3D and PCR Chassis

[gordon]

Hi Guys,

Slot racing has received a big boost with the introduction of 3D printing and by Scalextric's and Slot.It's PCR (Pro Chassis Ready) initiative. 3D printing has made it possible to produce chassis and other slot car parts in a way that was never feasible previously. There are already a few commercial slot car 3D manufacturers and some FRC drivers already have cars using some of their items. Scalextric also has several PCR chassis available.

So what's the big deal with these 3D and PCR chassis? Well what they do is allow you to take an existing Scalextric, Fly, Carrera or other manufacturer's car and replace its chassis with one which is based on the use of Slot.It motor pods and other high-quality Slot.It parts and this is a really big deal. Why? Because Slot.It designs and parts are the acknowledged leader in slot car components, so you can take what was a so-so car at best and convert it to a top-performing machine utilising the best mechanical components available. This also allows for standardisation of mechanical components across cars that previously varied in design and quality. (Note that PCR chassis are only available for Scalextric cars.)

Olifer 1/32 SRC Porsche 907 / 908 Chassis for Slot.it pod:


At present there are a limited number of cars for which these chassis are available, but the list is growing. Following are some links to places where you can get 3D and PCR components. I've also seen PCR chassis available from some of the popular online US slot car shops.

CG SlotCars
https://www.shapeways.com/shops/slotcars?s=0

Olifer Performance Slot Car Parts
https://www.shapeways.com/shops/3d_olifer

The Slot.it 3D Print Shop
https://www.shapeways.com/shops/slotit?s=0

Sloting Plus:
http://www.sloting.com/en/productos-slo ... E-PLASTICO (scroll down the page)

Pendle Slot Racing
http://www.pendleslotracing.co.uk/brand ... c/pcr.html

NEW (Added 21/9/17) SlotForum List Of 3d Printed Slot Related Suppliers
http://www.slotforum.com/forums/index.p ... d+print%22

When you order any of these chassis by itself, all you get is the bare (and I mean bare) chassis, so you'll need some Slot.It hardware to complete the build. Here's Pendle's guide to building a complete car from a PCR chassis, much of which applies to any 3D chassis you acquire:

Pendle PCR Build and Assembly Guide
http://www.pendleslotracing.co.uk/blog/ ... rd-sierra/

You can currently use 3D and PCR chassis in the following FRC classes:

• Vintage Sports '60-'75 (only chassis created specifically for the particular car)
• Restricted GT
• Modified Production
• Rally Car
• GT
• LMP

So, what are you waiting on? I'm sure you've got a car that may be sitting in a box because of its uncompetitiveness that can be revived into a quick runner with the help of a new chassis that utilises Slot.It technology.

Gordon

[steveaca]

Hi Gordon,
many of us have been doing our own chassis modifications to fit Slot.it (and other) high quality components to so-so slot cars. The new 3D printed chassis would certainly make the process easier for the cars that are compatible with these chassis. I think it would be very interesting however, to compare the performance of similar base cars, one fitted with a 3D printed chassis and another fitted with the original chassis but modified to accept the Slot.it components, both built to their maximum performance levels for a particular class.
Steve

[gordon]

Steve, I have found that the amount of work needed to modify a standard chassis to take a Slot.It pod is really not worth it if there's a 3D chassis available for that specific car. Other advantages of the 3D chassis include a perfectly-aligned pod and adjustable front axle height. They are also very strong chassis, more so than most standard plastic chassis.

[steveaca]

Good point there Gordon, but that assumes that one actually wants to use a Slot.it motor pod. The comparison I was thinking about would be, let.s say two Scalextric BMW M3s (like O'Brie's), one fitted with a Slot.it PCR chassis and Motor pod and the other one using the original chassis but modified in whatever way necessary to accept Slot.it or similar running gear. Optimize both set-ups to run in Mod.Prod. This is the sort of comparison I'd be interested in seeing..

[gordon]

Well O'Brie actually now has two BMWs, one with the standard chassis, the other with a PCR chassis. Maybe these can be the Guinea pig for your experiment.

[gordon]

The place I'd really like to see these 3D and PCR chassis being used initially is in our Vintage Sports 60-75 class where Slot.It GT40s and other Slot.It cars seem to be the best set-up. For example, it would be great to take my MRRC Chaparral 2 and install one of these 3D chassis with Slot.It gear and run it against the current front runners.

[steveaca]

I notice that the 3D printed chassis for the Scalextric saloon cars (BMW M3, Ford Sierra, Mini) only allow in-line motor pods but some other brands allow inline or sidewinder pods for certain cars.

[RameshB]

Hi guys in getting ready for Thur. i have a ninco calibra and ninco benz for mod prod with shapeways chassis , i am very excited to see its performance. i have also worked on a new scale auto honda hsv for RGT. i am still getting them ready for racing . see you all on Thur.

[gordon]

Good stuff Ram. Looking forward to seeing them on Thursday.

[gordon]

Guys, the 3D slot car chassis universe is expanding. Here are two interesting new ones available:

Scalextric Escort Mk I:
https://www.shapeways.com/product/QAXZU ... d=63467615

Scalextric Cortina:
https://www.shapeways.com/product/ZU3JJ ... d=63467496

There are also a number of ones available from various designers through Shapeways for Revell-Monogram and MRRC cars. Have a look at this link:
https://www.shapeways.com/marketplace/m ... /?tag=mrrc

We're getting close to where we can discuss the pros and cons of allowing 3D chassis in Historic Saloon (with similar magnet restriction as VS6075).