TCR or Scalextric for child
Discussion
after becoming a father for the third time - this time a boy I am considering buying some form of car racing set as I had when I was a child.
I had both TCR and Scalextric, I loved the overtaking of the TCR but also loved the detail on some of the Scalextric cars. These days Scalextric just seems a tad boring without the ability to overtake.....
Anyone any advice on which I should get for the little lad?
I had both TCR and Scalextric, I loved the overtaking of the TCR but also loved the detail on some of the Scalextric cars. These days Scalextric just seems a tad boring without the ability to overtake.....
Anyone any advice on which I should get for the little lad?
I had a TCR - used to get up early on Saturday morning and close the curtains in the living room so that I could see the headlights!
TCR was much better than Scalextric IMHO due to the lane changing although I've no idea how it worked. Unfortunately it never seemed to work properly on ours
Seemed to need an awful lot of maintenance though - many hours spent rubbing the tracks with 2p pieces to get them to conduct better, my dad having to go across town to model shops to get spare shoes, those tiny little springs flying everywhere...
TCR was much better than Scalextric IMHO due to the lane changing although I've no idea how it worked. Unfortunately it never seemed to work properly on ours
Seemed to need an awful lot of maintenance though - many hours spent rubbing the tracks with 2p pieces to get them to conduct better, my dad having to go across town to model shops to get spare shoes, those tiny little springs flying everywhere...
NiceCupOfTea said:
I had a TCR - used to get up early on Saturday morning and close the curtains in the living room so that I could see the headlights!
TCR was much better than Scalextric IMHO due to the lane changing although I've no idea how it worked. Unfortunately it never seemed to work properly on ours
Seemed to need an awful lot of maintenance though - many hours spent rubbing the tracks with 2p pieces to get them to conduct better, my dad having to go across town to model shops to get spare shoes, those tiny little springs flying everywhere...
yes, the memories...TCR was much better than Scalextric IMHO due to the lane changing although I've no idea how it worked. Unfortunately it never seemed to work properly on ours
Seemed to need an awful lot of maintenance though - many hours spent rubbing the tracks with 2p pieces to get them to conduct better, my dad having to go across town to model shops to get spare shoes, those tiny little springs flying everywhere...
Just got my 3 year old son the triple cup last week:
It comes with an overtaking section and pit lane game (and 3 cars). He loves it, and so do I (I had a deprived childhood, never owned a scalextric before). Looking forward to getting more bits and pieces for it, especially the police impreza ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDBBtVj7Rks)
It comes with an overtaking section and pit lane game (and 3 cars). He loves it, and so do I (I had a deprived childhood, never owned a scalextric before). Looking forward to getting more bits and pieces for it, especially the police impreza ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDBBtVj7Rks)
This video sums up Scalextric Digital pretty well, if you can stand the annoying commentator, and the fact that he can't pronounce Scalextric.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eyj7CvQZF7s&fea...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eyj7CvQZF7s&fea...
Have the same nostalgia - I had scalextric, a mate had TCR, and I was always jealous of the overtaking capability of the TCR.
Been doing some reading up on this as my boys are now 5 and 3, and we have some space to build a big track - up to 5m x 3m I reckon!! A lot of the forums rave on about Ninco as the best slot-car racing option - I think they do a digital version like scalextric which allows 'overtaking'/lane change at certain points on the track.
Would be interested to know what options are out there - first thought was just to go Scalextric, but if there's better fun and racing to be had with other systems then worth looking into.
Been doing some reading up on this as my boys are now 5 and 3, and we have some space to build a big track - up to 5m x 3m I reckon!! A lot of the forums rave on about Ninco as the best slot-car racing option - I think they do a digital version like scalextric which allows 'overtaking'/lane change at certain points on the track.
Would be interested to know what options are out there - first thought was just to go Scalextric, but if there's better fun and racing to be had with other systems then worth looking into.
There's also Carrera, a German company that make digital slot cars. Be aware that the digital systems aren't compatible with each other so maybe you should pick the one that has the range of cars you like best and stick with it.
Personally I'm still on ancient analogue and it's brilliant. Never bothered the kids about swapping lanes and they do enough crashing without zipping in front of each other.
Personally I'm still on ancient analogue and it's brilliant. Never bothered the kids about swapping lanes and they do enough crashing without zipping in front of each other.
hedgefinder said:
The beauty and detail of a lot of the scalextric cars is very enticing, but I just wonder how long they would last being played with....
Scalextric do a range of cars called super resilient or something, they've got blacked out windows so no interior and they do what it says on the tin. You can also get all the spare parts you'll ever need so I think a better bet than TCR.XJSJohn said:
arse, why am i now looking on ebay for scalextric sets .....
Because the devil made you do it?Don't start looking for cars on there, it's even worse. The range of cars out there now is utterly staggering, plus you can get all the ones you couldn't afford as a kid!
There's also a thriving "scratchbuild" scene where people make their own cars, here's two I made which lean and steer like old American cars should, click the picture for the youtube link
My 2yo got a My First Scalectrix for xmas last year, he loves it. He's getting this for his 3rd birthday (loves Cars and especially 'white car' so perfect)
We don't really have the room for a full size system at the moment but the new house has a games room which currently houses a full size snooker table, so lots of room there!
We don't really have the room for a full size system at the moment but the new house has a games room which currently houses a full size snooker table, so lots of room there!
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