scalextric slot cars

[rickshaw]

OK, I've never owned a scalextric set.  Never.  Until last weekend.  I bought a second-hand set with extra track.  It came with two cars.  One worked for half a run around the track and then wouldn't work again.  The other wouldn't work at all.  Now, I know I can repair them but I'm unsure how or what parts I need.

The first car appears intact but won't run.

The second car is missing the two small "scrub pads" from it's slot car pickups.  It's also missing one of the pickups from beside the slot car guide.

Do I just ditch them and shell out for new cars or try and repair them?  How hard is it to repair them?

[Hobbes]

I don't know about the cars, I had a Carrera set where the contacts were easily swappable though. But the vital repair to any slot car track is to clean the metal rails in the track. Use contact cleaning spray. Also check all the connections for rust.

[Rick Lowe]

I was trying to get the bodies and contacted Scalextric in the UK, here's the reply I got:

Quote:
"Unfortunately, the items you require are not available for purchase directly from ourselves.

We would suggest you contact the following:

01282 612418 www.pendleslotracing.co.uk

0117 2140030 www.slotcarcentre.co.uk

01282 440999 www.slotcity.co.uk

or email info@acmodelseastleigh.co.uk

Kind Regards,"
Unquote

Hope this is of some use.

Cheers

Rick

[Thorvic]

PR19Kit is the man to talk to 

[PR19_Kit]

PR19Kit is the man to talk to 

Darn it, rumbled again. 

It's true I'm a 'born again' slot car nut after spending much of my spare time in the '60s building and racing all sort of cars. Nowadays it's a slightly different hobby, with the 'serious slot car' market dominated by Italian and Spanish manufacturers, but Scalex still holds a good position in the UK, being helped by their current owner's attitude to all things modelling. They are Hornby of course, who also own Airfix, and they seem to be listening to their customers much more than they used to, and that goes for the Scalex side as well as the Hornby Trains and Airfix side too.

Trying to find Scalex spares depends greatly on the age  of the cars, and their model no. all pof which start with a 'C' for some reason, but are usually moulded into the underside of the body shell somewhere. Can you find that Brian, and maybe post pics of the cars themselves please?

There is a big market for vintage Scalex spares and a few companies are actually re-manufacturing them, such is their following still. All three of the firms Rick Lowe mentioned are big hitters in the field but all have their own specialties when it comes to the age of the car concerned.

[zenrat]

You used to be able to buy just the flat brillo pad scrubby pick up bits on their own (apparently they are called braids).
But what Hobbes says - clean the track.  I'd use fine wet & dry and WD40.

Try here (friends of mine) or here (just up the road).
I've never been into the place in Dandenong but their website shows a range of spare parts.  Not sure about their postage costs though - looks a bit pricey.  If you think so too I can always pick up an order and post it to you at cost.

[jcf]

pattosplace is another OZ based slot car biz:
http://members.optusnet.com.au/pattosplace/home.html

... and the folks at Model Cars Magazine have just launched a brand new US published slot car magazine, Slot Cars MAgazine,
I picked up the first issue yesterday. 

http://www.slotcarsmag.com

[deathjester]

I'd try not to get any WD-40 on the plastic if you can help it  - and we use copper alloy braids, they are longer lasting and slightly better conductoes.  I'll see if I can find the name of the eBay Seller I got ours from.

[Rick Lowe]

Just a shot in the dark and in the spirit of "if you don't ask, you don't find out":

Does anyone have a 1/32 XB Falcon Coupe they would be willing to sell me the body and windows from, please?
I'm looking at having to get the whole thing, then try and sell the rolling chassis, but I don't know if that will work and it's a lot of money to spend just to have the chassis sitting collecting dust.

And yes, I do want it for what you're thinking of... 

Cheers & Thanks in Anticipation

Rick

[PR19_Kit]

... and the folks at Model Cars Magazine have just launched a brand new US published slot car magazine, Slot Cars MAgazine,
I picked up the first issue yesterday. 

http://www.slotcarsmag.com

That's going to be confusing, there's already a Brit publication called 'Slot Car Magazine', but without the 's' after 'Car'. 

Looks good though, that chassis on the web site looks very '70s in design, makes a change from the moulded plastic stuff that seems to be de rigeur these days.