NINCO XLOT FLEX Chassis - Home Racing World & Slot Car Garage

09/15/2011

NINCO XLOT FLEX - BMW M3 E30 - 1/28th Scale - #60013

With the news of an all new chassis for the XLOT series, I decided it was time to take a look at this unique line from NINCO. My curiosity of this series has increased after reading all the race reports and feedback about the original, so when the news hit the wire of this new chassis and model, I had to give one a try.

This model and chassis is far different from the original series we reviewed back in 2010. This first review really lets you know what this new scale and series is about, so take the time to read it if you haven't already, and then come back here and find out the differences.

Among the many changes, the important one for me is that it appears this new FLEX chassis is designed to be a more simplified approach. Sort of an entry level version which can be a good thing if executed properly.

So with that said, let us change things up a little and get right to the star of the show: The Chassis. Veteran XLOT enthusiasts will see right away the changes made. We now have a plastic chassis here that has a few less adjustment options than it's heavy metal counterpart. Yet, many of the features of that line are still found here.

NOTE: You will need 1.5 mm and 0.90 mm Allen wrenches to perform adjustments/remove parts featured here. They are NOT included with the model.

The motor is branded XL1 with a rating of 25,750 rpm @ 14.8 volts. It has a 7 tooth pinion installed which via the toothed belt system drives the 30 tooth spur gear.

As before, you can adjust/remove the belt by loosening the screws. These are 1.5 mm.

Wheels and tires also appear to be standard XLOT material. Turned aluminum and set screw hub less design which appears to work very well. The wheels also use 1.5 mm but I will caution you to be careful here. These come from the factory VERY tight and using a poor quality wrench is not in your best interest.

The drilled brake rotor detail is a nice touch and adds scale appeal.

The axle assembly is correctly in place by axles collars that use the very small 0.90 mm sized screw. These are easy enough to adjust so you can set your car with the optimum free play.

The front axle uses the same design.

One thing you will notice right away is a bar magnet is now included, located right behind the motor. I have to say I like seeing this. I am sure non-magnet purists are going to complain, but if this chassis is for the newer enthusiast it makes sense to me. And remember it is very easily removed.

Moving forward we see 2 large areas where weights are on each side of the chassis held in place with set screws. The nice thing with this is that there actually 2 pieces per side allowing you to remove one or both for tuning. One piece has the hole tapped (threaded), the other is smooth.

Next is our drop arm guide assembly. It is a simple, yet effective design using a light spring.

Finally there are our posts on the sides that hold our body in place. Same as standard XLOT and I actually like this design as it truly makes it quick and easy to remove/change the body.

Overall I am impressed, or rather pleasantly surprised. The quality seems very good and I think this "keep it simple" approach will work for many of you.

So what do you think so far? Well, how about the rest of the car?

Let us get a closer look at this BMW.

In my eyes this is a very smart model to choose. This BMW is very familiar WorldWide. The livery is also very eye catching to say the least. I do think the body sits a little low but overall I think NINCO did a fair enough job capturing the essence of this car. Did they do well enough for YOU?

The paint work here is very well done too with a nice top coat that is dirt and run free. Nice detailing on the interior should also appeal to the more fine scale slot racer.

Track Testing
MidMo International Speedway
4 x 16 - 3 Lane MDF Routed Wood Road Course - Flat Latex Surface
Copper Tape Conductivity - Aftermarket Power @ 14.8 Volts PARMA 25 OHM Control

Since this model is supposed to be a simplified version, I will just take it from the box and give a run and see what we have. I am also going to set the voltage where NINCO uses theirs.

As a first time XLOT driver I can say that I am very surprised. This car actually runs and handles quite well straight from the box. What really caught my eye was the braking of this car. When you let off the throttle, the rear wheels stop right away and I was actually sliding in sort of sideways into the corners. This is something I will have to get used to.

The motor here is almost a perfect match for the car, or at least is for me. Since it is a heavier car in stock form (5 OZ.) it does not feel over powered or bogged down. But I am not much of a fan of the voltage rating. I prefer a milder action so I dialed it back down to my desired 12 volts. This is where I felt the car ran even better. The strong braking was reduced a little and I liked the throttle control better.

Although it ran fine, I would take your wrench and check every wheel and axle collar before racing. Plus I would lubricate the axle bushings as they seemed on the dry side. I noticed a vibration/rattle and it was nothing more than a dry axle to bushing sound that a drop of oil cured quickly. And of course the tires will need some sanding, but that goes with any model in almost any scale.

Final Thoughts

I must admit the first series of XLOT cars did not interest me but this new FLEX series changes things a little. Although I like to tinker and adjust my standard models I often times just want a good, simple platform that needs very little to enjoy it. I feel this chassis does that for this series.

This is an odd scale and racing partners for it are limited, but I can see where it can grow into a popular class for some more advanced clubs looking for something different.

With retail prices around $135.00 this series is not going to be for everyone. At least it has quality components in the right areas and spare parts are readily available. If you are looking for something quite unique and like the model selection, I have to say you should look closer at what NINCO has produced.

-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!

Why not check our other NINCO REVIEWS?

Original XLOT REVIEW!

Thanks Go To MRC For Providing Us With This Sample!