Calling Pioneer - Jules and Tom

[Audi1]

Is there a manufacturer’s torque spec for the Pioneer S130 (18k) motor? And is 18k the manufacturer’s rpm spec for this motor? Thanks.

Allan

[JULES]

Allan,

On the last batch check of the TYPHOON 'QS' '18k' Mk5 motor, the reading (as an average across samples) were as follows:-

Stall torque (expressed in g.cm) = 135
Max speed @ 12v.DC (unloaded) = 20,100rpm

In answer to your secondary question: Yes, '18k' is somewhat of a misnomer, a bad habit practiced by many motor makers.

Having said that, the variance on motor speed needs to be divided by 3 (or whatever the gearing down ratio is) and then adjusted down again according to the load on the motor.

So, in reality, the difference in rpm (at the wheels) is very small between a motor that 'might' rev to 18k and one that 'might' rev to 20k.

As an example: A Pioneer model fitted with a Mk2 motor from 2010 (18.7k/120g.cm) can easily keep up with a model fitted with a Mk3 motor from 2011 (19.7k/125g.cm).

The quality of the internal components and motor mags is far and away more important than an expected extra 1000rpm.

Any changes I have instigated from the original MkI (2009) to the MkV (2013-now) have been incremental. The 'average' user really would not be able to tell any difference.

Jules
@ Pioneer

[Audi1]

Thanks a lot for the info on the Typhoon motors, Jules.

I agree that the quality of the motor components are more important than the rpm rating and I can also state from experience that the H&R Hawk motors have at least a +/- 10% variance in rpms vs the manufacturer’s spec, based on my own testing.

Allan

[slothead]

Jules - if it's okay to use this thread to ask, is there anything in the pipeline we can expect from Pioneer? I have all of your Trans Am replica Mustangs, and the #15 Donohue Camaro. It seems the most noteworthy Trans Am liveries from the 60's & 70's have been done in 1/32 scale by Pioneer and Scalextric - anything else for me to look forward to?

[JULES]

Hi Slothead (sorry don’t know your real name),

I have no immediate plans for any more Trans Am models. You are correct that, between Scalextric and Pioneer, most of the noteworthy or famous cars have been modelled.

Of course there are other privateer cars that could be modelled from the 67-70 ‘Golden Age’ of T/A but really only the team sponsored ones had an attractive livery. Privateer entries in those days were somewhat plain to the eye and not particularly ‘wow’. Ugly means no sell in slot car land.

I reckon, by and large, we need to move on from the 60’s Trans Am cars and at least step further into the 70’s and also the 80’s to match the demographic of the current buyer.

It’s good that Scalextric have taken a leap into the mid 80’s with the upcoming Monte Carlo models. Hopefully with DK and Harry championing these cars, Scalextric will have some good success with those models, particularly in the NA market.

To the amusement/frustration (in about equal measure) of many guys, I can report that, unbelievably, we are still dicking around trying to get all the pieces to fit properly on both of the Legend racers, the ’34 Ford and the ’37 Chevy. It’s driving me nuts. My ‘great idea’ to have tooling made as each set of parts was designed has come back to haunt me. The main issue being lack of control of revisions to data which – when so much time has passed since the first tool and the last – means that one tiny change to the placement of, say, a screw hole that was not back-tracked into, say, the chassis has an impact on many different areas. It’s real ‘tear-your-hair-out’ stuff.

Having said that, very shortly, there will be three or four reasonably well sorted test cars landing with some trusted testers. Hopefully, there will not be too many things that need changing after these test cars have had a shakedown.

Jules

[slothead]

Jules - thanks for the reply. When I consider the massive number of slot car replicas of cars from the 60's and 70's that have been made by various manufacturers and count the decades that have pasted, I realize how much clout baby boomers have had in the market place. All of my nearly 100 RTR cars are pre mid-70's models. It just occurred to me that while Legend cars would be a whole new type of race car to get into, they would still fit in the era I care about as I already have a vintage racing series for 1930's - 1950's dirt cars.

When I watch auctions on TV cars from the 50's - 70's routinely are highly valued. It will be interesting to see if that continues as baby boomers age or if cars from the 80's and 90's will ever be as sought after. As for the '86 Monte Carlo faux NASCAR replicas I attribute their popularity to all the great drivers from Earnhardt to Waltrip from that era and our fond memories of their battles. They appeal to the same demographic as do your Trans Am Mustangs and Camaros, and Le Mans & Can-Am cars from that same golden age. It will be interesting to see if a different demographic is as willing to spend as much of their hobby dollars on these cars as we are.

Though I know the research and development cycles are long, I think the next big opportunity in domestic (USA) slot car sales could be who gets to market first with an 80's Thunderbird, Pontiac, or Buick so NASCAR replica fields from that era can be recreated in the same way I can recreate a Trans Am starting grid from '69 or a Can-Am grid from '71.

Slothead (Joe)

[JULES]

That's right Joe, as you say that the next obvious opportunity for US domestic Slotcar sales growth is probably the 80's race cars.

If DK really wants to whip Carrera, he'll be pushing that era as much as he can.

Jules

[Brumos RSR]

I'd love a 87-93 Mustang LX, I'm sure some friends on the board would love 74-87 camaros also.

[zilger]

[crossovercrazy]

Jules,

I understand your views that you might have pumped the Trans Am well dry, but I for one would still like attractively-priced white kits of your Mustangs (both types) and Camaros with racing drivers, to "roll my own" from your remaining stock of parts. I also plan to run an old NASCAR "Grand American" series (think "Paul Revere 250") of these cars (including notchback and fastback pre-69 Mustangs, and Camaros), and they had very flashy NASCAR-styled liveries (like top champion Tiny Lund and his Pepsi Camaros or Cougars, and Bobby Allison and his Coke Mustangs), which I would buy off the shelf (even painted bodyshells) or do-it-myself in white. I know you might not think there is a big enough audience for that series, but I would be game for such from your remaining stockpiles of related parts, to move them.

[JULES]

Hi Crossovercrazy (sorry, I don't know your name),

Your wish will come true in September when all remaining in-stock 'T/A' parts will be packaged up and available as either 'white kits' or 'grey kits'. First out will be the Notchback Mustang followed by the Camaro.

I'll post on HRW when they are ready to purchase. Attractive pricing? With a RTR chassis in the kit and some pre-decorated parts included, these kits should be in the $37.00 price range.

You're right about Grand-Am, plenty of attractive liveries to mine from that era.

Jules

[crossovercrazy]

Probably this is due to the tremendous influence I wield in the slot racing industry - I must be careful not to abuse my awesome power.

This is great news (and thanks for the reply), and I'll start digging for coins under the sofa cushions to secure me a stockpile of these kits.

[HomeRacingWorld]

With great power comes great responsibility.

[Fathead59]

Would love to get a couple of the white kits myself, Mustang , Camaro, AMX Javelin , and the pricing is good also

[crossovercrazy]

Jules,

I forgot to mention that amongst your "white" and "grey" kits I would also like some of your fastback Mustangs, to use in the NASCAR Grand American and 1968-71 endurance racing at Sebring and Daytona.

Let me know when they're out to the retailers!