Wednesday October 27, 2004
Scalextric 4WD
Skoda Fabia WRC Works 2003
A new
release that kind of caught me off guard was this one from Scalextric. I am not
much of a fan of Rally type models, so I didn't pay much attention to it at
first. However, this model comes with their all new 4 wheel drive system, and
could have the makings of one of the nicest Rally slot cars we can buy.
First glances around this model were very pleasing to the eye. Overall body shape was very close to the prototype according to photos I have seen. Fit and finish is what really impressed me however. All the Tampo stampings and paint work were very crisp and opaque with no runs or fading found anywhere.
Between this level of fit and finish combined with good scale detail, this model is very striking in my eyes. Items such as the 3 antennas (which are flexible rubber to hold up better during crashes) and full interior detail including roll bar and spare tire should please most scale enthusiasts.
Wheel detail is very nice with full brake rotors visible and Tampo markings on the wheels themselves. Touches like this just add to the scale appeal in my opinion. The tires are a soft to medium compound and were very round and true. In fact, during our out of box test, I liked the way these tires gripped the track and I don't have any plans on replacing them with silicones. However, if you want them or the track you race on needs them, the Indy Grips #IG2008 for the NINCO VW and other cars will fit perfectly. I compared these wheels to others in it's class and they are identical.
Another nice feature of this model is that it is lighted both front and back. The rear lights do not act as brake lights, they just light up as the fronts do upon acceleration. More and more we are seeing lights being included in our models, and I personally think that is a good thing. Many enthusiasts enjoy night racing and having the models come this just makes life easier on us. If you don't like lights, it is a simple matter of disconnecting them, which again is much easier and less expensive than buying a lit kit and taking the time to install it.
Underneath we see that 6 screws hole the body to the chassis. The 2 screws in front, and the 2 in the rear are longer, more standard type screws while the 2 in the center are very small, counter-sink headed. They were all easily removed to expose the inner workings of the chassis. Up front the newer guide system is utilized and the model comes with 2 replacement guide pads and braid. After removing the body, we immediately see the rubber band belt for the 4 wheel drive system, standard bar magnet and lighting hardware. We also see a few changes in the chassis. As the photo shows, this chassis is ready to accept the new digital circuit board and sensor. Perhaps this model might be my first conversion to see how easy it can be.
There have been arguments over the 4WD system over the years on whether or not they give an advantage or disadvantage in performance. To be honest, on the little amount of testing I have had with these systems, the difference is very slight and I can't really say one is better than the other. What I do like is the option of having it in the first place. Since it is included already for you, you can simply remove the belt if you do not like the 4WD option.
Power here is the standard Mabuchi motor equipped with a 11 tooth pinion that drives the 36 tooth spur gear. Gear mesh and operation are very smooth and quiet and will only get better over time due to break-in. It was at this stage that I removed the bar magnet to test the model again. The reason I do this is that a model like this just doesn't "look" or "feel" right being so heavily stuck down on the track. For me, a Rally slot car is born to drift and slide around our corners. With that said, simply flexing the chassis downward near the sides of the magnet will let it pop free easily and we were off to the races!
Sliding and drifting is just what this models does too. It was still a great deal of fun with lap times on the Dixon Hills at an average of 5.9 seconds. I was expecting this model to be "tip" happy due to the higher body style, but this really didn't show itself to be a major issue. It was more de-slotting on our banked sections due to the shallow guide than anything else. I am sure someday, Scalextric will release a guide deep enough to take advantage of even it's own track system. However there was something more. As I looked at this model closer, I noticed that the guide and front wheels were a perfect tripod. The front wheels didn't even touch the ground on straight and level track. It is very close however, and they will touch and grab hold in the corners and while rocking slightly down the straights.
One thing about having a model with a full interior means that space inside is limited for tuning with lead. Using very thin sheet lead, you could attach some on the underneath of the chassis, but it is VERY close. I tried 1/2 ounce of Slick 7 brand self adhesive lead at a thickness of 1mm that I attached to the chassis as shown. It clears nicely even on the slightly banked sections of our track. It also helped lap times and overall handling more than I expected. It brought my lap times down to an average of 5.6 with a fast lap of 5.532. It was just a more forgiving model it seemed to me and that made it easier for me to pilot.
This began to make this model an even better match for some of my NINCO models, which pleased me. Even with the NINCO models having the milder NC-1 motors, the VW Golf for example was almost a dead match-up for it without the magnet and the same amount of lead added. This should mean a great deal to enthusiasts with larger collections of these types of models. I look forward in hearing other comparisons from our readers in the future.
And with that said, I have to give Scalextric a thumbs up on this effort. It has great scale appeal and detail, runs smoothly, and can be just as much fun without the magnet. Rally fans might as well add this model on the list as I think it would compliment your current stable very well. If you are just starting in our hobby, this model is ready for action right out of the box and if this series appeals to you, I suggest giving this model serious consideration.
-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.
