Tuesday December 07, 2004

New Scalextric Viper!

This new release by Scalextric is a model with clearly it's own identity. This version of the Viper Competition Coupe caught a few people by surprise, and when we received our sample we were surprised even more. Scalextric has really brought up the level of detail in their models over the years, and this Viper really shows it.

Given that this model is the Sport version, inside the box lid there is a small history of the model. I have always liked this added touch and wish other companies would start doing the same. With all the misconceptions of this model, it is good for enthusiasts to learn a little more about it. Speaking of that, how close has Scalextric produced this model in our scale?
 

Searching the web, I found many photos of the Competition Coupe and just based on them, Scalextric seems to have done a very good job. Nothing is perfect in our hobby, especially scale accuracy, but Scalextric certainly seems to come very close, at least according to my eyes they have. Scale purists might feel some of the body shape could have been a little more enhanced, perhaps even lower and wider, but for my tastes it matches the prototype close enough.

As in most cases, I simply let the photos do most of the talking for me. You will either be pleased with the effort or not. Regardless of any small issues, Scalextric has made one thing very clear, at least to me. They put a strong effort in the some of the small details, and this effort results in a model that is very attractive and draws the viewer in closer.

Little things like the Tampo stamping on the rear window listing the crew and crew chief impresses me. This little item could have been easily omitted, but it is right there...although my photos don't really capture it. All the rest of the paint and markings are near perfect on our sample and a durable clear-coat protects the finish nicely.

Wheels and tires on this model should please anyone. Small details like the visible brake rotors help enhance the scale effect, while both tire and wheel were very straight and concentric. The softer compound of these tires really provide excellent grip on most any plastic track surface. We tested this model on Sport, Ninco and Artin and all resulted in decent performance right out of the box. So from the shelf to the rails this model passed our out of box test with flying colors.

Turning the model over we see yet another model from Scalextric with a front motor configuration. You also notice the bar magnet placement and new guide system in place. 6 screws mount the body to the chassis, but make sure you don't mix them up. 2 of the screws in the center are slightly smaller and they mount into the interior.

Inside we see this model is fully lighted, both front and rear. For some, the addition of lighting isn't very important. For me, I like having my models lighted as it just adds more racing fun as we turn off the lights. Up front you can see that this model is ready for digital conversion as the sensor pocket is in place. I was impressed with how neat and tidy the wiring of the model was. Sometimes models arrive with lighting and it can be difficult to say the least in trying to get the wires put where they need to be for re-assembly. The fit of the body to the chassis on this model however is very clean.

The only flaw I found was the red bushing that holds the motor shaft. It had some free-play to it in it's mount and I needed to add a drop of hot glue over it to keep it from spinning in place under load. Given that just about every model we have available needs this same treatment, this really isn't a big issue to me. I do hope that when companies like Scalextric take the time and effort to create a good model, that the same attention to detail they put into the body go into the chassis and working components.

Another positive thing that they accomplished was making the model an almost perfect tripod. The front wheels will spin freely on flat and level track, allowing the front guide to rest fully in the slot. Given that they did not form the front axle housings to allow a little free-play, this is a good idea. As with the TVR and Vette, this front motor model is equipped with a 9 tooth pinion and 27 tooth crown gear. Gear mesh is very clean and quiet and after some break-in will only get better.

Driving this model is a great deal of fun like it should be. Although it does have the heavy bar magnet, you still have to DRIVE this model through the corners. Acceleration and braking are crisp enough to please most and you should find an even rhythm with this model easily. We had an average of 3.9 seconds on our Dixon Hills speedway which is very respectable right out of the box. I will say that running on standard power and control was not as forgiving as running it on a standard 12 volts with PARMA 35 ohm controllers. Using standard set controllers and voltage at an average of 14.5 volts, it can be a handful, especially if you remove the bar magnet. Running without the magnet, even on 12 volts will take some getting used to. The model itself is about as smooth as you could ask for in a RTR, which reminded me of the TVR (in fact they are very close and make great running mates!) on the routed track we tested it on. There is not a lot of room to add weight here, but a small amount could be added underneath the chassis if you use very thin sheet lead.

In the end this model is a good effort by Scalextric and is ideal for anyone in this hobby. It is fast enough for most anyone getting started and has the potential to be tuned to suit different needs. I think the level of detail combined with the model chosen and smooth drive-train makes it one of the best models they have released this past year.

- 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.