Questions about Bachman/Strombecker Tracks and Cars

[Carrerarp]

Dear Fellow "Slotters",
I have come across a few Bachman/Strombecker 1/32 models I like but I have spent hours on the web and cannot find specifics about them.

1. The cars are 12 Volt, right?
2. What is the slot width and depth of the track/size of the guide?
3. What is the gauge (width) between the metal rails? (from center to center)
4. General length and width of the cars...?
5. Has anyone had success running the cars on tracks other than the originals?

Anything else I should know?

Many thanks in advance!

[jcis4me]

Hi
I have had some success at running other than Stromy cars on the strombecker track, the only problem I had was the clickety clack of the guide rubbing the joints, but after adjusting and massaging the track most of the noise goes away. And being old as it is the track is brittle at times, and the aluminum rails on some of the track come loose, there is steel and there is aluminum rails available. As for the transformer I have no idea of voltage. I used a gel cell 12 volt battery, I have read somewhere there are 6 volt and 12 volt cars? not sure.Sleeze bay always has deals on Strombecker track, Going cheap right now, I just gave away a bunch to a friend last week and he loves it! I run on a wood track and some Ninco tracks now. So To each is in the eye of the beholder.
Marty

[Carrerarp]

Many Thanks jcis4me,
Can you tell me more about the cars themselves?
How far apart are the pick up shoes?
How deep does the guide pin go?
Thanks!

[burad]

I have a Bachmann Supertrax Lighted LeMans set. The powerpack that came with the set is 16v.
The distance between the pickup shoes, center to center, is .44 inches, or about 11mm.
With the pickup shoes fully compressed (they are sprung) the pin is .16 inches, or about 4mm.
However, the cars are very light, and the effective pin length may be as little as 2mm with the shoe springs fully extended.
My set has a Camaro - 4.75 inches long - and a Firebird Trans Am - 4.62 inches long. They look small.

[LAMing]

Eons ago (early 80s?) I found some NOS Bachmann/Strombecker sets and purchased one or more. They had the Porsche "Whaletale" (911?) cars. They were not 1/32, but noticably smaller. I recall they used spring loaded brass sliders for pick ups and a pin instead of a guide "flag" (going on memory here!), very much like an HO car.

They were quick, but ill handling. Their small size turned me off. Once I found other options, I ran those instead. This experience was all in my "less than succesful" return to slots in the early 80s. Once I discovered true vintage cars in the very early 90s (and found a source for NOS "real" Strombecker cars)... I got back in in a big way and had a ball racing the types of cars I enjoyed as a youth.

Good luck!

[Carrerarp]

Thank you for the feedback.
I actually have a Carrera "Profi" track from Germany. It runs SCX cars and most other 1/32 and can be regulated from 6 to 12 to 14.8V. The center to center of the rails is 10mm and the rails themselves are almost 2.5 mm wide. The track itself is 7 inches wide so I think the cars will work.
The wife would not appreciate ANOTHER set of track lying around the house. :-)

Question about the 1/32 Bachmann cars from the 70's (Camaro, Corvette, Firebird) are the bodies interchangeable?

Again, your input is greatly appreciated.