Best Slot Car Controller
The pistol grip controller was released around the same time as Aurora AFX cars, early 1970's. Note the difference in size of the controls pictured. Right; larger adult size, early to mid 1970's Left; small in size and is the more common of the controls made, mid to late 1970's. Present day Tomy AFX sets have this small controller. 1/24 slot car controllers are available for a wide variety of 1/24 slot cars from starter slot cars to Group 7/Open slot car racing. 1/24 slot car controllers work with a variety of slot cars.
Updated 080120
IMPORTANT NOTE: PARMA STOPPED DIDN’T MAKE ECONOMY CONTROLLERS FOR OVER TWO YEARS. While they have recently resumed production of their Economy wire wrapped ceramic resistor controllers at this time I have decided not to carry them for the following reason. They have raised the price of their lower quality Econo controllers to $39.99 directly against the higher quality (smooth resistor board, longer heavier duty wire) DS controllers. At this time I have DS controllers available. I also have Parma HO Plus controllers. See the descriptions below. Supply is limited.I now have DS controllers in 45, 55 and 120 ohm ratings, The DS controllers come with a longer wire and three wire open leads. You can install alligator clips at additional cost or you can splice in the connector of your choice on your own. I am again making DS controllers in multiple ohm ranges. For example a 35, 45,55 ohm DS would be $59.95 as is a 35/45/55 ohm unit as is a 120/90/60 ohm unit.
The job of the controller is to feed power to the car in direct proportion to how much the trigger is squeezed. A good match produces response throughout the range of the controller. A bad match can produce a soft response, i.e., you squeeze the controller and the car does not respond until the trigger is 1/3 to ½ way down the resistor. Here the resistor has too high a rating for the car it is trying to control. Equally undesirable is a ‘fast’ controller response, here the car takes off like a shot when the trigger is pulled back lightly. This is due to a resistor with too low an ohm rating for the car you are trying to control. Whether you use a controller with a resistor or an electronic controller (no resistor, but uses various electronics to control voltage to the track) you want a controller that is a good match to your cars requirements. Below are various resistor and electronic controllers with an explanation of the best application for that controller. DS controllers are available in green, yellow, orange, black, clear, purple,red or blue. All colors are not always in stock, please specify and have a second choice in mind.Note: I now have JG’s Comfort grips (see below) available for Parma, DS, DiFalco, Russkit and Professor Motor controllers.
If you race a wide variety of slot cars we have multiple range controllers which, with the simple flick of a switch, can change the resistance of the controller to offer better response.
| DS- 45ohm similar to the Parma controller but with a longer lead wire with open three wire leads alligator clips or a connector of your choice can be added (by customer) most importantly these controllers have a smooth 21st Century resistor board rather than a ceramic, wire wrapped resistor. Available colors yellow, green, orange and blue. $39.99 or 45 ohm (best for stock out of the pack HO magnet cars) or for the Mega G, Storm SS or stock 1/32 cars. | $39.99 |
| DS- 55ohm similar to the Parma controller but with a longer lead wire with three wire open leads. Alligator clips or a connector of your choice can be added (by customer) most importantly these controllers have a smooth 21st Century resistor board rather than a ceramic, wire wrapped resistor. Available colors yellow, green, orange and blue. $39.99 55 ohm good for stock t-jets or other cars with a fairly low power draw | $39.99 |
DS 120 OHM –Made especially for us. This 120 ohm controller has a resistor board instead of a wire wound resistor for smoother operation. The new Tomy Mega G+ call for a 120 ohm controller and this is the answer. Works well with Aurora t-jets on a technical (tight/twisty) track as well. Comes with three wire open leads. Available colors yellow, green, orange and blue. $39.99
These single resistor value controllers are sometimes available with booted alligator clips installed $49.99 -call for availability 908-322-2676. You may also buy the set of three booted clips separately and install them your self $6.00 set.
If you race a wide variety of slot cars we have multiple range controllers which, with the simple flick of a switch, can change the resistance of the controller to offer better response.
This is the multiple range 35/45/55 ohm controller. Covers Wizzard Storm Extreme stock and lightly modified Tyco 440’s, Super G+, Aurora AFX and Auto World Xtraction. Available colors yellow, green, orange and blue. Comes with three wire open leads.( also good for unmodified versions of the above as well as Thunder jet 500’s and most stock t-jets (55 ohm) in general use. For extensive t-jet use higher ohmage controllers are recommended. Available colors yellow, green, orange and blue. Comes with three wire open leads. $62.99
NOW AVAILABLE WITH BOOTED ALLIGATOR CLIPS INSTALLED $72.99
DS 120/90/60 ohm are best for Tomy Mega G+ (120 ohm) as well as Aurora and Auto World Thunderjets (higher ohms on technical tracks, lower ohms on faster tracks).Available colors yellow, green, orange and blue. Comes with three wire open leads. $62.99
NOW AVAILABLE WITH BOOTED ALLIGATOR CLIPS INSTALLED $72.99
| NEW!JG’s Comfort grip. This is a full 1/4″ thick foam grip for Parma, Russkit, DeFalco or DS controller handles. Perfect for long term comfort when racing. Can be removed carefully for servicing controller if necessary. CAN NOT BE USED WITH A CONTROLLER WITH AN INLINE HEAT SINK. | $10.99 |
| NEW! JG‘s Comfort grip. Same as above but longer for Professor Motor controllers. Fits very snugly but is tough enough to be carefully manually removed without damage. CAN NOT BE USED WITH A CONTROLLER WITH AN INLINE HEAT SINK. | $10.99 |
| NEW! LET US MAKE YOUR PARMA ECONOMY CONTROLLER INTO A 70-80-90 ohm Parma economy controller good for the home or club t-jet racer. Only for use with cars with very low power draw. Includes new 90 ohm resistor, additional electronics in handle, 3 way microswitch and labeling. 90 ohm works well with new Mega G+. Call before shipping to us. | $35.00 + SHIPPING |
| NEW! LET US MAKE YOUR PARMA ECONOMY CONTROLLER INTO A 35-45-60 ohm Parma economy controller excellent Covers Tyco 440’s, Super G+, Aurora AFX, Auto World Xtraction and Thunder jet 500’s and most stock t-jets (60 ohm) in general use. Includes new 60 ohm resistor, additional electronics in handle, 3 way microswitch and labeling. Call before shipping to us. | $35.00 + SHIPPING |
| Turbo kit – you build it. Comes with everything but a resistor. Will accept all Parma econo, turbo or HOPlus resistors. | NO LONGER AVAILABLE |
| Parma 25, 35, 45, 60 or 90 ohm economy resistors (specify) each | $9.99 |
| HO PLUS CONTROLLER 45 OHMS These controllers feature a fully epoxy coated wire wound resistor, a heat sink, booted alligator clips, heavier wire than the now defuct economy controler and an ergonomic nylon trigger HO PLUS CONTROLLER 60 OHMS Same features as the 45 ohm controller | 49.99 $55.99 |
| ET Grip, a soft absorbent handle for your Parma controller. Makes racing for hours so comfortable you will wonder how you ever did without one. No longer in production and therefore limited availability. | sold out -see above ‘Comfort Grip’ a softer easier to install grip. |
| Alligator clips with color coordinated boots. For use with studs found at most commercial raceways and many club tracks, set of 3 | $6.00 |
We still carry a complete selection of service parts for Parma economy controllers, please call and have one of our knowledgeable sales staff assist you.
| $129.99 |
The average person has probably heard of “slot cars” at some point in their life; while most may not know exactly what it is, slot car racing has been around since the 1930’s.There is a significant segment of the hobbyist population that races slot cars in competitions, and while popularity may have risen and dropped several times over the past eighty years, there is still a core group of enthusiasts who race these small-scale vehicles. Slot cars are considered to be “classic” and oftentimes, worth a good amount of money. Many collectables are often modeled after real-life vehicles, making them very valuable. Just as vehicles change shape and size over time, slot cars often imitate vehicles of their respective time period.
Third Eye Slot Car Controller
A slot car is a miniature scaled automobile that is powered by a small electric motor. Scales include: 1/28, 1/24, 1/32, 1/42 and 1/64 or HO. The cars are raced on a track that has a groove for each vehicle lane, and the slot car has a small pin or blade that extends from the bottom and into the groove. The contacts for the electricity are picked up by the swiveling blade, or “guide flag” on the slot car, which provides the power to run around the track. The vehicle is controlled by a hand-held speed controller that filters in the voltage amount; the more that the trigger is pressed, the faster the car can go. The two types of controllers that are used are called analog and electric controllers. Analog slot car controllers allow the car to accelerate by distributing the desired amount of voltage to the car. Electronic controllers, unlike analog controllers, do not use the variable resistance method for power delivery, but instead use an electronic circuit to dispense the correct amount of voltage to the car. Because electric controllers offer improved control and the ability to command a wide array of cars, this type of controller is most recommended for a beginner.
What are the main parts of a slot car?
· Body/Shell – The top of the slot car is molded and scaled to a real vehicle. The shape actually does not influence the car’s performance, as it would for a real car. Instead, the mass and distribution of the weight affects the car’s performance.
Best Ho Slot Car Controller
· Interior – The interior often features a real driver and imitates the interior of the real, life-size vehicle. The driver and interior are typically modeled just below window height to allow more room for the motor. It is usually clipped or glued to the body shell.
· Chassis – The bottom part of the car is called the chassis, which is often one piece but can be made with a separate motor pod section. This piece attaches all of the other parts.
· Motor – The electric motor is what powers the slot car, placed at the front, middle, or rear of the car. It can be in-line, sideways, or at an angle. Like a real car, small gears transmit the power from the motor to the axle.
· Axle – The axle is the steel rod in which the wheels are attached to.
· Guide or Guide Flag – This is a plastic fin with the ability to pivot, which sits on the slot of the track and holds the braids.
· Braids – Copper metal contacts or copper braids provide power to the car by making contact with the rails on the track. It’s important that these are adjusted correctly for optimal car performance.
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· Magnet – Front and rear magnets provide force to keep the car on the track.
· Chip – This refers to the circuit board which interprets signals on the track and operating the motor for digital cars. Some conventional cars have a chip to control the lights, but many do not have a chip at all.
What are slot car racetracks made out of?
Slot cars include a variety of other features and parts and differ depending on when the car was made and the maker. The majority of the slot car racetracks used for home races are made from molded plastic snap-together track sections. This allows the racer to reconfigure their track at will. The tracks used for competition are often hand-built; the guide slots for the vehicles are routed into a type of sheet material, generally either medium-density fiberboard or chipboard. Voltage supplied to the track by the power supply is typically between 12 to 18 volts and 1 or 2 amps.
What types of slot cars are best for beginners?
Cars of the 1/32 scale are most recommended for beginners, as they are very durable and are actually the most common size among hobbyists. The cars with very strong magnets are good for beginners initially, but may limit the development of driving skills. As racing skills develop further, the magnets are needed less and less and you may find you need to update your slot car as your skills progress.
What types of racetracks are best for beginners?
A simple track plan allows one to learn how to drive properly and enjoy the hobby. Sometimes an oval of track is best so that beginners can learn the fundamentals of accelerating, braking and controlling speed in the corners. A more elaborate and challenging track can be then enjoyed after some skill has been developed. Unfortunately, many sets do not have a good track layout for beginners. The beauty of plastic track is that you can configure a simple oval first, practice and then expand the layout with the balance of the track to make a more challenging circuit.
Clubs are a perfect way to get more involved in the hobby. Whether it’s a few people getting together informally to share tips and run their cars for fun, or large clubs that are a little more serious, joining a club will allow you to get the most out of slot car racing. Major competitions do exist on large tracks in commercial raceways, but these are typically for 1/24 scale cars, which require more sophisticated cars and equipment.
Slot car racing is a wonderfully diverse hobby that can stay with you for a lifetime and can be shared by generations of enthusiasts. Whether you’re a beginner or seasoned pro, there is always something new to keep you in high gear!
Lynne Bernhard