Best Lane Slot Track
Artin is BACK!
4 Lane Racing On A Budget!
From the start, if I seem a little excited in this review it’s because I am! I apologize to those that this may offend, but I just can’t help myself. In the last few months I have tested some excellent track systems, all with their strong points, and this new Artin 4 lane set is certainly no exception. Our hobby has really grown, offering us so much lately that how could I not be excited? I guess a lot of people including myself sometimes; always recommend starting out small when beginning this hobby. After all, most of us are on a budget, and investing a great deal of money into something when you’re not really sure you will like it seems ridiculous. This advice might explain why the latest Artin 4 lane offering is such a great deal, with over 30 feet of track, maybe change my recommendation to start out BIG!
The 4 lane is now available with either 4 Artin cars or choose from different brand cars to customize your set. It has been said that 4 lane racing isn’t twice the fun of 2 lanes; it’s 10 times the fun. If you have your family or friends involved in this hobby, you owe it to yourself to think about going 4.
- Scalextric track is the narrowest of the 1/32 slot car track that is available. This track also has very narrow lane spacing. If you already have Scalextric or SCX track Ninco makes an adaptor track to upgrade to the larger track size to increase the size of your layout. This track and Scx track are interchangeable.
- The Ultimate Track for Pinewood Racing! Current lead time is approximately 3 weeks from receipt of your online order. BestTrack® is the Patented. Original All-Aluminum Track for Pinewood Derby®, Awana® Grand Prix, Royal Rangers, and Girls' Fast Track races, that you can add lanes to as your budget allows! Like us on Facebook to be notified.
Artin has been around for quite awhile, yet some do not give the system any serious attention. One of the main reasons for this is that availability of track and parts has been difficult at best. Well, Artin is back and it looks like obtaining the parts and accessories will become easier thanks to Slot Car World.
So what’s the big deal about Artin? Well they have been, and still continue to be the least expensive track system you can buy. Price has always been the main plus of going with Artin, and that is still the case. Does this mean you can’t build a detailed scale layout with it? On the contrary really, as I have seen some excellent layouts completed in Artin, so don’t let that stop you.
It arrived here in very simple packaging, with no fancy box art or catalogs. Fine by me really, except for a few older AFX box tops I have saved, box art really isn’t why I am in this hobby. So if they can pass savings on to me by shipping it in a plain brown box…by all means do so. For those few collectors of box art, this maybe a drawback, but for most of us, the savings passed along means a great deal more.
This is not to say they have not packaged it well. All parts were wrapped in plastic and arrived intact. A simple instruction sheet is provided and is very easy to follow. It shows 2 layouts you can start with and again no frills here, but it works. My first reaction was “Wow…that’s a lot of track!” Then it started to sink in that in just a few minutes, my family and I were going to be racing it…all of us at once!
However, we had to build it first right? So as we started to open it up and take a look, one thing that stuck in my mind were the borders. You may not think this is a big deal, but for a lot of us, having borders to allow our cars to slide around the outside is a major issue. Not only does this set include all the outer borders, it also includes inner borders as well.
Now the color they chose to paint them is not the most eye appealing, but the fact that they are present scores points in my book. Besides, these markings aren’t anything that can’t be fixed with a little spray paint. I did this on my Carrera borders, and will do so in this case as well. The bottom line is they are included and that saves you money…that’s a good thing right?
Next, I noticed the controllers. The new pistol grip controllers are now included in the 4 lane set. These controllers work better than you might expect, especially with the Artin cars and other light or non-magnet models. Upgrading to higher end controllers is an easy task however if you decide to in the future.
Now on to the track itself, and here is another area where Artin is unique. Artin track is a hard plastic track similar to Carrera, yet is roughly the size of Scalextric. I prefer a hard plastic track for a permanent layout that you plan on having elevation, and this track allows you to do this, all in a smaller space. The track snaps snugly together and the racing surface is nice and smooth. The track also has a small groove along the outside edge for installing guardrails, the borders and for the 4 lane mounting clips. These clips simply slip into the grooves, holding both lanes tightly together. Not over complicated, and it works very well. When using the track in its 4 lane configuration, you may think the gaps in the track would hinder performance while you drift around the track, but we found this is not the case. The cars slide right over these gaps surprisingly smooth.
Track connection is very easy, and taking it apart is a breeze. 2 clips on the inside snap into place. To disconnect it, simply press down on the tabs and with a slight twisting motion, they come right apart. Slot depth is always an issue with track, especially when it’s too shallow and you have to trim your guides just to race. The slots in Artin track are deep enough for all home set guides that I tested, including Carrera and Ninco without trimming.
The power system here certainly is large enough in size, utilizing an almost Carrera style of hookup. This VERY large transformer supplies power for all 4 lanes via 2 plug-in connectors. Rated at 12v DC the main problem here is the lack of amperage. Each lane is supplied 150ma a piece, according to the transformer data plate. Most slot cars are going to need more than this for optimal performance, so if you decide that you like this set, an additional pack would really help. The cars we tested ran fairly well, but you will not see an abundance of power here.
On this subject of power and control, here is where I stand: ALL sets found today could benefit from better power and control. A common occurrence in our hobby is that once you get hooked and want to get the most out of your model cars you will HAVE to upgrade both power and controllers eventually. The transformers found in most all sets from other brands have the same issues that the Artin transformer does: Lack of Amperage. With that said, I cannot really knock Artin too hard for this power and control system given that it is a weak point of many sets by other brands found today.
In addition to the borders, Artin has also included a nicegrandstand, complete with figures. This may or may not be important to you, but again, the simple fact that it is included is a plus. The figures are unpainted, so you can stretch your modeling dollar even further by getting a taste of painting and detailing your layout. Although it’s minus the braking, the power base provided is very easy to hook up and I found it to be a sturdy design. The plugs and wires fit perfectly and even after a few accidental tugs on the control wires, the system held up well.
I tested everything from Scalextric NASCAR’s and Trans-Ams, Fly Classics, to Ninco Rally cars, and they all operated smoothly. A touch slower than on other systems due to the lack of amperage, but smooth nonetheless. Another aspect of the Artin track is it seems to have less magnetic properties in the rails than even Carrera, at least in my rough hand tests. This should be a blessing for those who like a mild or no magnet set-up. We certainly had a blast drifting and sliding the Fly Classics around it! There is enough track here to build quite a few different designs, in fact I must admit that the big attraction of this set was the fact I could build a 4 lane oval for my NASCARS to trade paint on. The set includes enough track to either build a Figure 8 or Oval. I have missed oval racing, and wanted badly to build one, yet my bank account disagreed with me. Until now however, and this 4 lane oval will remain intact in our dungeon. With the amount of track you get, one could easily design a good sized 2 lane raceway if 4 lanes are just not right for you
At the time this is being written, this set does NOT include any cars. However, I have been informed from Slot Car World that this may change very quickly. Until then however, Slot Car World is offering a great discount on cars if you order them with the set. In fact, it might be better off this way, allowing you to pick your own field of models you prefer.
UPDATE! The 4 lane is now available with either 4 Artin cars or choose from different brand cars to customize your set.
It has been said that 4 lane racing isn’t twice the fun of 2 lanes; it’s 10 times the fun. If you have your family or friends involved in this hobby, you owe it to yourself to think about going 4 lanes if you have not done so already. Budget constraints had stopped me in the past of constructing a 4 lane speedway, but now with this release, I simply had no excuse. For a retail price of $90.00, you really can’t go wrong.
Nothing is perfect in any set you may choose to purchase, so one has to balance the strong points as well as the weak. They both have worked flawlessly so far, and as I write this review, I can hear the laughter and noise of my 2 teenagers, along with their 2 friends battling it out in a 4 lane slot fight…fancy or not, this system is fun. I have to give this track a “thumbs up”, this set is definitely worth a second look if you’re thinking about starting in the hobby or maybe that dream of a 4 lane speedway still lingers in you.
- Harry
As always, feel free to email me atwiseone@yhti.net about this article or just the hobby in general. Or better still, drop into the Home Racing World Message Forum and let us know your thoughts.
Looking for Upgrades? Try our newArtin Upgrade Section. We created this area specifically for those who have chosen this value-based system, and wanting to get the most out it.
A thanks goes toSlot Car World for providing us with this review set.
A complete boxed race set is the best way to get started in HO Slot Car Racing. A boxed set includes track, cars, power packs and hand controls. Everything needed to start racing. Just open the box, assemble the track, plug in the power pack and the hand controls and you’re ready to start racing!
Tomy offers several boxed sets that are unquestionably the finest available. Tomy track with its self-cleaning track rail joints, wide variety of turn radius sizes and banked turns makes it the track system to own. Any make of HO slot car will run on Tomy track. Adapter tracks are also available to join Tomy track with the older Aurora A/FX Snap-Lock system as well as Tyco/Mattel and Life-Like.
All HO slot car track is manufactured in 2-lane sections. To build wider 4-, 6- and 8-lane tracks multiple 2-lane sections are simply placed side-by-side. The diagram below illustrates how 2-lane track sections can be combined to build larger raceways.
Regardless of the type or brand of HO slot cars you plan to race, the Tomy Track System is the way to go when it comes to building your raceway.
Tomy AFX 4-Lane Super International
The Tomy AFX 4-Lane Super International is the best set you can buy. It offers a wide variety of track sections, four (4) fast Tomy AFX Mega-G Plus cars and enough track to build any number of challenging 2- and 4-lane raceways.
The Tomy AFX 4-Lane Super International includes all of the track required to build 4-lane examples of 18 popular Formula 1 circuits.
The Layout Sheet included with the set includes instructions for building each of the Formula 1 tracks. You can of course, design your own raceway as well.
Tomy AFX Super International Contents
An inventory of what is included in the Tomy Super International Race Set is shown below.
Straight Track
(12) – 15″ Straights
(2) – 9″ Straights
(8) – 6″ Straights
(6) – 3″ Straights
Curve Track
(1) – 15″ Radius 1/8 Circle Turn
(6) – 12″ Radius 1/8 Circle Turns
(12) – 9″ Radius 1/4 Circle Turns
(9) – 9″ Radius 1/8 Circle Turns
(28) – 6″ Radius 1/8 Circle Turns
Power
(2) – 15″ Power Terminal Tracks
(2) – 1 Amp Tri-Power Packs
(4) – Hand Controls
Cars
(4) – Tomy AFX Mega-G Plus F1/IndyCars
Accessories
(20) – 15″ Guard Rails
(6) – Bridge Supports w/ Piers
(1) – Set of Color Lane Markers
This is the best value you’ll find. You get over $350 worth of cars, track and accessories in just this one set!
Tomy AFX Super International Layouts
All of the race tracks show below can be built using just the track included in the Tomy 4-Lane Super International Race Set.
These are the same tracks included on the Layout Sheet that comes with the set. I’ve included them here so that they are easier to read. Click your mouse on the Color Coded link below each track diagram to see how the track sections are assembled to build each layout.
South Africa – Round 1
View the Color-Coded layout plan for track dimensions and section sizes.
Mexico – Round 2
View the Color-Coded layout plan for track dimensions and section sizes.
Brazil – Round 3
View the Color-Coded layout plan for track dimensions and section sizes.
Spain – Round 4
View the Color-Coded layout plan for track dimensions and section sizes.
San Marino – Round 5
View the Color-Coded layout plan for track dimensions and section sizes.
Monaco – Round 6
View the Color-Coded layout plan for track dimensions and section sizes.
Canada – Round 7
View the Color-Coded layout plan for track dimensions and section sizes.
France – Round 8
View the Color-Coded layout plan for track dimensions and section sizes.
Best Lane Slot Track
England – Round 9
View the Color-Coded layout plan for track dimensions and section sizes.
Germany – Round 10
View the Color-Coded layout plan for track dimensions and section sizes.
Hungary – Round 11
View the Color-Coded layout plan for track dimensions and section sizes.
Belgium – Round 12
View the Color-Coded layout plan for track dimensions and section sizes.
Italy – Round 13
Best 4 Lane Slot Car Track
View the Color-Coded layout plan for track dimensions and section sizes.
Portugal – Round 14
View the Color-Coded layout plan for track dimensions and section sizes.
Japan – Round 15
View the Color-Coded layout plan for track dimensions and section sizes.
Australia – Round 16
View the Color-Coded layout plan for track dimensions and section sizes.
European – Bonus Round 1
View the Color-Coded layout plan for track dimensions and section sizes.
United States – Bonus Round 2
View the Color-Coded layout plan for track dimensions and section sizes.
Tomy AFX 2-Lane NASCAR Stockers
Tomy has released a new 2-lane NASCAR race set just in time for the holidays. The set includes 20 feet of track. Enough to build any of four NASCAR ovals and tri-ovals.
Two new Ford and Chevy NASCAR stock cars are included. The Ford Fusion and Chevy SS are only available in this set, making them and this set something of a “collectable.”
All of the set’s corners are 12″ radius Daytona banked turns. You can build any of four famous NASCAR speedways with this race set.
Tomy AFX 2-Lane Super Coupes Set
The Tomy AFX 2-Lane Super Coupes Set is a small entry-level set. It doesn’t offer the same kind of value that the Super International set does, but if you’re looking for a smaller set this may be the one for you.
The Super Coupes Set includes 12.8 Feet of track in a modified figure of eight layout.
This set comes with Two (2) Mega-G Plus slot cars from Tomy’s Collector’s Series; the 1966 Le Mans winning Ford GT40 and Jim Hall’s Chaparral 2D Coupe.
Super Coupes Set Contents
An inventory of what is included in the Tomy AFX 2-Lane Super Coupes Set is shown below.
Straight Track
(2) – 15″ Straights
Curve Track
(8) – 9″ Radius 1/4 Circle Turns
Power
(1) – 15″ Power Terminal Track
(1) – 1 Amp Tri-Power Pack
(2) – Hand Controls
Cars
(2) – Tomy Mega-G Plus GT40 & Chaparral
Accessories
(1) – 15″ Lap Counter
(8) – 15″ Guard Rails
(1) – Cardboard Grandstand
(1) – Cardboard Pit Building
Super Coupes Layout
View the Color-Coded layout plan for track dimensions and section sizes.
Tomy AFX 2-Lane Infinity Set
The Tomy AFX 2-Lane Infinity Set is another small entry-level set. It includes two (2) Tomy AFX Turbo IndyCars.
The Infinity Set includes 8.4 Feet of track in a very simple figure of eight layout.
This set comes with Two (2) Turbo IndyCar slot cars.
Infinity Race Set Contents
An inventory of what is included in the Tomy AFX 2-Lane Infinity Race Set is shown below.
Straight Track
(1) – 15″ Straight
Curve Track
(6) – 9″ Radius 1/4 Circle Turns
Power
(1) – 15″ Power Terminal Track
(1) – 1 Amp Tri-Power Pack
(2) – Hand Controls
Cars
(2) – Tomy Mega-G Plus IndyCars
Accessories
(6) – 15″ Guard Rails
Infinity Layout
View the Color-Coded layout plan for track dimensions and section sizes.