February 6th, 2003

The Cartrix Porsche Boxster

Sometimes models from other companies seem to not get the attention they might deserve. Cartrix almost fits this category perfectly, and to be honest, they shouldn't. Although not to the level of detail and standards as we have been seeing lately, these models still have great potential, and deserve a closer look.

I chose a model from the Slot Car World Specials section at a nice discount. It has one mirror missing, but to be honest, it really doesn't bother me that much on this model. The rest of the car has a decent finish, with nice mold lines. There isn't an abundance of detail here, but to be fair, on a model like this, there usually isn't. The dashboard and console markings were very well done, and my driver seems ready to race, although the molding of him is a little rough. Still, sitting on the track he looks right at home. Some uneven molding was found on the side vents, but again nothing that detracted too much from the overall appearance of the model.

The fit of the car is fair, however I did notice some gaps around the headlight lenses and a small gap on the left rear tail light where it is connected to the body. The wheels have a clean, finished look to them and the tires were found to be nicely round, requiring minimal sanding to be true. The compound of the tires are soft enough to provide decent grip, and I doubt my model will ever see silicones.

It was now time to check things out under the hood. The magnet in this model is VERY close to the Fly B73 bar magnet and provides plenty of grip. Tuning this model up front seems to be an option, and perhaps some lead weight up front will help pin the front down. The body is easily removed with 2 screws, exposing the motor, wiring, magnet and gearing. The FX SPORT motor, in its sidewinder configuration, is colorfully labeled indicating a RPM rating of 17,000. I have no way in verifying this, but power seemed more than adequate for this model. An 11 tooth pinion drives a 34 tooth Spur gear set in brass bushings, and although gear mesh seemed smooth, I did find some problems.

The main culprit is that the bushings are loose in the chassis mount. The right side was so loose that it could raise up far enough causing the tire to rub the body at the upper part of the fender. This is quickly and easily fixed by adding your favorite adhesive, 1 drop of Super Glue was all it took to cure this, and then the model operated smoothly. I also noticed that the axle had slight side-to-side free-play, however because I didn't detect any rubbing or loud noises from the drive-train, I decided it didn't warrant shimming. Up front you find the guide, which had only slight free-play, yet doesn't seat into the chassis very securely. The braid system here certainly allows for decent rail contact as one long braid is looped through each side creating a double effect.

Driving this car is more fun than you might think. I found that the model had nice acceleration and braking seemed smooth and predictable. My main attraction was the fact it was quiet and seemed solid to drive after the bushings were secured in place. Even with the larger magnet, this car still provided some decent sliding, allowing you a nice window of opportunity to correct yourself in a spin.

Although not a car that would interest everyone, it has potential. Fans of this car will most likely add one to their current stable, and I might suggest that you take a second look at what Cartrix has to offer. I had passed on these models for quite some time, but since testing this model, I am looking now to the BMW next. Sometimes the most unlikely model leads you to others in a series, at least for me, this is one of those cars.

Harry

As always, feel free to email me at wiseone@yhti.net about this article or just the hobby in general.

Or better still, drop into the Home Racing World Message Forum and let us know your thoughts. 

A thanks goes to Slot Car World for providing me with this excellent model.