Flyslot Kremer Porsche CK5

[Modlerbob]

[redsypher]

I've purchased two and both have had gear issues. So if you don't mind the possibility of fixing it, then they're great looking cars!
-Billy

[waaytoomuchintothis]

Those really are great looking bodies. I always liked them.

[Modlerbob]

If the running gear is as crappy as I suspect then this may turn into a very expensive project. I'm thinking of buying another Avant slot Kremer Porsche and mounting the Flyslot body on that chassis.

[Modlerbob]

As expected, while the body and paint work on this car are excellent the chassis is a continuation of the flawed inline series Fly started last year. The rear bushings sit too low on their supports creating an offset between the rear axle and the motor shaft. As the crown gear has straight teeth and not the hypoid type the gear mesh is terrible and under certain loads (like sanding tires) the gears will strip. I have tried to fix this situation by trimming the bushing uprights so the bushings can slide upward until centered with the motor shaft. In addition I found the rear hubs to be very out of round.

Marty will be building me a hybrid brass/plastic chassis soon but until then I surveyed my cars with HRS2 chassis and found one that I had mounted a NSR Mosler body onto a long while back. Since that time I have acquired two NSR Moslers and I rarely used this car. The Mosler wheelbase is very close to that of the CK5 so after finding some extra body mounts the switch was made. Using the HRS chassis required removing the floorboard from the CK5 interior. After the chassis swap the Kremer Porsche CK5 is turning laps right with the slot.it Porsche 956 and 962.

By the way the Avant slot Kremer Porsche chassis was too long to fit the CK5 body as was the slot.it Porsche 956-962 chassis. The Kremer Porsche modeled by Avant slot was based on the Porsche 956/962 chassis while the CK5 was based on the 936 chassis which was shorter.

[Florida_Slotter]

ModlerBob,

Well I've spent the better part of this week in doctor's offices trying to get everyone lined up so I can have my surgery on Monday the 19th. If all goes well, I hope to have full use of arms, hands and fingers once again.

Then it shall be time to do some wire bending and soldering once again. I'll be able to get that chassis all finished up for you so the Kremer will run like your IMSA Porsche.

Plus I am looking so much to be able to build once again. This sitting on the shelf with projects scattered about here and there does not sit well with me.

More news on Tuesday.

[Modlerbob]

My Kremer Porsche CK5 body is now sitting on a slot.it HRS sidewinder chassis and is performing like a slot.it 956/962. By the way, in an attempt to contact Flyslot regarding the continuing misalignment of the rear axle bushings I sent an email to their corporate contact address last week identifying the issue. Somewhat surprisingly I got a response and instead of trying to paraphrase the response here it is in it's entirety.

"Hi
We make some new company associations with another’s slot brands to solution this chassis problems
Regards

Carlos Cañón Ruiz

Departamento de Ventas y Accesorios
Model Flyslot 2011, s.l."

So apparently they are aware of the problem and are working on a fix.

[Florida_Slotter]

[ElSecundo]

I'm sure that's all it is, Marty. That's been the trend in the last few years for the 'boutique' manufacturers to work with Maurizio to supply parts, rather than (literally) reinventing the wheel. Racer has been doing that for about 9 or 10 years, Sideways/Racer has been doing it big-time since that line of cars arrived on the scene a couple years back, and Le Mans Miniatures has been doing that in the last year or two.

Being Spanish, though, I wonder if they aren't more inclined to go through a Spanish parts supplier, like Sloting Plus or maybe Avant Slot.

In any case, we're going to see this trend continue, no doubt.

[Florida_Slotter]

ElSecundo,

I concur. Of course, to me having a quality chassis under a car just makes it so much better. I've basically re-chassied many cars, mostly with HRS2 style chassis. I have found that I can have a car that I like with a chassis under it that makes me smile.

MRRC had used their Sebring adjustable chassis for many years and it is not a bad chassis. A bit of tuning and it can be made to run quite well.

Value is something all the manufacturers need to embrace. That is what gets a loyal following for their products and without that in today's marketplace, they might not be in business.

I've been know to purchase from Slot.It, Carrera, Scalextric and NSR. I don't purchase Fly cars as that means the cost is going up. You basically have to rework the entire chassis to get it to run efficiently. But some wire and brass and they become quite happy in that respect.

Thanks for your comments.

[ElSecundo]

Funny thing is, this is the exact reason why Fly has had trouble selling enough cars to stay profitable. This is why they keep going under. And in all this time, they haven't identified why they keep failing. It isn't because their cars aren't pretty enough, it's that they don't take care of the stuff under the hood. In a tight economy, you aren't going to sell enough 70 dollar cars that need 30 bucks in replacement parts right off the bat -- not when companies like Carrera have stepped up their game and produced models that look every bit as good as Fly, for half the price. Maybe you can get away with that....maybe....if nobody else is producing similar models. If Fly concentrated on vintage GP, and there was no other way to get those cars, then maybe they could survive. But much of what they do is very routine stuff, and they don't execute as well as other companies in the chassis and running gear departments.

[Florida_Slotter]

I do believe the first step is to accept the fact that there is a problem with what you are building. Take a look at your competition and ask yourself, "How does my product compare to this product for value?"

Most firms that keep going into, then out of business, then repeat are still in denial as all they want to do is defend their thinking.

It's a problem that's been around for a long time.

[ElSecundo]

[cgingras]

Well, with their recent association with AvantSlot, I think they're now accepting their flaws and are trying to fix them. Let's hope this partnership gives us something good.

[Florida_Slotter]