rosco01 Posted September 21, 2014 Report Share Posted September 21, 2014 Howdy folk - and thanks for admitting me to the site. Please read below and comment if you believe I have a mild case of "slotitis"... I, for many years believed I was cured of this infliction. "Slotitis" started in me just about when Scalextric hit our shores.... my brother-in-law purchased one of the first sets here in Melbourne for his sons (my nephews)... and I was hell-bent on getting my own.... I waited some 12 months before a second hand car, a D straight and at about one extra piece a month (paper boy wages then were $1.25 a week... for 1 hour/night - 6 nights/week) brought result to my constant requests for my own layout. My ealiest piece was a 1/24 Ferrari that someone sold to me for $1... and it never worked right.... and I eventually bought a Ferrari plastic kt from G.J.Coles (when they used to be a "variety' store - remember way back then?). It was a mongrel of a model - on a tinplate chassis. It had plastic look-alike spoked wheels which were forever falling off - and the nemesis of the entire concept was the pick-up - it was a rock hard guide with a very brittle stem.... no Scalextric stem could be used to replace it - and my school mate (who had a figure 8 track and two GT 40's... a white one and a light blue one) took great delight in flipping the little red button of his pit stop "points" over whilst I was coming down the straight...... to see the model sheer off its guide and roll off the end ....... I went through two of those "Coles" cars until realising that I should have saved up the $4.75 and bought a Scalextric model...... which was also a disaster.... the Mini Cooper non raced-tuned..... probably not the best model to start competing with a GT 40... then came a Triumph TR 4A which, although rear wheel drive - wasn't much better. I was offered a second hand Offenhauser rear wheel drive (yellow) - which wasn't in good shape - but it ran an awful lot better than the mini or Triumph..... I eventually built up a continuous track and bought an AC Cobra - I was in heaven.....added more and more track... when I started work, at 15 - money soon afforded a lot of new options.... but, it was too much money - and other long suffering wants for lack of funds slid my slot car asperations into a dark corner.... When my kids reached the age they could appreciate the hobby - I set it up again.... in about 1980..... we set it up on a regular basis for a good 2/3 years... then we moved house.... so - it went back into storage.... now in thier teens, they regularly asked for it to come out again... especially when Bathust was on... (we used to set the track up and race all day - with the 1000 in the background). Car collection consisted of all but one Scalextric models - earliest is a P4 Ferrari and a Lamborghini - the last two be bought back in around 1985 were a Triumph TR7 and a Ford Escort Rallye .... plus one MRRC car - the Alan Jones Williams... it was always the fastest car.... I fitted a larger motor to it and tweaked it a bit with some lead in the nose.... none of the Scalextric cars could get close to it. I bought a Scalextric Lotus F1 car for my eldest son - but it was always a dog... there was a definite problem with the way the three piece body/chassis went toghether... and it bound up the drive-line - either by compression or under tension.... I gave up on that model after spending weeks on it.... eventually, the screw threads in the body became stripped (I didn't then know to screw backwards when fitting screws until the threads "dropped") - and it went into the "display only" class..... In total, we had 8 cars - as mentioned, all of them Scalextric except for the MRRC Williams. On a couple of occasions, we did bring it out in small doses... but the ageing track, and cars which where fickle with failure due to brittle wiring - all of which demanded lots of non-existent spare time to effect a layout and a couple of cars which wouldn't result in the kids walking off and playing elsewhere whilst I pounded away with repairs..... my belief was that it the terminal result for most of us who walked away from the hobby/sport.... So, that was the "slotitis" infection... and I believed it had passed....but it was always "lurking".... trust me, you can't ever be free of this insidious infliction..... as I have found out....! Retiree of some 4+ years, finally getting back into many different hobbies I've "boxed", hoarded and refused to part with. Grand-kids took an interest in my 35 y.o. collection of Scalextric mid last year (although I believe it was my eldest son who prompted them to angle at me to bring it out) - packed away, mothballed and unused for probalby the last 30 years - complete with original P2 transformer. Now folk, before I go any further with this long-winded novel (I'm well know for writing novels such as this) - I have to fess up.... I've been dabbling with the opposition..... model trains and radio aircraft..... so, throw me through the door if you want - but I'm being honest about my split devotion to other facets of modelling.... However, with those other interests - new and varied skills have been learned affording a re-juvenated interest to "fix" models... and an ability to work with plastics,metals, electronics etc. etc... all of which lend themselves very nicely to the world of slot cars.... Just before Bathurst last year, I pulled out a bit of track and finally got a couple of cars going...... after cleaning up the joints and finally got some continuous running..... didn't take long for "slotitis" to set in again.. I worked through the cars I have and eventually got them all to run - now having a much better appreciation of the delicacies and intricacies of what my former ham-fisted abilities were capable of.... I picked up some new "Sport" track and the adapters - and the "build" began to gain momentum..... Since then, have picked up more and more and more... to the point we have more track than I can fit into visible space in the house. The cars I have have 35+ year old tyres... cracked, split and some have gone rock hard.... resulting in some very "demanding" control being needed..... the grandkids had a lot of trouble trying to keep them on the track - and some of the "oldies" too - had difficulty in not being abe to race like we used to... so, I went on line and found Armchair and Kevin Moody (thanks, Kevin - if you are reading this). The plethora of available tyres confused the heck out of me... I understood nothing of the dimensions needed - but, with assistance - now have replacement tyres on all models..... and wow - do they perform!..... these cars now run the fastest lap times ever - I look into the ageing eyes of some of the plastic drivers - and they are either in shock - or awe! I believe the "Slotitis" inflicition has become more and more serious and prompted me to start to re-wire controllers using de-copperised ciruit board and toaster resistance wire (staying analogue - I would never be allowed the expense of the digial "leap) - making up stereo plug leads, and incorporated "dynamic brake" into all controllers. Eventually found my always much wanted model - Shelby Cobra, after looking through evilbay for an original Scalextric one and shuddering at what was on offer - for the prices asked... When I found Armchair Racer and Carrera.... I took a punt, and was just so grateful I didn't grab one of the Scalextric Cobra's.... Love the Carrera version so much - I ended up with three of them.... then came the same number of Cheetah's.... and then two Scalextric GT40's.... and then I found Slot-it.... as recommended by one of the sponsors here....Armchair Racer... who have been simply brilliant with response and purchases.... Made up my own "connections" box - with options for reverse polarity and brake on/off. I added a Scalextric lap counter to afford the plug in option for different controllers (the older Scalextric cars like a 25 ohm - the newer Carrera and Slot-it like the 50 ohm ones I have wound) - so we can simply change controllers with cars..... works for me... I also added the Carrera electronic lap counter.... which I find to be brilliant. I am anxiously awaiting arrival of two further Slot-it GT 40's (I prefer the look of the Mk1) and two suspension kits....plus some other little bits to "tweak" up lap times..... So, folk - now you have it - I spilled my beans on re-entry to the hobby....... do you believe that I have rekindled my "slotiitis" - it there time still to fob it off as a momentary relapse....? frats, Rosco Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ember Posted September 21, 2014 Report Share Posted September 21, 2014 An all too familiar tale. There are many here similarly afflicted. Although we can not offer treatment for this incurable illness, we can offer support. So welcome. Pull up a chair and a car and make yourself at home. Quote Computers. They'll never catch on. Tiny Tyers Targa - The build saga continues - Aging wood - A recipe for staining wood - Don't take a fence - Step by step paling fence - An old shed for my new cars - Wooden garage under construction Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Gunn Posted September 21, 2014 Report Share Posted September 21, 2014 Hi rosco 01 sorry mate it is a disease once you have got it never goes away but lurks in the background for many years until it springs forth once again and the bank managers face goes pale as you increase the overdraught, and the wife god bless her goes home to mum , welcome my friend have fun with the great hobby of slot cars. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve38 Posted September 21, 2014 Report Share Posted September 21, 2014 Good read Roscoe. Welcome! Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dangermouse Posted September 21, 2014 Report Share Posted September 21, 2014 welcome aboard "'been dabbling with the opposition..... model trains and radio aircraft." not the opposition I have trains and planes to go along with my automobiles Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rosco01 Posted September 21, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 21, 2014 Thanks all - I feel as if I've just re-entered a room from the pounds/shillings/pence era... and am somewhat comforted by your appeasement... Now, down to hard tacks - I seriously need aversion - not encouragement....... and of all I've read today - I'm afraid I pose a great threat to your contrivance to steer me elsewhere.... If not for a casual "glance" at obtaining my formerly beloved Scaley AC Cobra (coloured green) - and the process through evilbay of procuring one to satisfy my errant need of resurgence (and regret at having ever given it away) - I might have easily pigeon-holed the venture and wafted off into another hobby dimension.... So, folk - I'm back - and back with a vengeance.... I have cars, I have track and I have need.... I guess this is enough to validate my acceptance that "slotitis" had truely bitten hard yet once again..... Now, to begin association... I'm in the outer eastern subs of Melbourne (you'd be getting close if you counted down about 40 clicks from the GPO - or is that also a long gone forgotten geographical datum point in today's modern world of GPS?). The very last contact I had with anyone in slots prior to my exodus - was RailRoader Models - when they were at Maroondah Hwy, Croydon..... and from where I purchased my last Scaley model - albeit a body only Datsun 240Z... (yet to be fitted with a Slot-it universal RTR chassis - or something else, if someone has a better option). So, folk - thankyou for the kind welcome to my return.... I'll be here for a long, long time.... and one which might very well grate on your tolerance.... I don't know a lot - but I know a lot about little...... and am more than happy to share my previous life in this sport.... and even more so to contribute with my experience and developed appreciation of things in "miniscule"...... In closing - at 1/32nd..... for those yet to "experience" detail .... just take a peek at 1/87..... and, as I did for some time - 1/160...... 1/32 affords just so much freedom from magnifying glass scrutiny - most probably can't percieve the discipline.... but, heck - we race - right........ ? frats, Rosco Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rosco01 Posted September 21, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 21, 2014 OK - Just to put you in the picture (pun intended) - pic taken in August last year.... Since - have picked up a few new models..... and heaps of Scaley track.. Hope some of these old dinosaurs rekindle some reflection in our past.... frats, Rosco Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wobble Posted September 21, 2014 Report Share Posted September 21, 2014 Hi Rosco, dinosaurs can't be a bad thing, my wife has been known to refer to me as one. Good to be back, eh? ... Slotitis - don't take any meds! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rosco01 Posted September 21, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 21, 2014 Thanks for the welcome, Waddle.... yes, I do appreciate that I have lived in a "time gone by" for decades..... but somehow - the best of the best of our years seem to be way back then... I'm not sure - in fact reluctant to suggest, that they were any better.... but, in terms of appreciation for values - I don't believe the modern age of press button/screen illusions comes close to what we enjoyed/suffered..... There is absolutely nothing relevant which compares having to "fix" something vs game over or re-load... Further - and to our cause - I might suggest that modern day "grand-parents" moot some casual enticement to promoting this sport... albeit at their initial outlay... What a great platform we (dinosaurs) can offer the techno/visual world of up-and-coming-state-of-the-art nano-spectrum gameboys to our world of electro-magnetic and "real" dimension entertainment...... not to mention the factual education of how things "work"...... Gameboy, Nanotech, PS and X-box - go parallel that one........ At the very least - our descendents will know what a "+" or a "-" means in the everyday practicality of "real world" application.... I don't give one jot to anything the audio-visual button pressing challenges can afford in contrast..... Lets get our decendants up and going with this.... I do know for one - my grand-kids have taken a very keen interest in how my "slots" work..... and more particularly - have taken a keener interest in why they "dont".... Go suck, Gameboy - let's all get back to teaching kids how stuff works.... in real-time, real world practicality.... works for me... and is working with my g'kids.... frats, Rosco Ps - now, where do I go to obtain discounts for promoting our cause.... surely, folk - you can appreciate I'm trying to get slot cars back up and running against our greatest adversary......? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mobbzee Posted September 21, 2014 Report Share Posted September 21, 2014 you will only find encouragement here http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Scalextric-1960-039-s-C78-AC-Cobra-nicely-restored-gwo-/261595032450?_trksid=p2054897.l4275 Quote http://www.auslot.com/forums/index.php?/topic/12014-mt-panorama-track/ ...My Track Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rosco01 Posted September 21, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 21, 2014 Thanks Mobbzee - took another look at the Scaley AC Cobra - if not for sentimentality and historical value - I'd be surprised if it reaches the asking price. I won't chase one of these up now - I'd probably chase up a Mini Cooper first..... it was my first Scaley, regardless of how dismal it performed - and, I 'd leave it absolutely stock and suffer. frats, Rosco Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ember Posted September 21, 2014 Report Share Posted September 21, 2014 If you set aside the sentimental attachment and go for a Cobra that'll look good and give you track joy, the Ninco ones are great. Quote Computers. They'll never catch on. Tiny Tyers Targa - The build saga continues - Aging wood - A recipe for staining wood - Don't take a fence - Step by step paling fence - An old shed for my new cars - Wooden garage under construction Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rosco01 Posted September 22, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 22, 2014 Thanks Ember - I haven't looked at Ninco yet... but will. I have three of the Carrera ones - they are really great cars... and so quiet..... well, the ones I have are. I also have three Carrera Cheetahs.... so, they will be period competitive.... And, would you believe it - currently (before two further ones arrive) - I have three GT 40's - two Scaleys (a Mk1 and a Mk2 - prefer the look of the Mk1 myself) and a slot it #40 in green.... I haven't scratch built a slot car yet - but it's on the books.... I have scratch built many locomotives and wagons/carriages - it is indeed a very satisfying end when you can produce something which is not commercially availiable.... I probably need to read quite a few posts in this forum before attempting the slot car build - I have absolutely no idea what medium to use for the body - I expect the norm is to build the body - then assemble some sort of chassis - either scratch built or aftermarket to complete the build. Thanks again, Ember - I'm about to throw up some questions in another thread concerning upgrading the Slot-It GT 40 I have. frats, Rosco Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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