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**guy64** · 10-15-2019, 02:36 PM

Of course, Mattel couldn't do a Twin Mill for the slots without making a shiny version...

... even if--technically--it isn't a Hot Wheels car.

Yup, a nice mirror finish, in a typically Hot Wheels color. Well, what else would I race against the red one?

"So kid, you won't race the red one because of the chrome engines, but you'll race this one with the chrome body?"

Did I say "race"? I meant "race" as in; "park and display" together.

**guy64** · 10-16-2019, 03:50 PM

Tyco had already done the car in yellow...

... but Mattel had to put their own wheels and tires on it.

Mattel also left the top yellow. The Plymouth Superbird is one of our favorite Tyco slots. It might be bigger than 1/64. Or not. At any rate, it's nice to be able to run a Superbird on the old 3-inch-wide "asphalt".

"Kid, I'll need to develop a whole new GLARE for this car."

Better get to work on it now, Officer. This isn't the only one we have.

**guy64** · 10-17-2019, 02:08 PM

Another no-brainer for Mattel to produce...

... once they began to offer slot cars.

This Dodge Charger was seen often in the Tyco years, usually as a race car. This nice metalflake blue version was included in the Mattel set with the previous yellow Superbird. Though it's decorated for "civilian" street use, Mattel left the NASCAR window net in place.

"Kid, are these Mattel people promoting street racing right under my nose?"

You're a Mattel person, Officer. You tell me.

**guy64** · 10-18-2019, 04:00 PM

What the Plymouth Superbird was really for...

... RACIN'!

Now it all makes sense; the big wheel arcs, the low-set suspension. And, it's blue! But is it blue enough?

"It's blue enough for me, kid."

Richard Petty will be relieved to hear that, I'm sure.

**guy64** · 10-19-2019, 04:26 PM

We seem to be on a Richard Petty streak...

This #43 is a semi-oldie, running on an HP chassis (not an HP-2). Unlike the HP-2, the original HP had no auxiliary magnets in the rear. The only magnetic down-force came from mounting the motor very low in the chassis with openings in the floor that had exposed metal pole pieces which were in contact with the motor magnets and mounted flush to the bottom. They provided a token amount of magnetic down-force.

"Token down-force, huh? You mean, sorta like what the real car had."

Yes, Officer. This car--essentially the same car as the Mattel blue metalflake car above--uses the earlier Charger body, before the fenders where enlarged. That happened twice; when Tyco made extra long front wheel openings for their "slotless" sets (where the cars could change lanes) and then when all four were enlarged to take bigger tires.

This one was found at a swap meet. It's been raced a bit, as evidenced by the loss of chrome around the front grill. Still, the paint is in great shape.

**guy64** · 10-21-2019, 02:02 PM

It wasn't always MOPAR...

This Pontiac Grand Prix runs the HP-7 chassis. Faster, simpler and lighter than the HP and HP-2, but still not as fast as the Magnum 440.

"Hey kid, was it Richard or Kyle that raced that?"

Oh please, Officer, don't make me go looking up things like that.

**b2young** · 10-22-2019, 07:50 AM

I love Officer Bert's conversations with you! Always a fun thread to follow...

**guy64** · 10-22-2019, 01:52 PM

Thanks, b2young. Sometimes I try to post before Bert says anything (he often reminds me that his job is to "just stand here"), but lately he seems more quick to interject.

Let's see if I can get out of this one in time...

**guy64** · 10-22-2019, 01:57 PM

MADE IT!

Anyway, I think this is a Buick...

It sure looks like a Buick. I think. Early '80s cars look alike to me.

Whatever it is, this one runs a Magnum 440 chassis, and is one of our fastest stock cars.

"A fact which you will not be demonstrating on my parking lot, right, kid?"

Not unless your parking lot has a slot, Officer.

**guy64** · 10-23-2019, 03:45 PM

It seems SUVs are everywhere...

...even in the slot car world.

But this Tyco Chevy Blazer (early 1980s) isn't one of those don't-get-dirt-on-the-rims "SUVs". It's a real SUV; a truck with some extra trim! It runs on a lighted HP-2 chassis which uses a clear plastic form to hold a single grain-of-wheat bulb, using fiber-optic principles to direct the light to the headlights in front and the lights on the roof.

"Kid, I think there's a proper technical name for those lights on the roof."

There probably is, Officer. I see you can't remember it, either.

**guy64** · 10-23-2019, 03:52 PM

If you've got one...

... you've got to have at least one other one.

One of the "nicer" (more seductive) aspects of slot cars is; if you have one of a certain kind of vehicle, you must have at least one other of the same kind to "race with it". Before we got the yellow and orange one, we got the bronze and white Blazer shown above. This Blazer is also lighted and runs the HP-2 chassis, so everything's fair. It has a few more miles on it, as the chipped rear fender shows.

Tyco's rendering of the Chevy Blazer is a bit tall, and there's plenty of room for larger tires, something that's ill-advised for racing. Lifting the chassis would sacrifice what little magnetic down-force there is.

"Yeah. You wouldn't crash these things on purpose, would you, kid?"

Never, Officer. NEVER!

But I can't vouch for a couple of nephews who have raced these.

**guy64** · 10-24-2019, 03:40 PM

AFX had a different take on the '80s Chevy truck...

... and we like it!

I have a couple of Aurora A/FX Chevy Blazers (this isn't either one of them) and it's interesting to note how different they are compared to Tyco Blazers of the same vintage. Like the Tyco, they have a shell covering the bed, but the A/FX Blazer is lower and shorter overall, and a better fit to its chassis, which was usually the A/FX "pancake" motor type.

I don't know if Aurora ever issued this truck body. This Tomy AFX pickup has the same basic body lines as the Aurora Blazer, but with no shell, and a separate grill. It has the same side pipes, though. This body would probably fit on an Aurora A/FX chassis, but the Tomy AFX chassis mimics the A/FX G-Plus design, which uses an axial motor like Tyco always did. Not as interesting or as much fun to run as the good old pancake A/FX, but faster and stickier. This Pickup hasn't been run much; it's too "purty" to mess up.

"Of course it's 'purty', kid. It's blue innit?"

Mostly, Officer. But I also love those yellow wheels.

**guy64** · 10-25-2019, 02:08 PM

There are "medical centers" near us, so we hear more sirens than usual...

... but I doubt the ambulances I'm hearing have wheels this cool.

This Aurora A/FX Dodge ambulance doesn't get "raced" a lot. It runs the long pancake motor chassis that has two idler gears (instead of one) connecting the motor to the gear stack that drives the rear axle. The extra gear places a slightly greater load on the motor. The extra large rear wheels compensate for the reduced rpm, but not completely. Still, it gets where it's going.

"I see they've got the proper reversed lettering on the front. Nice."

Yes, Officer, no one has any excuse for not getting out of this guy's way.

**guy64** · 10-26-2019, 04:35 PM

Another long A/FX with cool wheels...

... of a different kind.

Cragar, maybe?

At first glance, this Barracuda funny car appears to use the same long, extra-gear chassis as the ambulance seen above, but it actually uses the regular A/FX pancake motor chassis. The longer-than-usual wheel base was achieved by molding front axle mounts as part of the body. The front axle holes of the chassis itself are not used at all. The upper body was a bit squashed when I found this car at a parking lot swap meet, even more squashed than it's intended funny car look. Fortunately, I was able to nurse the A pillars back into shape and pop the "glass" into place. The body's finish is like new. I suspect the damage may have been the result of getting stepped on by stocking feet, as opposed to racing damage.

"Kid, this guy's not thinking of driving this on my streets, izzee?"

Well Officer, given how un-stealthy the exhaust of this 'Cuda is, I think... not.

"You think... correctly, kid."

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