With all the choices in the Race Set market, making the right choice on your own can be difficult. Slot Cars come in different sizes, or "Scales", with the range including 1/64, 1/43, 1/32 and 1/24 scales.
The fraction represents the relative size of the model Slot Car to the actual car, with 1/64 being the smaller model and the 1/24 scale being the
largest of Slot Cars. Of course, as the Slotcar gets larger, so does the width of the track in the Race Set. If the space you have to set up your Slot Car Race Set is limited, then you may need to consider a smaller scale when making your choice. (Ask yourself how many racers will be using the Race Set at one time.) If your budget is limited, then generally the smaller the scale of your Slot Car Race Set you choose, the less you'll spend.
So, after having said this, where do we go from here? If we're factoring children into the equation, then there are added factors you need to also
consider when choosing your Race Set. Aside from the obvious consideration of durability, which is something we all consider when purchasing just about everything, you have to rate your purchase on the quality of what we call the "playability factor". If the cars fly off the track too easily and frustrate a child, then you haven't made a good choice. (Some Slot Cars are more easy to drive than others.)
These days, Slot Cars have a magnet mounted underneath them. The metal rails on the track are made from steel, and so as a result the cars are "pulled" toward the track making them that much easier to control. Now it becomes a question of which brand do you start looking at to purchase. Raceworld carries three different brands, which collectively cover all the "Scales" mentioned above. (With the following brands we're going to discuss, our years of experience have taught us that we're able to satisfy the needs that our customers have.) Raceworld has been in business for over 17 years, and we have collected a wealth of knowledge when it comes to Slot Cars. We've tested everything, taken it apart and analysed it from every angle. So when we make the following recommendations, we're confident that they will offer you the highest degree of customer satisfaction.
We recommend the following Manufacturer's Brands:
TOMY-AFX 1/64 Scale
TOMY-AFX is "the" choice in the HO Scale market. It features a Quick Lock Track joining system that is simple to use and never breaks. The cars are
the best quality of the all the HO brands available today. If you have limited space and/or budget this is the choice for you. This HO Race Set is something we recommend to racers of 10 years or age or more because of the skill level required to operate the cars.
CARRERA 1/43, 1/32 and 1/24 Scales: (1/32 and 1/24 Scale Race Set use the same Width Track)
CARRERA manufactures two sizes of track widths. The smaller of the two, their 1/43 Scale system commonly referred to as "GO" Carrera, is a
great economical choice. It's also a great choice for families with children as young as 5 years of age, because the cars do stay on the track really well. CARRERA'S other track width is the one found in the CARRERA EXCLUSIV and CARRERA EVOLUTION Race Sets.
The "EXCLUSIV" Race Sets have the largest Slot Cars, the 1/24 Scale cars and their "EVOLUTION" Race Sets have the 1/32 Scale cars. Both type of sets are basically the same aside from the car Scale and the minor difference of a slightly higher voltage transformer to handle the 1/24 Scale Slot Cars. If you purchase an "EXCLUSIV" Race Set, you can still buy the 1/32 Scale cars and they will work fine on the same set.
As with the "GO" system, both CARRERA EXCLUSIV and EVOLUTION are great choices for families with children as young as five. An important aspect to keep in mind with CARERRA Race Sets, is that they are constructed from a rigid plastic that will break if stepped on or mishandled, so setting up your Carrera Race Set on a tabletop is recommended. When assembling individual pieces of track, it's required that additional fasteners be added at each connection to keep each joint secure.
SCALEXTRIC 1/32 Scale
SCALEXTRIC is our most popular selling brand. They offer their Race Sets in 1/32 Scale and you can find them in both a Conventional System and a recently introduced system called "SCALEXTRIC DIGITAL (SSD)”. Traditionally, Slot Car Race Sets have operated on the idea that each car stays in it's respective slot, and most sets come with a two lane layout and two cars, and only two cars can race at any one time. You depress the trigger to accelerate the car and it follows the Slot.
Now, with the introduction of "Digital Technology", Slot Cars can actually change lanes, getting you even closer to the feeling of real racing! And, not only that, you can race up to six cars on a two lane track!, with each driver totally in control of his/her car. With this technology, as well as depressing the trigger to accelerate the car, you have an additional button on your controller that actuates a switch in the track that causes your car to drive to the other lane.
Both Conventional and Digital Racing are based on the same track, and each system can be adapted to the other. Some customers have both systems in their layout and can easily switch between the two. In addition to SCALEXTRIC offering up these two systems, the quality of their components and simplicity of assembly is considered to be the reason why their Slot Car Race Sets are the most popular selling brand. Their track has a quick lock/release system, that requires no additional fasteners to secure it and it's made from a flexible plastic making it more durable than any other brand on the market. It's also our best recommendation if you set up your track on the floor and it has to endure the occasional "footstep"!
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