Test report from CoMod martinmm on the Carrera DIGITAL 124 Mercedes-Benz W 125 'No.35', AVUS 1937 (23751)
With the Mercedes-Benz W125 Streamline, Carrera is not only launching a new edition of the exclusive 1999 car, but also a 'variant'. At least as far as the starting number is concerned.
The W125 Grand Prix racing car, designed by Rolf Uhlenhaut in 1937, competed with Rudolf Caracciola in the VI International AVUS Race on May 30, 1937, with a fully aerodynamic fairing. Also participating was the Auto Union Type C from Auto Union AG with starting number 33, also fully faired. These streamlined cars reached speeds of up to 380 km/h on the straights. Rudolf Caracciola achieved victory with an average speed of 250.33 km/h. Bernd Rosemeyer drove his Auto Union to the fastest average speed of a lap up to that point.
This was the fastest lap of a Grand Prix car for 37 years.
Apart from minimal body changes and new spoked rims, the Carrera vehicle is identical to the W125 #36 released in 1999.
Technology:
The vehicle is equipped with the latest D124 chassis generation. The most striking feature is the now internal magnets. As with the current D132/Evolution models, these are only accessible by unscrewing the body.
To do this, the engine mount must be loosened and the engine block removed. Then the center and rear magnets can be removed. The center magnet is still constructed in three parts. The front axle is now fixed instead of swinging. This gives the vehicle more stability when cornering in its original condition.
Optics:
I'm convinced that even non-fans of these vintage vehicles will enjoy them. Visually, they're truly eye-catching—especially when you remove the wheel covers and reveal the very delicate spoked rims.
Driving operation:
In their original condition, with their full magnetic system, they run as usual, just like on rails. There's barely any room between fast cornering at the limit and flying off the ground. Without the magnetic system, the narrow and profiled rear wheels quickly reveal the limits of their grip. The grooved profile reduces the contact area by another 50% – you're essentially riding on bicycle tires. That doesn't work.
You should at least grind the tires down enough to remove the tread. Then things will be a bit better.
I experienced the best handling characteristics with the two outer center magnets and 10g of additional weight in the center of the chassis. Grip is sufficiently high, but you still need to have some feel in your thumb when cornering to avoid the car just sliding around. Acceleration and braking are very good, even on long tracks.
Outside shoulders are essential in the corners. And that's when it's really fun!
The test vehicle had a problem in that not all four wheels were touching the surface plate. This was caused by a threaded bushing on the front axle mount that wasn't fully screwed in. After the adjustment, it finally fit. This was noticeable due to the severe skidding of the rear end during braking.
We can look forward to the Maserati!
CoMod Martinmm
****************************************
Test report from CoMod Mike... for the Carrera DIGITAL 124 Mercedes-Benz W 125 'No.35', AVUS 1937 (23715)
In 1999, the Exclusive Streamlines in the Avus basic package were already a sales success. They were relatively unknown in the slot car sector until then, and their historically futuristic exterior made buyers at the end of the 20th century dig deep into their pockets! Unfortunately, the beautiful exterior couldn't make the dedicated slot car driver overlook the rather poor handling! The overly long gear ratio, combined with the electronic circuit board, made the Streamlines
Besides the much too high keel, they are quite mediocre racers!
An additional magnet and later a change in the gear ratio made the beautiful vehicles better at cornering without having to take their foot off the accelerator 2 meters beforehand!
For me, placing washers under the guide keels was standard practice on these vehicles!
The announcement of the reissue gave me hope that
the new chassis revision of this Avus banked curve monster only advantages
will bring! And then you were there...
Out of the box and you'll look great!
Compared to the old Exclusiv, subtle additional color accents can be seen in the intake and exhaust areas of the body! The body essentially only needed to be modified at the bolt studs, and it received the usual threaded bushings. That means hurray: the old bodies can be equipped with new suspension if you use the old bolts here.
The only downside is the slightly orange starting numbers on the old version and the bright red ones on the new one. But this way, you can double the starting field!
But now for the endurance and comparison test on the SG-Stern wooden track, where the old Exclusiv racers were almost impossible to drive.
A slight bounce is, of course, quite normal, as with any standard plastic wheel. Nevertheless, the straight-line stability is quite decent. The cornering drift is very forgiving due to
The new rudder angle and the revised swing arm with spring ensure sufficient depth in the slot. Unmodified, the Silver Arrow handles significantly better than its older counterparts with the old swing arm!
With sanded tires, the car whirs almost like it does with aluminum pot-shaped rims! I'm absolutely thrilled! If you want to top it all off, you can install a rear axle mount from various professional workshops and insert ball bearings. A 6mm ball bearing can also be installed at the front thanks to the fixed axle without any rework. The problem, however, will likely be the pot-shaped rims with the matching spoked wheel look, so the tire covers will have to stay on!
But on the Carrera track, all this is not necessary, because with light tire grinding you have a lot of fun and you can also
Admire spoked rims without covers!
CoMod Mike...
With the Mercedes-Benz W125 Streamline, Carrera is not only launching a new edition of the exclusive 1999 car, but also a 'variant'. At least as far as the starting number is concerned.
The W125 Grand Prix racing car, designed by Rolf Uhlenhaut in 1937, competed with Rudolf Caracciola in the VI International AVUS Race on May 30, 1937, with a fully aerodynamic fairing. Also participating was the Auto Union Type C from Auto Union AG with starting number 33, also fully faired. These streamlined cars reached speeds of up to 380 km/h on the straights. Rudolf Caracciola achieved victory with an average speed of 250.33 km/h. Bernd Rosemeyer drove his Auto Union to the fastest average speed of a lap up to that point.
This was the fastest lap of a Grand Prix car for 37 years.
Apart from minimal body changes and new spoked rims, the Carrera vehicle is identical to the W125 #36 released in 1999.
Technology:
The vehicle is equipped with the latest D124 chassis generation. The most striking feature is the now internal magnets. As with the current D132/Evolution models, these are only accessible by unscrewing the body.
To do this, the engine mount must be loosened and the engine block removed. Then the center and rear magnets can be removed. The center magnet is still constructed in three parts. The front axle is now fixed instead of swinging. This gives the vehicle more stability when cornering in its original condition.
Optics:
I'm convinced that even non-fans of these vintage vehicles will enjoy them. Visually, they're truly eye-catching—especially when you remove the wheel covers and reveal the very delicate spoked rims.
Driving operation:
In their original condition, with their full magnetic system, they run as usual, just like on rails. There's barely any room between fast cornering at the limit and flying off the ground. Without the magnetic system, the narrow and profiled rear wheels quickly reveal the limits of their grip. The grooved profile reduces the contact area by another 50% – you're essentially riding on bicycle tires. That doesn't work.
You should at least grind the tires down enough to remove the tread. Then things will be a bit better.
I experienced the best handling characteristics with the two outer center magnets and 10g of additional weight in the center of the chassis. Grip is sufficiently high, but you still need to have some feel in your thumb when cornering to avoid the car just sliding around. Acceleration and braking are very good, even on long tracks.
Outside shoulders are essential in the corners. And that's when it's really fun!
The test vehicle had a problem in that not all four wheels were touching the surface plate. This was caused by a threaded bushing on the front axle mount that wasn't fully screwed in. After the adjustment, it finally fit. This was noticeable due to the severe skidding of the rear end during braking.
We can look forward to the Maserati!
CoMod Martinmm
****************************************
Test report from CoMod Mike... for the Carrera DIGITAL 124 Mercedes-Benz W 125 'No.35', AVUS 1937 (23715)
In 1999, the Exclusive Streamlines in the Avus basic package were already a sales success. They were relatively unknown in the slot car sector until then, and their historically futuristic exterior made buyers at the end of the 20th century dig deep into their pockets! Unfortunately, the beautiful exterior couldn't make the dedicated slot car driver overlook the rather poor handling! The overly long gear ratio, combined with the electronic circuit board, made the Streamlines
Besides the much too high keel, they are quite mediocre racers!
An additional magnet and later a change in the gear ratio made the beautiful vehicles better at cornering without having to take their foot off the accelerator 2 meters beforehand!
For me, placing washers under the guide keels was standard practice on these vehicles!
The announcement of the reissue gave me hope that
the new chassis revision of this Avus banked curve monster only advantages
will bring! And then you were there...
Out of the box and you'll look great!
Compared to the old Exclusiv, subtle additional color accents can be seen in the intake and exhaust areas of the body! The body essentially only needed to be modified at the bolt studs, and it received the usual threaded bushings. That means hurray: the old bodies can be equipped with new suspension if you use the old bolts here.
The only downside is the slightly orange starting numbers on the old version and the bright red ones on the new one. But this way, you can double the starting field!
But now for the endurance and comparison test on the SG-Stern wooden track, where the old Exclusiv racers were almost impossible to drive.
A slight bounce is, of course, quite normal, as with any standard plastic wheel. Nevertheless, the straight-line stability is quite decent. The cornering drift is very forgiving due to
The new rudder angle and the revised swing arm with spring ensure sufficient depth in the slot. Unmodified, the Silver Arrow handles significantly better than its older counterparts with the old swing arm!
With sanded tires, the car whirs almost like it does with aluminum pot-shaped rims! I'm absolutely thrilled! If you want to top it all off, you can install a rear axle mount from various professional workshops and insert ball bearings. A 6mm ball bearing can also be installed at the front thanks to the fixed axle without any rework. The problem, however, will likely be the pot-shaped rims with the matching spoked wheel look, so the tire covers will have to stay on!
But on the Carrera track, all this is not necessary, because with light tire grinding you have a lot of fun and you can also
Admire spoked rims without covers!
CoMod Mike...
