Converting Slot.it Inline Cars to N-Digital

I really appreciate Slot.it cars. Their performance is smooth and powerful with great handling. And their appearance is among the best in the industry. But everyone knows that. So what self respecting N-Digital user wouldn't want at least one of these great cars in the stable? But, as just about every N-Digital user knows, there are two problems that, unfortunately, make running Slot.it cars in N-Digital a serious challenge:

1.) The orange end-bell motor that comes stock in the majority of these cars overheats significantly when running connected to the N-Digital decoder chip. To a point where the motor mount can be seriously damaged.

2.) This same motor is, IMHO, too powerful for the average N-Digital home track. Although this is somewhat moot because of the overheating problem.

This is really a shame because, apart from these problems, the Slot.it motor actually performs very well in the N-Digital system. Nevertheless, the only solution is to replace the motor with one that affords good performance with N-Digital and, most importantly, does not overheat.

A number of N-Digital users have installed the Ninco NC-5. This is a tried and true performer and definitely yields a great performing car in N-Digital, running in the 'amateur' throttle profile. However it is a relatively expensive modification because not only must the motor be replaced, but also the motor pod because the NC-5 is a long can (FK-180) format motor, while the orange end-bell is a short can Mabuchi type (FC-130). This also necessitates either the transfer of the rear axle assembly to the new pod or an entire new drive train for the modified car.

It would be far simpler and less expensive to replace the orange end-bell with an FC-130 type motor. The trick is to find one that yields the desired performance and does not overheat.

The BWNC1 motor turned out to fit the bill very well. Very reasonably priced and in 'professional' throttle profile it provided smooth performance and ample power on a short twisty track. Unfortunately the BWNC1 is no longer available. Another promising candidate was the H&R Hawk motor which performed very well in 'amateur' throttle profile and is also priced attractively. Not quite the performance of the NC-5 but very respectable. But the H&R Hawk also suffered from the overheating problem.

Enter the 18 K RPM Pioneer Typhoon motor. It's an FC-130 type with performance that seems well suited to N-Digital home tracks and the hectic requirements of digital slot racing. It is also priced affordably and -- most importantly -- it does not overheat in N-Digital. The only drawback is that the armature shaft(s) are shorter than all the other motors mentioned above. This means that the drive shaft does not reach the alignment groove of the crown gear, so an alternate method of maintaining optimum gear mesh must be implemented. This can be accomplished quite effectively by installing axle collars on each side of the rear axle just outside the bushings.

So, pictured above is the Slot.it Porsche 956 Warsteiner. The inset photo depicts the parts list that will allow this car to be a very competent and reliable N-Digital technical track performer:

- The aforementioned Pioneer Typhoon 18 K RPM motor.

- Hobby Slot Racing (that's HSR) axle collars. I chose this collar because it is slightly narrower than most other brands, allowing it to fit in the limited space between the wheel hub and motor pod bushing housings (see below).

- A Ninco 10 tooth pinion to replace the stock 9 tooth. This seems to provide a little more top end performance with the Typhoon motor. The Ninco pinions mesh very well with the Slot.it crown. Naturally the Slot.it pinion works just as well. I just happened to use the Ninco.

The photos below show everything, including the N-Digital decoder chip, in place. Note especially the virtually perfect spacing of he HSR axle collars between the wheel hubs and bushing housings on the Slot.it axle, highlighted by the red arrows. Also note the N-Digital decoder chip (wrapped in electrical tape). The Slot.it Group C cars have plenty of room on either side of the chassis for the relatively compact chip, which allows for a simple, straight forward chip installation.

The results are quite acceptable. The car still runs like a Slot.it: ample, smooth, exceptionally quiet power for the application at hand, and excellent handling on the Ninco track. Lap times are now faster than those with the stock orange end-bell. The Typhoon motor gets mildly warm after long runs but this diminishes with proper lubrication and as the motor breaks in.

So now I can run those wonderful Slot.its on my N-Digital track. I have modified five Slot.its this way, including the Alfa 33 sidewinder, and they are among the best N-Digital performers in my stable (as they were before, just not for very many laps).

In summary:

- The required parts were less than half the cost of an NC-5 / motor pod swap, with comparable performance. Also, you can sell the Slot.it orange end-bell motor literally making this a no-cost conversion. High quality motors listed in the slot forums at a reasonable price tend to sell very quickly.

- If you opt to hold on to the Slot.it motor and you get the urge to head for the Blue King at the local slot car venue, all that's required is to pop the orange end-bell back in and connect it directly to the guide.

- No modifications to the car were required. In other words, if I can do it...

- This modification also applies to the Racer Sideways cars and any car that uses the in-line Slot.it drive train.

- If your N-Digital circuit has long straights and wide, sweeping turns, you can run in 'professional' throttle profile. The car will handle quite well with significantly faster top end and better control through wide turns. There is also a 21 K RPM Typhoon motor which I suspect would provide good performance in 'amateur' profile on larger layouts.

If you are an N-Digital user and you have reluctantly avoided Slot.it cars because of the overheating problem I hope that you will try this modification. It's quite economical, relatively simple, completely reversible, and will open up your N-Digital track to one of the best slot car companies in the hobby.

by Michael Ashton