1:64 scale cars on ms track

[pixator]

Which other make 1:64 scale cars can you run on micro scalextric track as i was looking at buying some other make like tomy afx aurora etc 1:64 scale cars to run on my micro scalextric track

[gorp]

well since you can run scaly cars on the other brands of track

you should be able to run other brands of cars on scaly track

[woodcote]

Hi pixator. Yes, the basic set-up of all the 1/64 scale cars is similar - apart from the old Matchbox Powertrack cars and the various lane-charger cars like TCR.

 

However... to run on Micro Scalextric track you will need to spend some time fettling the other makes, especially anything that has traction magnets - which is most cars since the 1980s. The reason for this is that the rails on Micro Scalextric track sit higher than other brands of 1/64 scale track. That means the traction magnets feel much more grippy and the cars need more power to move. It can make them very difficult to drive and can make the motors burn out.

 

The best option to help the other makes of cars work better on Micro Scalextric track is to run them with 'taller' rear tyres. This raises the traction magnets higher off the rails and reduces the downforce. Replacement tyres are usually available from most stockists who sell the other 1/64 makes and they should be able to help you.

 

All in all, I'd say the best cars to run on Micro Scalextric track are the Micro Scalextric cars.

[gorp]

well that explains results had with scaly h o toys on other track

[woodcote]

Micro Scalextric cars do work really nicely on other makes of 1/64 scale track. Because they are set up for higher rail height, they can feel quite 'free' - going faster on the straights and having less magnetic traction on the corners. When running on AFX or Tyco track, The Micro Scalextric cars do benefit from either grinding down the standard rubber rear tyres a little or by using silicone tyres. We like the .426" Tyco size Super Tires.

 

Another tip for running Micro Scalextric cars is to exchange the standard steel braids with some softer copper braid. The copper braids give better handling and they tend to last longer too.

[pixator]

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[Muttley]

Back in my younger days we used to take the magnets out of the cars so they would slide more around corners etc. Was a lot of fun and quite challenging.Is this helpful/advisable?

[Andy P.]

Are you talking about the smaller H0 aka 1/64 scale cars or the more common 1/32 scale cars?

At the end of the day any scale can be raced "magless" or "gravity". It is a different way of racing that requires a more careful set up in weight distribution, center of gravity, tire adhesion and axles setup (among other things)...

[woodcote]

Back in my younger days we used to take the magnets out of the cars so they would slide more around corners etc. Was a lot of fun and quite challenging.Is this helpful/advisable?

That’s quite a thing now - replacing traction magnets with similarly-shaped brass weights. There are manufacturers who produce their own brass-weighted cars: the BSRT G-Jet, the Wizzard Thunderstorm, several Slottech brass cars and the new Viper V-Jet. Brass weights are also manufactured for the Tyco 440x2 and Tomy Turbo. All of them are fun to drive, but may need the power turned down to 12 or 15 volts.

 

With cars like the Micro Scalextric or Tony Mega-G+ you can remove the small neodymium traction magnets and then fill the magnet pockets with tungsten putty (anglers use this to weight their fishing lines). Although not as effective as the brass weights on the ‘pro’ cars, you do get a car - at 12 volts - that is fun to drive with plenty of sliding action. With the Micro Scalextric cars, it is worth using the older steel pin guide rather than the modern plastic flag - the pin allows the car to drift more predictably.