Prior releases have been quite popular among enthusiasts and we looked forward to adding another model to the current field.

If you are just joining us in this hobby, Scalextric models are some of the best on the market in my opinion. They usually all have excellent overall fit and finish combined with smooth and reliable running gear and this release is no exception as we soon discovered. Although I am not that big of an F1 fan in the 1:1 world, after looking at prototype photos it seems to me that Scalextric has captured this racer nicely in 1/32nd scale.

Fit and finish are once again very well done with Tampo-stampings near perfect. All the marking were clean and crisp and I found them all sealed nicely with a clean and even clear-coat. Detail level here should please almost any enthusiast and I found the livery to be very striking. The mold lines between the front and rear removable body work was about as close as you can ask for too, although it is slightly noticeable. I flexed the model in my hands gently and this trued the lines up to where they were hardly an issue.

Wheels and tires on this model are of the same soft compound of prior releases and grip the track very well. I still sanded our model slightly to get it even better, but it was a minimal effort. Small details like the Tampo printing on the tires and visible brake rotors seem to give the model a more finished look and just increases the overall appeal. These tires have been gaining popularity from some enthusiasts as they are easily sanded and provide decent performance.

Underneath we see 4 visible screws that are removed to expose the rear of the model for servicing, one for the rear wing and one located under the front magnet pocket. The problem was that on my model this bracket was extremely tight in its mount and removing it caused the small pegs that hold it into the body to break. I am sure this is an isolated issue and hopefully reports from other enthusiasts confirm this.

If your model does have this issue and yours breaks as well, there is a way to fix it. What I did was first trim off the front lip of the bracket and sand it slightly for a better contour.  Then you can place your button magnet in the pocket and re-attach the bracket with a few small drops of clear silicone adhesive or super glue. Once this dries I tested our model and even after several hard tumbles this assembly stayed in place. Now you do not have to remove this bracket to remove the front body work for when or if you decide to perform a bar magnet change or other tuning options.

Up front we see the new guide system utilized as we have shown in the TVR review. The guide does work and does allow good freedom of movement. I still feel that a deeper guide should be made for us in the future for those of us who run on tracks with deeper slots and want better performance, especially in non-magnet use. I am sure Scalextric will bring this guide to us in time as other manufactures have released their own versions of "racing" guides to satisfy these enthusiasts. The screw that holds the guide in place does its job reasonably well and our model had VERY little free-play to it. What I like was the the guide height seemed ideal as the front tires barely touched the track and provided a decent tri-pod effect.

Inside we see the standard Mabuchi motor wrapped in the Sport logo sitting in the inline position and bar magnet. Being the Sport version this model is equipped with harder axles and metal bushings for better durability and performance but remember that with these bushings to oil them before any hard racing. Although there is an additional pocket for this magnet you should use care when removing it and changing positions. This model is a little more delicate that others you may have, but it can be done without any harm if you take your time. I found the best route was to remove the motor and then it allows you to bend the chassis slightly from the sides to release the clips on each side of the magnet. There are going to be other ways to accomplish this, but this method was the safest and fastest for myself.

Performance of this model was pleasing right out of the box as it should be and newcomers who happen along these models should have hours of trouble-free fun. With the magnet installed this release is a virtual road-rocket and should please most of you speed-crazed enthusiasts. After sanding the tires and a few drops of oil this beauty managed lap times in the 3.8 to 4.0 range easily on our Artin track.

However...it wasn't until I removed the magnet that I started to have the real fun. For starters this model was very smooth with no noticeable wheel-hop or chatter down our long 20 foot straights. With the stock tires I managed to bring lap times down to 5.6 - 5.7 range and when I changed to Indy Grips #1008 this shaved the times down to an average of 5.3 due mostly to the fact these tires have a slightly wider footprint.. For those just joining us, I have to ask that after you have raced this model for awhile, try removing the magnet and discover a whole new way to enjoy it.

This model has a high level of quality about it and I can't help but advise fans of the series to grab some soon. Scalextric has brought the enthusiasts many great models over the years and this new series of F1 cars are no exception in my book. Adding a pair of these to your stable should only bring you hours of slot racing fun...and as always FUN is what the 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 Scalextric-USA for providing us with this model.