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Latest development change to the Viper Project

Posted: Sat Apr 28, 2018 12:58 pm
by gordon
This news is a bit late since the work was done earlier this week in preparation for last Thursday's event, but I thought you might find it interesting and possibly useful for one of your own cars.

First a little background info. Although my Viper Project car has been evolving pretty well, a problem it has always had which seemed unsolvable is that it would sometimes enter FRC's hairpin corner (around Caiman Pond), start to go round, then suddenly understeer straight into the outer barrier. The only option was to be extra cautious at that point of the track, something that either slows the lap time or, if I go too fast, results in a de-slot. Nothing I tried to stop this ever worked. Nothing until this latest modification.

What I realised might solve the problem is adding some up and down play on the front axle, but the Scalextric chassis does not allow this because the front axle bearings are moulded onto the chassis and are not designed with up and down play. Enter Slot Car Corner's adjustable front axle mounts:

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I purchased a pair of these cool front axle mount upgrades and spent time installing them in the Viper last Tuesday night. When I tested the car on Thursday night, try as I might, it refused to repeat the understeer problem. Whenever it de-slotted in that corner if I went over the limit, it would be an oversteer de-slot on the very exit of the corner. Problem solved. Here are some pics:

Standard Scalextric front axle mounts before the operation:
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New adjustable height mounts installed:
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Top view:
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Grub screw adjustment holes added to the chassis underside:
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If you have a car with fixed front axle mounts and want to make them adjustable and/or add up and down movement, I highly recommend this upgrade.

Re: Latest development change to the Viper Project

Posted: Sat Apr 28, 2018 2:58 pm
by steveaca
Hi Gordon,
I have also had problems with front axle location on some Scalextric cars and in the classes that allow it, have managed to overcome them with some creative plastic work, crafting my own modified axle mounts, some with and others without grub screw adjustment. Nice to know about these Slot Car Corner parts though. They would certainly make any future modifications easier.
Steve