best kids start up

[Jack1000]

Hi

first post...

The boy is six years old. I want to buy a start up set this Christmas and I'm thinking go brand-new and add my old analogue track later And build with eBay track. So for 150 quid there are a couple of possibles and I'm thinking going Digital – shame not to have digital for the later advantages even though we won't be using pitstop or lane changing for a couple of years no doubt. so im thinking Pitstop challenge or digital racer i.e. 1296 or 1327

I'm kind of happy with one of these except for my main fear which is he won't be able to deal with the throttle and it will be full power all the way And cars shooting off. Is it true or falee that an in-line dimmer for under a tenner on Amazon will sort this out for me? Or would that not work on the digital set as I have also read elsewhere? Any thoughts very welcome please with Scalextric and kids at this age – maybe I'm crazy and there's another couple of years before it will work? Is it also vital to make sure any cars are super resistant? (They do seem to come as standard with these digital sets so maybe that's fine)

 

thanks

 

 

[Andy P.]

´Hi Jack,

You will need the converter straights to connect the newer track to your old "classic" track. Please note newer Scalextric cars and most cars of other brands have deeper guides that "bottom out" on "Classic" track. You may have to shave 2-3 mm off to ensure smooth operation.

Also you track has to be in very good nick. Most users "upgrade" to Sport track for the regular pieces and keep the Classic track pieces that have no Sport equivalent (Goodwood Chicane, Pit lane etc.) Digital track in particular needs near perfect conductivity.

But do you need digital right away?

I think ARC AIR is perfect for you. If you have a smart device (tablet or phone) you can control the throttle settings plus have timing, lap counting and pit stops (and much more) that will work with any car as long as the guide blade is black.

Also the wireless controllers are a Godsend for kids... no more pulling the whole track when they go to get the cars that fall off!

You can combine it with both Sport and Classic (using an adapter piece) and the only thing left out is lane switching. It also saves you chipping your cars.

Couple of other points: there are often "Start" sets on the internet. If they are older than a few years (like from 2008 to 2014) there is a good chance they are the hard plastic "Start" track which also needs DIFFERENT adapter piece to connect to Sport track.

So to your specific questions:

I'm kind of happy with one of these except for my main fear which is he won't be able to deal with the throttleand it will be full power all the way And cars shooting off.

The newer sets have a screw adjustment on the side to reduce throttle but I personally find it hard to tune them so that the work with each car. ARC AIR let's you do this in the app and allows you to affect acceleration and top speed.

. Is it true or falee that an in-line dimmer for under a tenner on Amazon will sort this out for me? Or would that not work on the digital set as I have also read elsewhere?

I use an in line dimmer on my pure analog (non-ARC) sets still. In fact, I use the discontinued Sport power base that has a switch to allow 2 power packs plugged in and adjust each power pack individually.  I ran such a setup for 4 and half hours non-stop a few weeks ago. No problems. It is a lot of cabling though... ARC AIR is easier...

Any thoughts very welcome please with Scalextric and kids at this age – maybe I'm crazy and there's another couple of years before it will work? Is it also vital to make sure any cars are super resistant? (They do seem to come as standard with these digital sets so maybe that's fine.

My boy and I started when he was 6 and we are still doing it. :-) I usually buy used cars and I look more at how they handle than how they look. Of course Super Resistant means less bits can fall off but they often want cars they see on TV (racing cars).

I eased him into it by using guardrails and letting him drive on the outside. I then slowly increased the power and also let him drive on the inside. He is now nearly as good as me. :-)

[Jack1000]

Thank you very much for this Andy. I have seen posts of yours and understand that you are a believer in ARC. Couple of questions:

 

with such uncertainty regarding ARC pro, what is my position if I buy new the standard beginning ARC AIR set - track day Prob -  and then wish to go digital later on? if im correct the following holds true:

 

1. Both my new cars in track day can easily go digital if I simply add a chip for a couple of quid.

 

2. Is it fair to say that whatever happens with ARC PRO (ie worst case scenario not for a few years) my nice new wireless controllers, track and ARC powerbase (prob not?) should be usable with digital? What would I need to buy to upgrade? I'm a bit uncertain about this. Maybe currently I would need 100 quid's worth of kit? And if I wanted to upgrade what if anything from my new ARC AIR track day kit would become obsolete? Obviously I am trying to future proof if I'm about to spend £150!

 

3. Also - is this a plus - The old track (classic)  that I have could currently be added more easily to track day then it can be to digital?. It seems people - and you I think above - say that classic track added to digital can work but is more temperamental then if you stay analog? Less cleaning, less cutouts etc so long as the classic track is in reasonable nick?

(also regarding the use of devices around the house – if I buy the set can I download the app onto two or three different devices so that the ARC AIR set can be used without disturbing me watching Newsnight?)

 

basically what I am thinking is your view sounds good especially for a six-year-old. Certainly he/I won't miss lane changing for a few years but it would be nice to think that these can be brought on board without a whole new kit in 2019. Does that make sense? Put another way, the question is despite the good benefits that you mention, what are the dangers of committing now to arc air if you know in the end that in a couple of years you will want digital?

thanks again for your help.

 

 

 

 

 

[Andy P.]

with such uncertainty regarding ARC pro, what is my position if I buy new the standard beginning ARC AIR set - track day Prob -  and then wish to go digital later on?

You would have no trouble putting in a digital PowerBase (PB) in place of the ARC AIR powerbase at a later time.

1. Both my new cars in track day can easily go digital if I simply add a chip for a couple of quid.

 Yes, whereby a “couple of quid” is between 10 to 15 GBP per car and if you use a retro chip you cannot swap it without de-soldering.

2. Is it fair to say that whatever happens with ARC PRO (ie worst case scenario not for a few years) my nice new wireless controllers, track and ARC powerbase (prob not?) should be usable with digital?

The wireless controllers are exactly the same. So yes, reusable.

What would I need to buy to upgrade?

Upgrade from what to what? I don’t quite follow you here… All you would need for ARC PRO is the ARC PRO powerbase and up-to 6 controllers (i.e. 4 more if you had ARC AIR) and some digital lane changing bits.

Maybe currently I would need 100 quid's worth of kit? And if I wanted to upgrade what if anything from my new ARC AIR track day kit would become obsolete?

You would replace your powerbase you can still re-use all the track and the controllers.

3. Also - is this a plus - The old track (classic)  that I have could currently be added more easily to track day then it can be to digital?.

 

I don’t race digital (holding out for ARC PRO) but I have repeatedly read on forums (fora? forae?) that conductivity is absolutely vital for a track to work well digitally. Having said that, it is also no fun if your analog “Track Day” set has break in power, bent rails causing the cars to stop and funky “off camber” pieces that literally launch the cars in the air.

It seems people - and you I think above - say that classic track added to digital can work but is more temperamental then if you stay analog? Less cleaning, less cutouts etc so long as the classic track is in reasonable nick?

Not reasonable, it must be near mint. Some people lay down copper tape with conductive adhesive which is the cat’s meow in conductivity BUT it is very fiddly and it will cost you a bit of money. Also, ideally you would never change the layout, whereby I use it on my “special” pieces (chicane curve, Goodwood chicane etc.) and carefully bend the tape over the ends so it can connect to regular track. It is very fiddly though….

I have gone pure Sport for less hassle and more flexibility and the deep slot. If you take your time, keep your eye out, and especially go to swap meets you can get good deals.

 

 (also regarding the use of devices around the house – if I buy the set can I download the app onto two or three different devices so that the ARC AIR set can be used without disturbing me watching Newsnight?)

 Not quite sure what issue you are describing here…. If you use the ARC app on a smart device, e.g. an iPad mini (my recommendation) then it can only be used with that app at that moment. You can install it on as many devices as you like (I have it on an iPhone and an iPad mini). If you want to do something else on the device you have to turn the ARC App off.

From your description it sounds like you want to watch news and race at the same time?!

You can already download the app today and give it a go for free.

Just to be clear: You can use the powerbase without the app. It acts like any analog powerbase. The app adds the new features of controlling power, lap times, lap counter etc.

basically what I am thinking is your view sounds good especially for a six-year-old. Certainly he/I won't miss lane changing for a few years but it would be nice to think that these can be brought on board without a whole new kit in 2019. Does that make sense? Put another way, the question is despite the good benefits that you mention, what are the dangers of committing now to arc air if you know in the end that in a couple of years you will want digital?

From my point of view the worst thing that happens is you have the ARC AIR power base track left over but you can re-use the rest of the track and the controllers. You could of course try to resell it, or keep it and set up two sets next to each other. I have seen ARC AIR power bases well below the MSRP so keep an eye out…

There is no other slot car maker out there that offers what you get with ARC AIR with the level of flexibility that Scalextric has. Upgrading to ARC PRO should be easy but it will take time and until then you can enjoy racing today with ARC AIR: :-)

[W.Murfitt]

 I'm going to look to upgrade to the digital myself, and add to the previous track i have (analogue & Sport) for the advantages of having a ghost cars to race against. the lane changing can be added and he can learn as he goes.

besides the inner child in you will come out too with this :)

[Jack1000]

Thank you so much Andy – that's a load of great information and puts me ready to make the choice. All the very best

[Andy P.]

for the advantages of having a ghost cars to race against.

ARC AIR has the ghost (pace) car function. No need to go digital ...

[Jack1000]

Hi guys

 

just re Xmas day itself!!

 

i've just bought new arc air track day.  Is there anything at all that I need to buy to go with it to start action on Xmas day itself? just download the app free from App Store? Ta

[Andy P.]

I highly recommend carefully taking everything out and giving it 1 go to be sure everything works fine and to get really familiar with the APP. It has a lot of power but some of the best features (adjusting power and acceleration) have a bit of a learning curve.

Nothing is ore frustrating that unpacking it all and something not working!

Make sure you take the batteries out of the controllers when not in use!

[Chris99]

Make sure you take the batteries out of the controllers when not in use!

Why? There's a switch.Mine haven't gone flat and I'm still on the original batteries.

[Andy P.]

Why? There's a switch.Mine haven't gone flat and I'm still on the original batteries.

 

Because batteries can leak and the acid is corrosive and destroy the controllers.

What I meant was if you plan on not using the controllers for more than a few days...