Slot Cars with O27, a crossover

 Perhaps Lionel could partner with Carrera (and use Carrera's marketing expertise to make the Lionel product more universal and salable).

How would this be of benefit to Carrera?

Lionel tried slot cars in the 1960's and 1970's.

In the 1960's, I think the HO slot cars to have were Aurora. Someone was making Aurora knock-off cars (perhaps using the same molds) around 15 or so years ago. Are they still around?

I have several of the 1960's Standard and HO cars. IMHO, the Standard cars are very poor quality. The HO ones run about the same as Atlas. OK, but not as good as Aurora.

Lionel did partner with Scalextric in 1962 before they brought out their own Standard scale stuff. I've never had a chance to examine Scalextric stuff with any Lionel markings. I did get to look over some Scalextric cars in their own packaging. Looked to be well made.

I had a bunch of Scalextric track. Again, without any Lionel markings. The track was interesting in that it was made from a soft, rubbery material. I think later Scalextrix track was made from the same hard plastic material as other brands.

Very NICE!!!! 

  Wow now if Lionel gets into this I wonder who would be the first to start complaining on the prices?

   For those interested, Lars Ole on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/user/PSRRFH/videos

has many videos of what he did with standard slot car track.

Here is just  one short example from the guy (in Denmark):

Imagine this kind of thing combined with trains!

Joe Rampolla posted:

suzukovich posted:

This is a pretty good topic. I just recently integrated my son's 1/43 Digital Carrera slot cars into the layout that he received for Christmas. We had talked about a adding RR crossing, but knew they didn't make one for O Gauge.  Seeing what you done and also watching videos, using copper tape to make track. It has defiantly given me some ideas. Is there anyway you could show picks of the crossing from the underside and how you wired it?? Also will the copper  tape support the digital signals?  Below Video is  what I have done. The car with the flashing lights is a Carrera 1/43 Mercedes SLK Safety car.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-zKKlLewUE

 

 

 

Hi Suzukovich,

      Looks great!  And slots add a level of interaction some children really enjoy. 

Take care, Joe.

Joe.  The one great thing about this. It has gotten him of his tablet.  Now we can race and run trains at the same time. Most nights he is running his cars.

Mike-  As for the polarity change to run traffic in two directions. That would be great, but would need to be able to change it back so my son could race.

Dan-  As for car options, I was thinking of buying a couple of the old motorific cars and running them and/or see if I can swap the bodies onto the Carrera chassis. I also need to find a light kit for the headlights. I am also very familiar with the Faller system.  Once again it might not be to hard to adapt the components into a motorific chassis and adapt newer 1/43 car bodies. Just a thought.  

Night shot

The Motorific cars and trucks weren't necessarily scale as they were all designed to fit onto a single standard Chassis. That said, though, they did have some advantages due to battery operation. What would be the hot ticket with Motorific cars would be rechargable batteries and strategically placed charging stations. Turning the cars on and off would be tricky, but could probably be rigged.

suzukovich posted:

Joe Rampolla posted:

suzukovich posted:

This is a pretty good topic. I just recently integrated my son's 1/43 Digital Carrera slot cars into the layout that he received for Christmas. We had talked about a adding RR crossing, but knew they didn't make one for O Gauge.  Seeing what you done and also watching videos, using copper tape to make track. It has defiantly given me some ideas. Is there anyway you could show picks of the crossing from the underside and how you wired it?? Also will the copper  tape support the digital signals?  Below Video is  what I have done. The car with the flashing lights is a Carrera 1/43 Mercedes SLK Safety car.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-zKKlLewUE

 

 

 

Hi Suzukovich,

      Looks great!  And slots add a level of interaction some children really enjoy. 

Take care, Joe.

Joe.  The one great thing about this. It has gotten him of his tablet.  Now we can race and run trains at the same time. Most nights he is running his cars.

Mike-  As for the polarity change to run traffic in two directions. That would be great, but would need to be able to change it back so my son could race.

Dan-  As for car options, I was thinking of buying a couple of the old motorific cars and running them and/or see if I can swap the bodies onto the Carrera chassis. I also need to find a light kit for the headlights. I am also very familiar with the Faller system.  Once again it might not be to hard to adapt the components into a motorific chassis and adapt newer 1/43 car bodies. Just a thought.  

Night shot

 I was thinking if you took out the cross overs and put straight track in where the red ones are for train use, then put them back when your son wanted to race, it might work.

Hi Folks,

Two new modified cars:

https://youtu.be/hqZJn_t7DPE

https://youtu.be/Adqsxdr0_tc

These are Artin cars, about $3 each, new.  The Snoopy figure is from a PVC ornament from 1988, and Woodstock is resin-cast from a silicone mold made off of the Lionel handcar.

Now Mario can race with Snoopy.  Hard to pick sides, I like Snoopy and Sicilians.

Take care, Joe

E-UNIT-79 posted:

Joe, does Carrera make 1/48 scale cars or 1/43rd scale? Just wondering because I would definitely be interested in something like this as the only O scale cars I know of where the Aurora ones from back in the 60's but they're very rare, very hard to find and very high priced.

Hi E-UNIT-79 and Everyone,

 I know this information is a little late, but for those who would want an almost perfect scale match for O scale automobiles, the Artin cars are approx. 1:48 scale.   The Artin cars have headlights and re-motoring for slow speeds is very easy.   To my eye, because I am used to using at least 1:43 to 1:32 scale autos with the 3 rail O gauge trains, the Carrera cars look better.  If anyone is interested, here is the Carrera 1:43 Ferrari re-motored for slower speeds with headlights added (using the same motor as the Lionel handcar).

Carrera does make "switches/turnouts"

so a hobbyist can make some interesting road and street configurations on even a temporary layout.   I mentioned to the Carrera US sales manager that there might be a market for the Carrera product for the O gauge hobbyists, but he feels that the O gauge hobbyist would reject the Carrera product because it is 1:43 and not 1:48.  Perhaps Lionel would consider partnering with Carrera?  And Carrera is carried by some forum sponsors.

Take care, Joe.

As for changing polarity easily you can wire in a DPDT switch like you did with DC in HO. Just throw switch to change from racing to two way.

mike g. posted:

suzukovich

, I just watched your train/slot car video, makes me wonder if you changed the poliairty on one of the slot car tracks if you couldn't have 2 way traffic! Just a thought.

I don't know about your slot car track but in H.O. you need to make sure that you have separate terminal screws(4 screws) to allow traffic to go the way you are suggesting. Each track needs to have it's own set of wires to control voltage with.

Lee Fritz

as for combining trains and slots I remember way back in the 1960's I ran a Lionel freight set in a circle of tubular track on the apartment floor. There was a figure eight of super O Lionel track with military switcher complete with rockets engine assorted space age stuff in tow in the center.  And around the two train layouts were the Aurora 1/48  hot rods big oval layout.   These were a gift from my mom who thought they were about right size for running with Lionel o guage. Perfect mom memory here!

I really liked them, but the HO ones were the most amazing ones I ran at friends houses. I remember a friend  of mine had HO trains and an intersection for his HO slot cars. How cool was that! I wasn't a fan of HO trains in that era of production but that was always fun to race cars and avoid the train! No one was hurt in the event of a toy meets toy mishap! Just a lot of 10 year old Ohhhhs!! Did you see that stuff.

So back at home things were just about right. O guage bullet proof trains and the larger O guage Aurora slots.  Now I wish I had those slot cars! They were not a big seller then. Now considered rare....prices on the bay are outrageous! Just not too many around.

Carerra make  some nice 1/32 scale cars that fit the post war Lionel train decor well.  Just a tad too big, drats, I am spoiled by vintage O guage Aurora memories.

Mom gave away the trains and slotcars to good homes when I discovered playing the electric guitar.....you gave my trains away? Slots too? Maaaaaaaaa! Really?

I guess I wasn't using them much. There was no room for a permanent layout of any kind.  Set 'em up, play, tear 'em down ,box 'em away.  

Then the dreaded  Give 'em away!

Transfer, aka Leroof, aka Pierre

Leroof,

I have some Aurora H.O. slot cars from the mid 1960's, the T-J 500's with DC motors. Some of my H.O. cars are collectibles. Never knew that Aurora made O scale slot cars. 

I know that Marx made a 1/32 scale race car set, not sure if it sod well or not.

Lee Fritz

aurora O 

see links

also a blast from the past HO intersection photo...

Wow this came alive again.  So a few updates. With the Carrera 1/43 track. Since I last posted pics the track has been weathered to give the appearance of snow/slush covered streets.  Now if I have to do it again I will use the Carrera 1/24, 1/32 track as it is wider and would look more like a street in O Gauge. The 1/43 Digital cars will operate on this track. I can also go the route of making my own using copper tape. There are quite a few How to You tube videos on the subject. 

RR Crossing: 2R would be no issue as it would be the same as the HO. With 3R its a challenge because of the third rail. Unlike the 3R trains with the pick up rollers the gap would be no issue just as in the 45 degree crossovers. With the slot cars its going to be different. At slow speed the cars will not be moving fast enough to cover the gap between the two rails due to the inability to run the pick rails( Slot Cars) in that space. Even at high speed the cars could still stall.  It can be done but it will take some time to perfect it.  It dose add a nice dimension to a layout as the kids can race while running trains at the same time. This also can turn it into a family event  combining slot cars and trains. That anyway.'s my take.

Sorry guys, but for me the cas would have to be approximately 1/48 to 1/50 in size. To take it further, Faller used to make a system that integrated with Marklin to the point that the Faller could be driven on to a waiting Marklin flat car. The flat car could be delivered to another location on the layout and unloaded. Now that would be cool!

Steve

RideTheRails posted:

Sorry guys, but for me the cas would have to be approximately 1/48 to 1/50 in size. To take it further, Faller used to make a system that integrated with Marklin to the point that the Faller could be driven on to a waiting Marklin flat car. The flat car could be delivered to another location on the layout and unloaded. Now that would be cool!

Steve

Steve, I agree 1/48 and a system like Faller would be the best. But slot cars and O scale would combine two hobbies, inspire the imagination and participation of the kids.  Also remember European O Scale is 1/43.5 and therefore most likely if Faller developed a system it would be in 1/43 of which there is a huge variety of vehicles out there.( Conversion kits)

I only recently have become interested in slot cars. I don't think the hobby is making a comeback but there is tons of info on the internet, I have found some really good informative sites.  And there is lots and lots on eBay. I am thinking there is more interest than most think.

I just won a eBay HO, they call it HO but it has evolved into 1/64 set and plan on a two lane track. Only trouble is no one ever comes to my house so I will be racing the track. My best friend couldn't care less, I was married briefly and didn't have kids. This will be completely separate from my trains.

Track planning is different in that curves  and grades that would be impossible with trains are fine.

Slot cars are a perfect example of something without the internet zero info. and with the internet lots and lots.

Does anyone remember the Gilbert race track system? And does Lionel own the rights to them since they purchased American Flyer? It would have made a lot more sense for Lionel to come out with a race track or a road system then those stupid Mega Tracks. 

If anyone's interested in a crossover, 2 way street:

Here's the two I was going to use 1/43 Carrera

 

clem k posted:

Here's the two I was going to use 1/43 Carrera

I like Lightning and Mater, too!

I think there is a set available.

I had an Atlas HO slot car RR crossing that came in a box of other stuff.  Just sold it on Ebay recently, had no real use for it.  I remember my cousin having an aurora slot car track with an HO train but I have been an Oscaler my whole life so the link of cars and trains never took hold.  The closest for me would have been EZ streets but the layout would require a major rebuild to incorporate it now.

MIKATT1 posted:

Does anyone remember the Gilbert race track system? And does Lionel own the rights to them since they purchased American Flyer? It would have made a lot more sense for Lionel to come out with a race track or a road system then those stupid Mega Tracks. 

I don't remember AC Gilbert having slot car sets other than the James Bond set (about $2,000 for a complete set on eBay). I vaguely remember Lionel tinkering around with slot car sets in the 1960's along with Eldon, Tyco, and Aurora.

I've seen the Faller cars and keep thinking that if they could do that in H.O. (1/87) doing something like that in 1:43 would be even easier. The system uses a steel wire buried in the roadway to guide the cars and the cars have a rechargeable on-board battery.

AGHRMatt posted:

MIKATT1 posted:

Does anyone remember the Gilbert race track system? And does Lionel own the rights to them since they purchased American Flyer? It would have made a lot more sense for Lionel to come out with a race track or a road system then those stupid Mega Tracks. 

I don't remember AC Gilbert having slot car sets other than the James Bond set (about $2,000 for a complete set on eBay). I vaguely remember Lionel tinkering around with slot car sets in the 1960's along with Eldon, Tyco, and Aurora.

 

Look up on the bay Gilbert AutoRama although I did find out by looking them up they were around 1/32 scale.

Leroof posted:

aurora O 

see links

 

Very nice, some of the photos with the Aurora name plate look similar to the H.O. scale Aurora race cars. Only wish I would have found the O scale cars instead of the H.O. race cars by Aurora.

Lee Fritz

Found this  

Hey there Doug, Great find! I started looking around and found this, looks kind of easy if you just fallow what he does. Also you can make your own roads threw towns, hillsides, country. Check it out.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-Wca7xpWFc

RideTheRails posted:

Sorry guys, but for me the cas would have to be approximately 1/48 to 1/50 in size. To take it further, Faller used to make a system that integrated with Marklin to the point that the Faller could be driven on to a waiting Marklin flat car. The flat car could be delivered to another location on the layout and unloaded. Now that would be cool!

Steve

Hi Steve,

The Artin slot cars are 1:48 scale

so the Artin cars can work for the scale-conscious hobbyist, and they run nicely on the Carrera 1:43 track.  Since I have been following the slot car forums, I have noticed that many slot car hobbyists cut the dual-lane track into single lanes, re-paint the black plastic to a realistic gray color, and then the sliver slot car rails become inconspicuous.  (I would like to see something like the Faller system for O scale.  I think the sticking point is in steering the larger cars with their magnetic/wire-following technique.)

          (my photos don't do justice to the Artin product)

Take care, Joe.

Joe Rampolla posted:

RideTheRails posted:

Sorry guys, but for me the cas would have to be approximately 1/48 to 1/50 in size. To take it further, Faller used to make a system that integrated with Marklin to the point that the Faller could be driven on to a waiting Marklin flat car. The flat car could be delivered to another location on the layout and unloaded. Now that would be cool!

Steve

Hi Steve,

The Artin slot cars are 1:48 scale

so the Artin cars can work for the scale-conscious hobbyist, and they run nicely on the Carrera 1:43 track.  Since I have been following the slot car forums, I have noticed that many slot car hobbyists cut the dual-lane track into single lanes, re-paint the black plastic to a realistic gray color, and then the sliver slot car rails become inconspicuous.  (I would like to see something like the Faller system for O scale.  I think the sticking point is in steering the larger cars with their magnetic/wire-following technique.)

          (my photos don't do justice to the Artin product)

Take care, Joe.

I looked them up on line. Was not impressed with the detail of the car bodies. 1/43 and HO were far more detailed. 

suzukovich posted:

I looked them up on line. Was not impressed with the detail of the car bodies. 1/43 and HO were far more detailed. 

You need to see the Artin cars in person. Although the whimsy of Snoopy and Woodstock distracts from the detail of these 1:48 Artin cars, these 2 cars have nice detail, and there is no other option for those who need an accurate scale-sized slot car, IMHO.  And the Artin cars have headlights, Carrera doesn't.  Artin cars are available, new, for about $6.

Take care, Joe.