Carrera braid

[Ember]

Excuse me Mr Kennedy, sir. Is there any chance you can convince your head office buddies to use softer braid for Carrera offerings? Or perhaps change the braid system so that those who wish to can change to their favourite braid? I know many here who run Carrera tend to go for the B-Nova guide conversion, but there are plenty of beginners out there who would rather not perform major surgery on a car.

[buspor63]

Ember, you motivated me to do what I've been thinking for months. It took me about 20 minutes to remove the Carrera braid from the Carrera holders and replace it with SCC braid. I've not been able to test, or may not be able to for a bit more. This still leaves the problem of guide height to tire height though. Watch your fingers when prying open the brass tabs... I'm wearing a bandage now...

[Florida_Slotter]

[Ember]

[Ember]

Oooooh. Curiouser and curiouser. Are you the magic genie? If I rub the coffee cup do I get two more wishes?

[DaveKennedy]

Design is done for a variety of reasons, performance and cost effectiveness of production being probably the two biggest reasons "why" something is done or not done. Once a design is chosen ANY change to that design makes the cost of production and the cost of producing replacement parts and after the fact the issues surrounding the "what fits what since the design was changed" are huge.

The larger companies need to produce a design that is fast to assemble and functional. This is why you see all the big 3 companies with a design that is an assembly of parts that stack/screw down.

The stamped brushes have to hold up to heavy use that the hours of racing that a family or kids might subject them to.

There are some issues that I have tried to change, i was successful with a number of changes with SCX and Spirit (i had a close relationship with those guys too because we distributed them when I was with SCX) and also a few of my suggestions have been adopted by Carrera. Currently I'm holding out hope to standardize more on tire sizes (or more correctly put, standardizing on the wheel rib size) so that more of the GT cars for example will have a common tire.

Regarding braid though i'm very hesitant to offer suggestions for changes. Braid that's stiffer lasts longer and needs to be changed less... this is VERY important to consumers who don't understand that they will in fact have to change the braid at some point. I cannot tell you how often i explain that "yes you will have to change the braid" to consumers and despite the instructions showing you how to do this they either haven't read instructions or accept that they will wear out the braid. Hobbyists like myself like very soft braid, but that type of braid twists easily and does not last as long as heavier braid.

Personally if there's a car that is allowed at my club for racing i do change to a Nova guide adapter and soft braid.

I really don't feel personally that changing the thickness of the braid we use is something that's at the top of my list to change. Thanks for posting this though, it's not just me that reads these posts here it might be me that answers them, but they do get seen. And thanks for caring enough to ask the question.

[Ember]

I know the problems trying to explain to parents the maintenance required, the differences between sets, why they should choose one for their child and not another. I find myself doing that in toy shops all the time, particularly at Christmas. And I don't even work for the toy shops. ;)

What about after market add ons/options? Now I'm really dreaming. (chuckle)

Jeremy's suggestion is probably the best as it is likely to be the 'budding enthusiast' rather than the hardcore ones that are the target. Hardcore fans will know about and use the B-Nova without doubt.

I suppose I was really looking at catching the budding enthusiast. The ones that might potentially move from playing with the kids toy to making room for a permanent layout.

Thanks for being in a chatty mood. :) We do all appreciate the feeling that we have some kind of relationship with the manufacturer.

[Fubar Motorsports]