Where to start with Scalextric?

[Napoleon]

So The Boy is getting into his Hotwheels blah blah, and now, thanks to you toob, I need to think about getting some Scalextric.

Where's best to buy, I guess is the main question. I don't want to fall into the 'trap', if that's what it is, of just going to eBay, apart from anything else, it seems swamped with this kind of stuff.

But is toys R us a good alternative? (I doubt it).

[Xaccers]

I got Danielle a Toys R Us version for xmas, wasn't that expensive but looks decent, now the wedding is over we're going to get it out and have a play

[Deanxm]

you havnt bought some cheap 1:42 xantia model cars and done a rebody job on the scalextric cars then Xac

D

[Citroenmad]

I have a couple of boxes in the loft full with scalextric track and cars, some still unused in their boxes. I can't remember the last time it was set up, probably a good 8 years ago

Did anyone see that Brooklands scalextric program James May did? That was brilliant!

[Deanxm]

yes awesome and the horby train thing he did, ive still got my scalextric with a williams renault and a black and gold Players Lotus amungst other classics.
To answer the original question i would hit ebay, you could get a lot of secondhand stuff for your money and end up with a great little setup thats exactly what you want, the new sets are ok but a bit small unless you spend proper wedge.

D

[Citroenmad]

Ive not really looked into current kits but seemed to notice some of the new ones look different from the older track bits I have.

Get some good used stuff, a massive box of it with different bits of tracks (cross overs, narrow bits etc). it'll be much more fun and cheaper, so long as the track is in good nick

[Napoleon]

Nearly 12K results on the bay for the word, 'Scalextric'. Have to narrow that down...

[citronut]

i have stacks of the old stuff in my attic also,

and yes the James may track was something else, his Mecano btidge and Lego house was good too,

there used to be a shop on the hastings marina wirh a giant 8 lane Scalextric/slot car track you could pay to race on,

regards malcolm

[Deanxm]

Start with this and then pick up some of This and your well on your way to a good setup.

D

[Citroenmad]

i have stacks of the old stuff in my attic also,

and yes the James may track was something else, his Mecano btidge and Lego house was good too,

there used to be a shop on the hastings marina wirh a giant 8 lane Scalextric/slot car track you could pay to race on,

regards malcolm

Brilliant wasn't it, the house was really something.

The Scalextric one was shown not long after I had been at Brooklands, which was nice

[Xaccers]

you havnt bought some cheap 1:42 Xantia model cars and done a rebody job on the scalextric cars then Xac

D

That would be sooooo cool!

[bxzx16v]

If you need to join the old style track with the new you need will need a convertor section for a few quid as the new track connectors are different , it's basically the same track just not as fiddly to join together . As Citroenmad says get a good variation of track and cars and it can be fun . Especially cars with no magnatraction fitted

Mark

[citronut]

as long as the track metal end's are not broken off or bent to much and the tabs for coupling the sections together aren't broken off either, you can clean the pick up surface of the track with scotch bright or the likes,

back in the old days we had a couple of 4.5lt blower Bentley's they seemed to me to be far to big for the track, they were brill though,

regards malcolm

[Timmo]

i got a box of the old style 'subaru challenge' from the local free cycle a coup eof years back, came car less and one controller was broken but local tesco had a left over non collected tesco direct shelf on discount and picked up a pair of basic cars for £16, picked up a controller for a few quid on ebay, result was a very happy daughter!! especially after i cleaned up my Old pole position track from pops loft and added it too! ideally needs a second power pack to run enough power around the 2 sets, but good fun!!
easy to get carried away with the cars though! saw So many i wanted!!! but ebays a good place for track, especially if some is local to you! the new stuff is digital and not compatible with the old analog, but there are two types of analog track too, the original style with long round ended clips, and the newer with different style clips, Conversion tracks available for a couple of quid though so no biggy!!
i distinctly remember Borrowing a Glow in the dark 4wd Audi Gt from a mate back in secondary school and Loving it! could never afford one back then though,

[CitroJim]

Great fun

You can almost get a Scalextric Citroen SM... Absolutely fascinating article in this month's Citroenian about a model SM with an electric motor and remotely controlled steering...