August 2015

Carrera 1/32nd Scale Evolution (Analog)
Formula E Audi Sport ABT "Lucas di Grassi, #11 Part # 27502

The very latest from Carrera has arrived at my door and it is a car I have anxiously waited for. Although the 1:1 series is very small and likely most have not even heard of on this side of the pond, it's the slot car itself I had high hopes for.

The hobby of home slot car racing has all sorts of fun aspects to it. One of them is learning about a series of racing you may never have heard of. Such is the case with this model for me. When I heard of this new release I searched and discovered a very fascinating series of racing that is based on all electric cars. You can CLICK HERE to learn more about it or do your own search later on.

This car is modeled after the ABT Sportsline team and you can read more about this here. Our model is the one driven by Lucas di Grassi.

The model is very well done overall. Paint and markings are crisp and clean and match prototype photos very well. Even the Warsteiner beer logo on top is included. The car seems a little narrow than the prototype in the rear but not by much. There is a max width of the 1:1 car at 1800mm which is 56.25mm in scale. Our model is 53mm. However this is second season model and the data for the car is given at maximum. Either way the model looks very good to my eyes and represents the prototype well enough for me.

Added details such as our driver's helmet being to closely match the 1:1 is impressive. Impressive because I am seeing interiors by other manufacturers that cost quite a bit more not making this effort.

You might also notice the front suspension being rather bulky. I actually applaud Carrera for this. Not only did they add some light carbon fiber appearance to it, it is strong enough to withstand some pretty hard racing. The sold front axle will also help reduce damage.

To add to the value, Carrera includes a second guide (red) that is designed for older tracks with shallow/narrow slots. This has been a very welcomed addition to many enthusiasts and I was glad to see Carrera continue to include it.

Wheels and tires are also well done and seem very round and true upon manual inspection. You will notice the tires have a pattern to them for added detail which some might appreciate. Racers however, will have these sanded smooth almost immediately.

I tested several PG tires and this size is a slip on fit. You can try wider tires but you will need to sand the inside sidewall to clear the body/chassis.

Paul Gage has updated the listing here. 

Looking underneath see an inline configuration with the bar magnet pocket placed directly behind the motor. The guide placement is not the ideal area for some racers but I have grown to accept it. The action on our road course is still fun regardless. On Carrera track the car is well pinned and has enough power to please most of you.

One item that really pleased me is the guide height itself. Our model has an almost perfect tripod setup with the front tires just touching the track. They support the front but not nearly as much as some models have in the past. Just a quick sanding of these fronts should have you close to that sweet spot for most tracks.

After removing the 4 screws you need to pay attention in the rear. There is a small tab on the chassis and the rear wing support snaps over it. I found pressing up or down on the rear assembly as shown above helps you remove/install it. You could sand this tab away (I did) and the car will mount just fine. The 4 screws are more than enough.

Inside we see the Slimcan standard motor and bar magnet placement. The ratings on this motor have been reported around 24,000 but I cannot confirm it. It makes little difference to me as all the F1 style models have them and they are fast enough for me. Braking is a little on the light side but not many of these Slimcans have strong brakes in my testing.

Gearing is the standard 8 tooth pinion and 27 tooth crown gear. One item that I found very interesting is the very close tolerances of these bushings. Normally, we see a fair amount of freeplay in them that causes the axle to move around excessively. Many longtime enthusiasts have used super glue to eliminate this "slop" over the years or replaced the entire assembly. I cannot see the reason to do either with this model. Perhaps just luck of the draw? Possibly. I'll let you know when the running mate for it arrives.

You will also see the front axle assembly is easily removed and the axle assembly can be snapped out. This is very welcomed for those of us who have tire machines. I snapped the assembly into my Tire Razor and trued the fronts and then snapped it back into the suspension.

Box Stock Testing
MIDMO International Speedway
4 x 16 Routed MDF 3 Lane - Satin Latex Paint Surface
Slot Car Corner Braid - Pyramid 26KX Power Supply
Difalco Control - Trackmate Timing

Here is our video review and testing of the model.

As the video hopefully shows, this model ran VERY well straight from the box. It was smooth and had almost zero hop or chatter. This is pretty impressive to me considering our track surface is not what it was designed for. This tells me some quick clean up of the wheels and then installing PG tires will really make a smooth car for our track.

I cannot help but give high marks on this release. Regardless if the car itself interests you, the smooth operation and detail level earned them. The price point on Carrera analog models is simply the best in our hobby and that makes them even better for those on tighter budgets. The added optional guide blade just adds to the value. You might want to look very hard at this new series if it interests you. I can easily see a great program based on them on just about any track.

- Harry

Feel free to CONTACT ME about this review or the hobby in general.

Model Purchased From LEB Hobbies

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