INGLATERRA : LO QUE QUEDO DE NUREMBERG 2015 EN LA TIENDA MRE

MRE Slot News - Nuremberg 2015 Report # 1

SLOT-IT There was lots to see at SLOT-IT so we'll start with the new cars. There is one new sports car classic, the Chaparral 2G will share the same chassis as the 2E, and even look similar if you can imagine the famous winged beastie after a long course of steroids. Group C and associated cars get four new models which are all reliveries, so we will have a new Lancia LC2/85 in the rather unusual green & white colours, a Porsche 962 IMSA car in Wynns livery, another Porsche 962 in the Leyton House turquoise, and a third scheme on the Nissan R89C which wil have Cabin sponsorship. SLOT-IT have also previously shown the Nissan in yellow From-A livery but this hasn't yet been confirmed with a catalogue number.   Details of interest about the new cars are the rear wheel spats on the Nissan which we thought were very nicely moulded, and the very detailed driver figure of Stefan Bellof in the Rothmans Porsche 956. The revised rear end of the Leyton House Porsche. Although it is the same version as the FAT Turbo car, Maurizio admitted the back was in fact wrong on the earlier version and you can see the difference in the pictures. The new Leyton House car is the accurate model. Moving on from Group C, the forthcoming Audi R8 LMP has a Limited Edition added to the range as the Le Mans 2000 winner. The not-yet-released Lola Aston Martin also has a second version announced, which should appear very soon after the first car is released. This model is possibly the lowestSLOT-IT car yet, as the rear deck permits maximum airflow and leaves almost no room for the motor and gears. As usual SLOT-IT have overcome difficulties to produce a new car that copies the shape of the prototype realistically. The major announcement by SLOT-IT is for a new range of DTM cars. Not the current models done so well by Carrera, but earlier favourites that will start with the Alfa Romeo 155 and Opel Calibra. We started counting the number of paint schems on just these two and gave up after reaching 30, so there is plenty of opportunity for a long-running series. Add in future possibilities with the Mercedes, BMWs, and Audis that could be added and touring cars could be a big factor on our tracks again. Although the Opel Calibra is still in the planning stage, the Alfa Romeo 155 was available as a cut-away model showing the highly detailed interior. A feature of the Alfa Romeo is 4WD, which easily leads to talk of developments thatSLOT-IT are doing with SCALEXTRIC. The new BMW Z4GT and McLaren P1 cars will have PCR chassis available from SCALEXTRIC when they are released. We were able to test the Bentley Contental and new Aston Martin with SLOT-IT chassis that will be available via Shapeways within a few weeks. The PCR range has already been given extensive press, but you may not be aware that 4WD cars are also on the agenda. Following very successful tests with their Audi R18 E-Tron, rally cars have now been built and tested. We were able to try the Audi Quattro and Lancia Delta S4 with full 4WD, and confirm they are very impressive. The level of grip is almost excessive, the cars accelarate embarrassingly fast, yet remain stable through corners thanks to the SLOT-IT developed front-wheel system with its one-direction ratchets. The Slot Rally guys are likely to have all special stage times shattered when they can get their hands on them, and they are no slouch on a racing circuit either.  The front wheels each have the pawl-ratchet assembly inside the hubs so are independantly able to provide drive. The working parts are neatly covered by wheel trims, see the finished Audi and the prototype Lancia wheels for comparison. The 4WD system works by toothed-belt drive from the back axle, using toothed pulleys to eliminate and drive slip. The system works very well with no detectable slip and no digging in on the corners. SLOT-IT are releasing belts and pulleys in different lengths and sizes to suit almost any wheelbase car and also cater for size differences between the front and rear wheels.