06/05/2012

1/32nd Scale NINCO Porsche 550 SPYDER #50601

It has been quite awhile since a new version of this famous Porsche has been released by NINCO. It seemed that it was one of those classics that did not get much attention from many who actually raced them. Perhaps this striking new release will rekindle the interest of classic fans in this series.

And striking it is, at least to me. Based on a simple restored racer, this theme is actually one I was happy to see. A simple yet effective racing scheme that will fit into the current race series.

The overall fit and finish is very well done. I found no errors in the paint, markings, or clearcoat.

This car has always appealed to me. The design of the 550 always has, and to have it in scale to race against the rest of classics made it a perfect candidate for NINCO to produce. I am personally happy that they are finally bringing more to choose from.

Wheels and tires are standard NINCO classic equipment which is fine by me. The stock NINCO rubber is a very good compound for a large variety of tracks and half of my collection keeps this original tire.

After-market tires are available from just about every tire maker out there. 15x7 covers a lot of models in our hobby so you should easily find a brand that suits you.

Turning the model over we discover the heart of this model has changed. I am not surprised NINCO changed the motor because they are notorious for it, and unfortunately it means more investment and work for those like me who actually race them.

What will really irritate some enthusiasts is that it was advertised to have the original NC-8 THRUSTER motor. I know many racers who were happy about that and this last minute change will likely not please them. We have been pleading with NINCO to stop this "motor madness" for years and it has produced no results. The bottom line is that if you want to race this car in your current classic series then a motor swap is in your future.

We removed the 4 screws securing the body to the chassis to get a closer look. Everything is just as I expected except one small detail: The motor tabs are gone. NINCO has been using a quick disconnect system on the motor but this model is hard soldered.

BOX STOCK TRACK TEST
"HRW SkunkWorks" Plastic Track
All Stock Power & Control

The NC-9 "Sparker" motor is a good motor though and the car runs much better than if it had been equipped with larger motors as we see NINCO do in the other classics. Of course I wish they would have put in the right motor for my personal tastes, I can easily see where some enthusiasts will enjoy this car as is.

The magnet up front helps keep the model pinned well enough for my driving style. Those who prefer a lot of magnet will have to add more as this model will just not have enough.

The car does run well, and the running gear is as round and true as it gets out of the box. Of course some wheel and tire sanding always help matters, so allow yourself a little time under the hood to get it just right.

I am happy to see this model come back, but disappointed in the motor change. But just like all the classics in the past few years, I will simply swap in the motor I prefer and enjoy mixing it up with the rest of the field.

-Harry