This is a super dead hobby but there are 5 tracks near me that casually operate with old guys.I bought a 1:32 scale for the main track they compete on (also drag and "the big ones" like... 12th scale or some shit, idk).So what the fuck, I like cars. I'm 45. 80 year old collectors are dying and leaving the piles of shit to be sold for nothing.Kinda seems like it's revival time for this shit.
>1/12 slot carsyo thats fucking huge
>>11847540Like big RC scale. I guess they only run a limited league and the other scales are open. 1:24 and :32 are most popular but one is into HO scale which is also tiny as fuck.
https://youtu.be/MrDAQs69KvE?si=L7i-FNOI5Z7hGM_1This is 1:12 racing but they're like $500 cars and I like $0 cars lol
>>11847350>80 year old collectors are dying and leaving the piles of shit to be sold for nothing.they're hoarding their pinball machines too>>11847826probably more entertaining than nascar, I assume they crash more
>>11847830Oh yeah. They use a sheet of lexan vacuum formed over a model because they crash all the time. It's not worth doing a nice body plus they're heavy.Those guys to like long ass nascar length races. Most of the 1:32 and mid size will do long races sometimes but mostly they're this format:Non-Magnet GT Racing (probably #1)5-10 minute heatsLane rotationTotal laps determine winnerSlot.It, Scaleauto, Sideways, and Scalextric GT carsLight tuning allowedRubber tires or urethanes depending on the club.Classic Sports Cars1960s Le MansCan-AmTrans-AmGroup CHistoric Formula OneClasses are usually based upon the body style rather than outright speed.
>>11847834"classic" should be spaced, it starts a class list but there is also "open" and "truck only"
I wanted to get "the book" on this because that's the way I do everything, a gian technical bible just in case.The master books in this hobby are now $150-$900, that and the hand controller (which is the money part of most racer's experience) gets up to the $400 range.Other than that it's a $20 here and there for almost anything.Awesome vintage bodies might be $80 but nobody usesd those now, it's all $20-$30 resin or lexan or DIY.
To vac form lexan sheets you just get some squares online and build this. You set the lexan in the oven on low to get soft and form the sharp details with a nice heat gun. Cut off the bottom and wheel wells and viola.
So you get this when you stick a toy car under the lexan and vac it.Then you paint it underneath, and any patterns or anything are done in "reverse", so the exterior is always a nice gloss finish.
Pic is the chassis under a 1:32.(example FB track the system thinks is spam)[facebook]/share/v/1CqVMWXM5k/
>>11847834>Classes are usually based upon the body style rather than outright speed.I like that, sounds more fun that way
>>11847851This is what people fuck with, axles and gears. Also you could start a nice debate about oils lol.
>>11847851You can jam a hyper ass motor in them BUT this isn't "magnet racing" wherre fat magnets in the bodies let you pull really hard turns without skidding out.Speed will fuck you up and cost you tires too.
This is the kind of thing expensive custom controllers or "guns" get into.
There is straight drag racing too but I don't know a lot about it.
God, please bump this for your lonely soldier out in the dark and finding little to no slot car based love.
Grabbed this vintage tester, cheap too.
>>11847853maybe a dumb question but do people take it competitively? is it about the car setup beforehand?do you stop accelerating or once it's going is it just trigger down full blast.
>>11850701Those were my questions after not seeing any since like 1994 lol.Competitively, yes in europe they'll shoot your mother to win. The old guys in my area "competitively" recite gear ratio theories between naps. The younger (relatively) racers are pretty bro-tier.It's about the gears, axles, weights, rpms. The accelerating is so variable you could spin out or fly off the track so the name of the game is control vs speed.Most tracks use a standard shop controller but you could build a fancy 400USD one with braking preset buttons and shit.Big question: you can race today for about $40 and your $16 tire set will last 25 races. Hour lane rentals are like $10.It's so not expensive to get to the "cool" level. Just go on ebay and buy from widows who underprice whole collections.Another DIY lexan shrink wrapper...
>>11850701Drag is pretty full blast but idk if real fancy ones actually have gear changing.
All /toy/ cars convert in some way, so if you love a model or a hot wheel or something you can always make the slot car version. The "sled"' of the mechanics are unobtrusive enough and you could relocate things but then you need to think about body roll and over/under steering.
There are cheapo vintage all-in-ones too:https://www.ebay.com/itm/188292643361They're pretty fukin rad and very kino.
bump with a bad ass full model racewayhttps://youtu.be/WB-OqIf2Rzo?si=tAbIHAY-9FXlwuIS
Some basic gear today, spray kit for my compressor and set up the travel box. 1/2
some spare ebay stuff, unpainted bodies
>>11850698Good.
Ran test laps, met some other racers. First time out and I have a shitload to change.I think it's more important to get out and enjoy /toy/s
>>11847350Wonderful.
>>11864903just stick to futa threads
First paint job. Not terrible as generally they're barely painted in any detail. One stripe is kinda fancy.
>>11863357Very cool.
>>11867195Everyone I've met has been cool, and just into fun. Bunch of older dudes glad someone cares but they bring in batches of kids sometimes.Really under 10 their brains don't work fast enough for the 1:32+ but hey it's expensive to break them anyway. I think the 1:24s are into hundreds and 500+ for 1:12.For kids, HO scale all in one tracks all day. They can get more accessories in the space anyhow.
>>11862969Big.
>>11867954The "race hauler" is giant, idk what to do with it and it's got awful old paint on it. Maybe a drag car body but I might get a jewelry welder to do frames.
I mean since 2 weeks ago I got:air brush, compressor and paintabrasive wheel sanding padtire conditionergear and axle ballancerlexan former for bodiessheet of stick on weightswheel alignment toolRPM testerframe measuring tool setNext I'm looking to make tires and frames.
