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Here is a tire chart comparing the various AFX Mega-G+ rear tires that are available at BRS Hobbies. A smaller diameter tire will bring the traction magnets closer to the track rails which is why the car will have more grip. Another consideration is when upgrading to Viper level 42 or level 52 magnets, it's best to use a medium, firm or rubber rear tire. This helps the tire to maintain shape better as a soft tire may compress too much on the track which could cause inconsistent handling. For …

I wanted a Plymouth Barracuda 1/32 slot car way back when SCX released them (#42 and #48) a few years ago. But I never pulled the trigger and the price for them now is in the stratosphere — if you can find one. So I was pleased when I learned that Scalextric was releasing the Gurney model and this time I didn't hesitate. First, my impression of the car as a Scalextric box-stock racer in the Trans-Am class with little to no tuning or modification. Even if this slot car does not achieve epi …

I own a significant number of NINCO GT cars with the red plastic angle winder gear set. In my experience, these gears, although somewhat noisy, perform very well with one exception: eventually the pressure exerted on the plastic pinion by the tight friction fit on the motor shaft will cause it to crack, rendering the car undriveable. The red plastic pinions have been unavailable for a number of years now. There was a suitable replacement in the NINCO #80249 ProRace V.03 pinion. But …

I finally had a chance to launch the Klingon Bird of Prey and see how the Qualman Baffle performs.  I used a C6-5 for the first flight since the wind was calm and I had a large field for recovery. The rocket flew nice and straight and attained an altitude of over  500 feet.  The ejection charge blew out the parachute about a second after reaching apogee.  The 18" parachute deployed and the rocket descended at a slow rate and landed about 50 yards away.  After retrie …

The MPC Star Trek Klingon Bird-of-Prey is an easy build and good model rocket for the beginner.  The rocket is a decent size with an overall length of 20.9 inches, a diameter of 1.38 inches, and weighs 2.6 ounces.  Recommended motors for this flying model rocket include the Estes/Quest A8-3, B6-4, or C6-5.  The rocket has a payload section that can easily accommodate a small altimeter or other small items.  Another nice feature is that It comes pre-finished with a color vi …