Model Cars

Model Cars

Model cars are scaled down representations of popular cars. Many of these scaled down model cars are actually fully working. In slot car racing, the most popular scale is 1:32. The wonderful thing about slot model cars is that they are much more than just models: they are fully working machines.

The 1:32 model cars have legions of dedicated fans and for these fans, detail is everything. Inside these cars are working engine and gears. The only difference is that the engine is electric and can be activated remotely by the controller.

The 1:32 model car is five to six inches long. There is also the larger 1:24 model car that is roughly 7-8 inches long. If you are thinking about running the larger model cars on a track at home, you are going to have to buy a Carrera track. It is the only track that is wide enough for the larger model cars to race on.

If you want to race the larger 1:24 model cars, you have to remember that you are going to need a lot more track. The same length of track is not going to be as much fun with a larger 1:24 as it is with the 1:32.

HO scale model cars are also very popular and boy do they fly. If you consider the scalable mph, the HO cars can reach 700mph, where as the 1:32 reach a scalable speed of 200-300mph. As you can see, they really move. This size is really good if you are limited for space, because both the track and the cars are smaller and need less room to reach maximum fun! The typical length of these cars is 2-2.5" but they still have amazing detail and make great additions to anybody's set.

The world of motors in model cars can be very confusing for a beginner and they can range in price anywhere from $10 to $300. But when you begin, it is possible to have all the fun you can handle with a standard motor.

Tires and chassis come in all shapes and sizes and the choices can be overwhelming at first. If you want to improve the grip of your slot model cars and keep them on the track for longer, you will most likely want to replace the original rear tires with silicone or urethane tires. We have more information about this on the other pages of our site as well as plenty of other tips on how to get your model car winning races and outperforming the competition.

You will find that the more time you spend with model cars the larger your toolbox is going to get. When you start to interact with other owners you will be in awe of the amount of electronic gadgets and tools that they own. Who knows, as your passion for this hobby grows, your tool collection could as well.