1:32 Mini-z -x- Scalextric

[TA-Mark 195]

I actually purchased the Mini-Z as a 'better than coming home with nothing' deal. I'd driven to Brisbane to buy a Nitro 1:10 buggy that was supposed to be 'in stock' and wasn't, so I grabbed the Kyosho Mini-Z instead. The original car lasted less than 5 minutes out of the box. A gear broke in the steering servo and the rear 'T' plate broke. Not what you'd expect from such an expensive little car (~$300AU).

My first attempt at improving the Mini-Z was to build it into a 1:24 scale Revell 1969 Boss Mustang model kit (same width as the stock Mini-Z). 1:24 scale is a bit big for inside racing and 'Sticky' tyres in 1:24 also seemed to be hard to find, so a rethink to a better scale was needed.

After getting my hands on a Nano-servo from a parkflyer plane I found I could fit all the electrics in a Scalextric slotcar. Perfect size for indoors and tyres are readily available (good thing too, it melted the first set of rear tyres). Building involved alot of machining parts by hand. Body is a Ford Falcon AU V8Supercar (M. Ambrose). Steering and front suspension is fully adjustable and front has suspension simialar to a MR-02 Mini-Z, no rear suspension. It uses the Scalextric gearing and the stock Mini-Z motor powered by a 4x 'AAA' battery pack. Run times are almost one hour depending how hard you drive.

As I've done with my larger 1:10's you can unplug the radio gear and plug it to another Slotcar chassis (Velcro is a wonderful invention). I'm yet to convert another slotcar but have heaps I can do it to, Sierra RS500 is next.

Way too much power for it's size, but that's half the fun isn't it. I have plans to make clip together track pieces similar to slotcar track so I can build a track 'anywhere' and race. 4 other people have asked me to build them one now too after they seen it run and had a test drive. 1:32 scale offers heaps of room for indoor 'rainy day' racing.

Mark

[Challenger-RT 0]

Hi Mark, nice idea! I haven't thought about it yet to do something like that. Could you post me a pic from inside the car? Cheers, Michael

[TA-Mark 195]

I have the steering servo out at the moment. Broke a servo gear in a very fast roll over and over and over and over and over. Brakes before you turn in is always a good plan I didn't stick to.

When I have the new servo fitted I'll photograph the inside of the chassis.

Another car that would work great in a slot car is a Micro-T. The smaller motor still has ample power to push a 1:32 onroad and swap out the Micro-T 4.8V NiMH battery for a Li-Po 7.4V and it saves weight and doubles the power and runtime. With some careful machining you could get 4 wheel independant suspension and a differential into 1:32 instead of only the front suspension of a Mini-Z.

Might be a future build... Micro-T -X- GT40 scalextric slotcar.

[TA-Mark 195]

Pics of the chassis are now in my showroom. Finally got the servo fixed. Had to build one out of three to get it to fit.

Sadly when I went to run it I discovered the 1100mAh battery has died. Will only charge to 150mAh, so it doesn't run for very long and is very gutless. I took some footage anyway and will edit it into a movie in the next few days.

Cheers, Mark

[SaxoChris 0]

How did i miss this i love the V8 Supercars, maybe you could set up a Mini V8 Supercar championship would be great.

I saw the video up loaded its very quick for the size, Is it the original motor installed?

A* Job

SaxoChris

[TA-Mark 195]

The motor is the stock Kyosho Mini-Z one. Gearing is the Scalextric pinion and spur. Only mods to the electrics is the fitting of a normal steering servo.

It's rather slow in the video I uploaded compared to when it has a good pack in it. When I dismantled the pack I found 1 of the cells had failed completely so it was only running on 3.6v instead of 4.8v.

I have 1 more Scalextric Falcon and 2 more Commodores I could convert, though they are the same set (The **** Johnson 1999 Falcon I've not removed from the package or driven). I'm working on a 4WD 1:32 chassis now for an Escort RS (Micro TA03F with a shaftdrive). I want to try and incorporate regulated headlights/taillights and brake LEDs into this one too as the shell is lighted.

I find the 1:32 scale better for inside than the Mini-Z's 1:24 width and 1:28 length. The complete Mini-Z chassis will fit nicely under a 1:24 static model body if you extend the T-bar to the right wheelbase.

Cheers, Mark