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JARGON

1. What does A/FX mean ?

2. What does TCR mean ?

3. What does "runner" mean ?

4. What does "cut" mean ?

5. What does "carded" mean ?

6. What does "EX" mean ?

7. What does "SG+" mean ?

8. What are "brushes" ?

9. What is an "armature" ?

10. What are "sliders" ?

11. What is a "tub track" ?

12. What does NOS mean ?

GETTING STARTED

1. What set should I buy to get started ?

2. Can you provide me with the pros and cons of the various companies (Tyco, Tomy, LifeLike, Artin, MicroScalextric, etc) ?

HISTORY & MANUFACTURERS

1. When did magnetic traction start ?

2. Newer TCR cars and sets seem to have slots, I recall some that could change lanes, what happened to these ?

3. What happened to the Atlas company ?

4. What is a ThunderJet ?

5. What is a Vibrator ?

6. What is a Marchon ?

7. What is a NIkko ?

8. What is Faller track ?

9. Who were Lionel ?

CARS

1. Can all HO cars run on any kind of track ?

2. Which cars are the fastest ?

3. Which cars are the most robust ?

4. What maintenance is needed to keep my cars running ?

5. Why do some people change the magnets in their cars ?

6. Why do some people change the tires ?

7. How do I clean the car pickup shoes ?

8. Is there any way to keep the pickup shoes from oxidizing ?

POWER SUPPLIES

1. How do I stop the second car from speeding up when the first car stops ?

2. How do I get consistent speed around a large track ?

3. What are those fancy after market controllers for ?

TRACK

1. Can the various manufacturers tracks fit together ?

2. What should I use to clean my track ?

3. Is there any way to keep the track from oxidizing ?

MISCELLANEOUS

1. I heard that if a car gets wet you can dry it out it the microwave, is this true ?

2. My girlfriend said she'd leave me if I didn't stop playing with my cars and start playing with her, is she joking ?

3. When I was a kid my dad told me, that if my TJet died, all I had to do was leave it under my pillow and the TJet fairy would bring me a new one in the middle of the night. How come this no longer works ?
   

     ANSWERS

JARGON

What does A/FX mean ?

From the box set Aurora A/FX Model Motoring "Rally 500":
It stands for Aurora Factory Experimentals.

What does TCR mean ?

Marc Freidson wrote:
Total Control Racing. Tyco's slotless racing system from the '80s. I don't believe they make it anymore.

What does "runner" mean ?

Marc Freidson wrote:
A general user of slot cars. Not a person who is primarily a racer or collector.

What does "cut" mean ?

wvainds wrote:
Wheelwells have been cut to accomodate large tires.

What does "carded" mean ?

Marc Freidson wrote:
A car that has either been removed from or was never in original packaging but has been put on a card for sale purposes.

What does "EX" mean ?

Marc Freidson wrote:
Tomy Super G+ (SG+) Japanese part. i.e. EX-001 is the Japanese part number for the Mercedes C-9 SG+ car

What does "SG+" mean ?

Marc Freidson wrote:
Tomy Super G+ car. Possibly the best out of the box performance slot car.

wvainds wrote:
Super "G" Plus {G stands for gravity, these cars are able to climb walls.

What are "brushes" ?

Marc Freidson wrote:
The part of the motor assembly that contacts the armature to the pickup assembly. Visit H.O. SlotwWorld for a picture of the AFX chassis assemblies.

What is an "armature" ?

Marc Freidson wrote:
The coil winding that makes the car move. Visit H.O. SlotWorld for a picture of the AFX chassis assemblies.

What does NOS mean ?

Marc Freidson wrote:
New Old Stock. This means that the products are new in the package, but it is a part that is no longer manufactured.

 

GETTING STARTED

What set should I buy to get started ?

Marc Freidson wrote:
This is a VERY subjective area. Personally I think a newbie should buy a track set to start (the larger the better). They are the best buy for the money. Especially at Christmas time!

Can you provide me with the pros and cons of the various companies.

Marc Freidson wrote:
I think (as stated above) that Tomy AFX SG+ cars are the best performance car out of the box. However, I think Tyco track is the most durable and stays connected much better than Tomy. Tyco and Tomy are the two most visible companies in the slot car realm. So for availability's sake, you would probably want to go with one of those companies. LifeLike is a close third in availability.

HISTORY

What happened to the Atlas company ?

Dennis Weikel wrote:
Atlas still exists as a very successful model railroading company and still exists in Hillside, NJ. However, they gave up on slots in 1970.

 

CARS

Can all HO cars run on any kind of track ?

wvainds wrote:
No.Vibrators operate on A.C.voltage.

Which cars are the fastest ?

wvainds wrote:
Tomy and Tyco.

What maintenance is needed to keep my cars running ?

wvainds wrote:
Clean and LIGHTLY oil friction points.

Why do some people change the magnets in their cars ?

wvainds wrote:
To increase downforce with traction mags or to increase motor power level with motor mags.

Why do some people change the tires ?

wvainds wrote:
It increases traction and alters height from track.

How do I clean the car pickup shoes ?

wvainds wrote:
The easiest method is an ink eraser.

Is there any way to keep the pickup shoes from oxidizing ?

wvainds wrote:
No.

POWER SUPPLIES

How do I stop the second car from speeding up when the first car stops ?

wvainds wrote:
Use one power supply per lane or use a single regulated supply.

How do I get consisitent speed around a large track ?

wvainds wrote:
Use jumpers.

What are those fancy after market controllers for ?

wvainds wrote:
Different cars have different power needs. T-jets and STOCK cars 45 ohms tires and gears on modern cars 35 ohms magnets,tires and gears 25-35 ohms moderate armatures and magnets 10-25 ohms Neos and hot arms,etc. 5-15 ohms These are basic guidelines to be used as a starting point If your car is not moving until half throttle and then becomes a rocket ship, you are in need of a lower ohm controller. If the car is a rocket to soon use a higher ohm controller.

 

TRACK

Can the various manufacturers tracks fit together ?

Dennis Weikel wrote:
Atlas and Lionel work together. To my knowledge, that's it unless you employ adaptors. Some adaptors are no longer being manufactured. Here are the one's I know to exist (historically and currently): Atlas-to-Aurora*, Lionel-to-Aurora*, Atlas-to-Marx, Lionel-to-Marx, Aurora*-to-Aurora**, Aurora**-to-TOMY, Tyco**-to-TOMY, TOMY-to-LifeLike, Kirk-to-Enterprise (oops)... Aurora* means Model Mototring, Aurora** means Aurora A/FX, Tyco** means Tyco "Quik-clik". Tyco made a first generation track which I think was called Tyco Pro. It would make sense that Tyco* would have an adaptor to Tyco**. I'm sure their are other combos out there... And with some companies buying out other companies, some tracks may be compatible with their predecessor manufacturing companies.

What should I use to clean my track?

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