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| Although Ed Bianchi's curios look 1/64th in size the fact that they were conceived to run on 1/32nd &1/24th scale tracks means they are technically not H:O cars. The Mk 2 is available in a H:O version, and naturally it's this version that I purchased, as this is my scale of choice. So what exactly makes this a H:O version, then? First the car is wired to run the correct way around on H:O track which is wired the reverse to larger scale stuff. Due to the motor being part of the chassis you can't flip the axle (i.e. - the armature shaft!) if your car is running the wrong way. Second, the guide blade is much thinner than on the non-H:O version and therefore optimized for H:O track. Finally the width of the car has been reduced to just under the maximum 34mm that most clubs specify at tech. For all that this car is still not an out and out H:Oer, more a converted 1/32nd car. For example the braids are the same and I know from my own designs (and trying to get the best from the Scalextric MR1) that this works less well on H:O track's ultra-thin track rail than traditional pickups. Also the motor is tried and tested at 12V but not at the 16V and above used in H:O racing. For all that there is no doubt that the car is beautifully put together and well designed. I'm sure many of us have thought about direct drive conceptually but never more than a quick 'I wonder if it would work' thought. Bianchi, on the other hand had the courage to take the time, trouble and hard cash to find out, and ultimately prove that it can. Taking a leaf from Ed's book I have always performed testing of any slot car (and before that RC cars) to some kind of scientific standard. I have always used Tomy track and Tomy lap counters for timing, and prepared both immaculately beforehand. But this time around I decided to wait a few days until the next EAHORC (www.bglawns.com/eahorc.htm) meeting before giving the car it's debut. Going from the advice given on an instruction leaflet with every Rattler, I could see that the car would perhaps not be very spectacular on the kind of track I could build at home, hence the wait. The day finally dawned on Aug 16th. The track was based on Houston, the Texan champcar track last used in October 2001 and a somewhat smaller track than the club usually use but still miles better than a home track. Unscientifically, I had preconceptions of how the Rattler would do. First the fact that as much as eight "extra" volts would be pushed through the motor/axle and the presence of potentially troublesome braids meant I didn't expect too much (Not least because I knew the driving experience was totally alien to everything else out there). However, knowing that the car is much liked in it's "proper" environment by those able to master the unusual driving style required, I decided simply to have fun with it. Any kind of quick lap times would be a bonus. The design is one that puts a premium on handling and driver skill. The absence of traction magnets (instead grip comes from two thinned-down Wizzard dual compound jobbies looking squat and mean in shiny black with huge rims) and the design of the guide blade suggest that here is a car much more "chuckable" than traditional designs, and one that may telegraph it's behaviour to the driver to some degree. Running the Rattler when one is so used to geared cars is a strange experience. The car is so quiet and so smooth for one thing. Despite the absence of gearing the car picks up speed nicely but the problem comes at the other end of the straightaways. To make the double left hander at the end of the longest straight I had to coast for 60% of it! Clearly, as I have read, this car needs to run with brakes either half on or maybe full on. I'll have to try to get some running in at a club over here that runs that way. In the end my best lap was a low 10 seconds when a representative time was in the sixes, but I knew I could get a lot lower with practice, which unfortunately there was not time for as I was running the meeting. Of course the small track and use of 19 Volts didn't help. I did have a couple of stops on track because of the braids which I guess will be fixed by learning how to 'dress' them for true H:O On the plus side the car stood up immaculately to several large offs caused by misjudging the amount of coast needed and it was also apparent that the car is hugely fast. It was a bit like sitting on powerful motorbike and revving it in neutral, you are aware of the speed available but can't tap it! Considering a typical lap was spent more off the throttle than on and at no time was full throttle useable I think the Rattler showed itself well. At a large track with full brakes I think it would fly. In September 2003 I had a quick run on a small track where half and full brakes were available and the difference was amazing. I would say driving the Rattler on full is like driving a conventional car without brakes | |||||||||
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