FlySlot ALPHA Series DORAN JE4 - Home Racing World & Slot Car Garage

12/05/2011

#702103 - 1/32nd Scale FlySlot Doran JE4 "ALPHA SERIES"

News of Flyslot redesigning a line of cars directed more to the "entry level racer" caught some of us a little off guard. We have seen some changes in other brands and Flyslot (aka Fly) has also had a history of change. Yet some of the changes were nothing to brag about.

However, that was then and this is NOW. Let us take a close look at the all new ALPHA series by Flyslot and see if the changes they have made are for the better.

*NOTE* This is a pre-production model direct from FLYSLOT. This means anything can change. I will report to you about the model in question as accurately as possible. I have been told this is the way the model will be shipped. HOWEVER, there are flaws in this model on the body that may or may not be the standard.

Ok, now let us get on with it!

First thing that surprised me when opening the box was the model in question. I did not expect a Daytona Prototype! I am not complaining. I only have one or two of these by other brands and the last Fly version we played with here was reviewed by Shawn Smith back in 2008.

The artwork on this car looks well enough at a distance but these are not the typical Tampo stamped markings. They are thin decals and are covered with a very thick clear coat.

There is also mistakes/quality issues with the sticker placement and ink. Some of the smaller fonts are almost smeared. I also noticed a few runs up front in the clear coat and the decals on the sides speak for themselves. One side has been split and the panel groove exposed, the other side has the full decal covering it.

This thicker clear coat is also easily seen in the small recesses throughout the body. The decals combined with this heavy clear coat should stand up to some very hard racing, certainly more than the Tampo markings our older Fly classics did, but the execution could be much better. Hopefully models that reach the market are not like this.

Items that will not stand up to hard crashes will be the wing and mirrors along with the antenna. Odd that this antenna was even bothered with for the market they are targeting for.

Wheels and tires are very nicely done for what they are. For a model that is supposed to be had at lower cost I did not expect the rotor detail. The tires seem of normal compound meaning a medium density. Most older Fly rubber gripped ok when sanded but they do not last forever. There are visual items such as mold lines that are easily removed by sanding so I am not going to make much issue about them.

Turning the model over we see dual bar magnets. This will likely really pin this car down in stock form. I also noticed silver braid that is pretty soft so it should work fairly well.

Box Stock Track Testing
Models are tested straight from the case to the track.
It is the most honest test you can give in my opinion.
CARRERA PLASTIC TRACK TEST
Temporary Setup - Design Changes Frequently

My first laps out of the box were VERY surprising with two distinct characteristics:

1. This model is slower than normal. I could almost hold the trigger down all the way around our long oval lifting only briefly before the curve.

2. The running gear (wheels, tires, axles) seem VERY good.

For what it is worth, this car passes our BOXSTOCK test easily. It functions as intended with no modifications.

Is slower a bad thing?

Perhaps not. Too often we see releases from other brands claiming that the are "designed for the beginner". Yet most of them are stripped down versions of regular cars with blacked out windows and no interior, leaving the standard motors in place. Meaning what you have a faster model than a standard version.

Faster models are not what I call a "entry level" car. They just are easier for the young racer/newcomer to crash. Period.

But this car is milder and MUCH easier to drive. In this regard I think Flyslot made a change for the better. So given what this model is designed for, I simply have to give them a thumbs up and credit where it is due.

And remember, you can remove a magnet easier than buying one. So with respects to magnet racers this car should be a welcomed sight.

I removed the front magnet and speed of course increased. But the fun for me was changing it to only the front magnet. This helped pin the front down and provided a more challenging experience.

Under The Hood

3 screws were easily removed to expose the chassis. Once I looked inside I realized that this is not a new design. This car/chassis appears identical to the Shawn Smith Review back in 2008.

You can see the interior is of more of a flat tray design. I can only echo Shawn's comments that this is more than enough for a model like this.

As we already covered, it has not one but TWO bar magnets. One up front, and one directly behind the motor.

This is one reason why this car is not as fast, but they are not the real culprit.

The motor has changed. This motor is almost generic with simple markings on the side. It appears they are telling us that at 14 volts this motor gives 17, 730 RPMS.

It has the standard 9 tooth pinion and 27 tooth crown gear though and the gear mesh is very smooth. Likely the best I have seen in a Flyslot model in quite some time. And the plastic appears to be black instead of a gray color. This means you should have a longer gear life as older versions of these gray colored gears were very soft and problematic.

The bushing to axle fit is also impressive for a axle system that has knurled ends. The axles are not fully knurled, having a spine effect. The bushings are plastic and will slide off and on with minimal force.

ROUTED WOOD TRACK TEST
Permanent Track
MidMo International Speedway
4 x 16 - 3 Lane MDF Routed Wood Road Course - Flat Latex Surface
Copper Tape Conductivity - Aftermarket Power @ 12 Volts PARMA 25 OHM Control

I sanded the tires and then rolled them across tape to clean and headed for the track.

The first 3 or 4 laps had me smiling as this slot car simply had a secret hidden by the 2 magnets: It is just fun to drive!

This motor is mild, but in non-magnet form it is plenty of power for small to medium sized layouts. This motor is also a little lighter in torque, or so it feels to me. Advanced users can relate to this. It is not nearly as "punchy" as other motors I have tested. I have had some motors that almost acted like on-off switches they were so touchy. Not here. This car is VERY easy going in and out of the corners. Lap after lap I could really get this car to do pretty much what I wanted. If I pushed to hard the recovery was so easy as the braking is not too hard, and it forgives drivers like me with such a mild acceleration.

Final Thoughts

1. For the high end commercial track racer who prefers blurring speed then pass on this one. You likely will be happier with your Racer/Slot.it DP versions as you should be.

2. If you also like high speed magnet missiles this one is not for you. It could be with a motor swap, but out of the box it will not impress you.

3. For the fine scale enthusiasts the body and finish is certainly not for you.

4. Those who enjoy a more scale appearing model in operation? Yes, this car delivers that in non-magnet form.

5. Decent for the beginner. To say that about a Flyslot car is not normal.

6. PRICE! I have been informed this model should be well under the $50.00 mark, perhaps under $45.00 This could make the difference for many of you.

Time will tell if this new ALPHA series will be welcomed in force. This release to me is not much more than a new badge on an old model except there appears to be a new motor. However, if it ends up having better quality control in the finish department and the price point comes in as expected, I can certainly advise you to take a closer look at this new series.

- 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 FLYSLOT For Providing Us With This Sample!