New BWA Motor and Pinions

BWA has developed an FC-130 style motor intended for low-power racing, with performance similar to the Ninco NC1. Two sample motors are above, the plastic endbell showing on the left, and the metal can end showing on the right. Holes are tapped in the can end for 2mm screws, to provide a secure mount. Shafts are long on both ends to allow mounting in a variety of existing chassis.

Brass pinions have also been added to the BWA line, bored for the standard 2mm shafts, and 1.5mm shafts of the slim can (FF-050) which BWA also makes for lower-power racing. Tooth counts are 8, 9, and 10 for both shaft sizes. The diameter of the pinions increases as tooth count goes up, so smooth mesh may be achieved with standard 50 module pitch crown gears (such as Slot.It) by adjusting the mesh with spacers on the axle. Pinion diameters are 5mm (8 tooth), 5.4mm (9 tooth) and 6mm (10 tooth). These pinions are precisely bored to be a slip fit on the shafts. BWA advises fixing them with Loctite Red 262, with a drop applied to the inside of the pinion first.

Bench testing the new motors was done to determine RPM, torque, and maximum power capability. Five samples were tested, with no-load RPM at 12 volts, reading from 13,832 to 14,275 RPM. The motors were closely grouped in this narrow range, with an average of 14,103 RPM.

Torque was assessed at stall for two motors, showing 110 gcm for one and 115 gcm for the other. Each motor was measured nine times around a single armature revolution, using a 1 cm lever arm pushing on a gram scale at 4 volts; the readings were then averaged, and multiplied by 3 to derive 12 volt stall torque estimates.

Based on maximum RPM and maximum torque measurements, maximum motor output power was computed using the formula described on the Slot Car News Motor List. 3.9 Watts was obtained for the motor which had measured 13,832 RPM and 115 gcm; 4.0 Watts was obtained for the motor which had recorded 14,240 RPM and 110 gcm.

Comparison to the Ninco NC1 shows the BWA ahead by a nose. We have tested the NC1 in the range of 12,858 to 14,237 RPM/12v (about 12 motors) with stall torque at 77gcm/12v (one motor). Approximately 35 more gcm of torque at the bottom end should make the BWA motor feel a bit more snappy off the line, but not so much that the venerable NC1 won't be competitive. At mid and high end RPM, the BWA motors should provide the same driving feel as the NC1.

Big thanks to Al of BWA for sending Slot Car News the sample motors and pinions. There has long been a need for a reasonably priced, lower-power motor in standard FC-130 configuration, and at $4.00 per motor, the price is not just reasonable but great. The earlier BWA FF-050 slim can remains in stock (tested by SCN at 14,145-14,702 RPM/12v, and 63-71 gcm/12v).

At $1.00 each for the pinions, which can be had to fit FF-050 slim-can motors, as well as standard-can FC-130 motors, slot car builders now have the parts they need to complete their vintage and other low-power slot cars.

BWA parts are sold through the BWA web site only, at: www.bwaslotcars.com

Jel Claws meet BWA

Jel Claws now makes stunning white wall tires for 1950's rods, customs, boulevard cruisers, and maybe even sports cars. The white rubber is a thin layer fused to the basic black rubber, with clean edges and durability. The other side is black. These tires fit the narrowest BWA 5mm rims, as on the front of the '32 Ford shown in the photos. These wheels were developed for vintage racers, and may be had with 1/8" threaded hubs, standard 3/32" holes with set screw, or 1/16" holes with set screw. They fit Scalextric classic F1 tires. Inserts are BWA 32214, a wide bolt-circle '37 Ford style standard for modified stock cars in the 1950's through 1970's.


Jel Claws ST-1135-W tires are intended for "Early Revell, Ferrari GTO, Marx and Strombecker Hot Rods, Marx Two piece Wheels & Others with Aluminum Chassis. Inner Diameter 1/2" 12.7mm" according to the package. The rubber is the same compound we have come to expect from Jel Claws, a soft, grippy EPDM rubber. They sure look fine on the front of this 1/25 scale AMT '32 Ford!

All Fuched Up: BWA Porsche Wheel Inserts

As any of you who have seen my slot car collection or visited my Rennsport Reunion III Gallery can tell you: I like my Porsches. We've had the good fortune to have many models of these great German cars released as slot cars. The problem with many of these Porsche models is a problem that's common across the whole range of slot car manufacturers: wobbly eccentric wheels and bent axles.

If you're looking to upgrade the Porsches in your colletion then BWA Wheels are one likely source for replacement parts. These wheels come in different sizes and allow the slot car racing hobbyist to replace wheels from the narrowest ones used on vintage cars, to the monster rubber used on racing prototypes. What we haven't always had access to are the inserts necessary to finish off these great aftermarket wheels - until now.

BWA has augmented their range of inserts which has up until now included vintage Porsche steel wheel style inserts as well as 5 spoke alloy wheel style inserts with the Fuchs alloy inserts first used on the Porsche 911 model both for street and track use. All of these inserts fit the 32002, 32004, and 32006 wheels from BWA. With a bit of sanding and paint they look great and really finish off the look of any Porsche model slot cars as well as enhance their performance. The steel type wheels are great for Porsche 356, 904, 906, 550 spyder and other vintage machinery. The Fuchs inserts look great on the 911 series cars and have also been used on 904 and 356 series cars. The five spoke alloy inserts look great on 908s, 917s and the Carrera 911 RSR pictured. Between these three inserts just about the whole model range of older cars are covered. The BWA wheels and inserts are available from better slot car parts retailers as well as from BWA directly.

BWA New Product News

I had the pleasure of visiting Al Penrose at his BWA batcave last week. I was there picking up some wheels and inserts for a few CPR 2009 builds I have on the go. While I was there, Al filled me in on some new products he was developing.

One of the projects on his workbench is a small CNC machined adjustable chassis. The prototype I saw was a 2 piece design with an adjustable wheelbase. There is a cutout near the rear axle for inline configuration motors. So how small is the prototype? Small enough to fit under Al's TR4 (#3 in the photo) club racing car. Al is also developing a 13" scale wheel which is good news for guys who like to build and race models of these small British roadsters. Aside from all my wheeels and inserts, Al was kind enough to send me home with his Fly Lola T70 test mule. This car is powered by a factory sample of his new S-can motor. Look for a track test soon here on Slot Car News.

Slowing Down To Go Faster - BWA FF050 Motor Review

When I first got into the hobbysport of slot car racing four years ago, I'd do anything and everything to wring more speed out of my cars. I'd try fitting all manner of aftermarket parts: tires, axles, wheels, motors, traction magnets - you name it. Once I saw the light and started pulling all of the traction magnets out of my cars I had to relearn and rethink my approach to tuning. The most valuable lessons I’ve learned in tuning non-magnet cars has been from guys who’ve been having fun with the hobby for decades. One such group of guys that I race with West of my home base in Toronto has taught me tons about setting up non-magnet cars. They will probably forget more about the hobby than I’ll ever learn: Chris Walker, Marek Placheki (aka Ferrari1950 on the slot ‘boards), and Al Penrose (aka BWAminispeed).

I was invited to join these guys racing low powered cars that initially spanned three general classes: classic GT, front engine GP, and our premiere class of mid-engine GP. The thing that all these classes have in common is the choice of motor. We pitched the original hot power plants that came with the Scalextric and other GP cars we race and replaced them with NINCO NC1 or equivalent motors. One such equivalent is BWA’s BWMS050 FF050 size motor. Basically it is the same size as the Scalextric GP motors, with a 14.35mm long 1.5mm diameter shaft. It is a drop in fit for the newer MRRC/Rev/Mon chassis. For the Scalextric GP cars, you need to trim the shaft a bit. Power and torque rating is virtually identical to an NC1, and, on track performance is very close too.

My own testing on Mini Grid's 22m Scalextric Sport Maxport II track yielded some very interesting results. I took a stock Scalextric Ferrari Sharknose, removed the traction magnet, trued the tires, glued in a few grams of lead and took it for a spin. My best lap time with the stock powered car was 14.047s. I then Swapped out the stock Scalextric motor for one of Al’s BWA motors. This involved shortening the motor shaft and and using a Slot Car Heroes 1.5mm bore 9T pinion to preserve the stock gear ratio. This simple mod dropped the car’s lap time to 11.494s. That’s right: a slower motor got this car around the Mini Grid test track over 2.5s faster! How can this be? Well, I’d attribute it to less wheel spin both in the corners and on the straights making the car just that much more drivable everywhere on the track. The best part of this mod – well, the second best part (the best part being the reduced lap time!) is the price: CDN$4 is the selling price for this mild-mannered BWA motor. Beats the US$16+ that NINCO NC1 or NC8 motors sell for! With any luck we’ll soon see an FF030 (S-Can) motor with similar performance and pricing from Mr. Penrose. I know I’ll be remotoring my classic GTs with this mill just as soon as Al has them available. If you’d like to purchase one of these motors for yourself, check out the BWA web store at www.bwaslotcars.com. Have a look at Al’s wide assortment of aluminium wheels and resin inserts while you’re there.

New BWA motor-Best Motor Available?

Al Penrose (Owner of BWA Slot Cars) has had a motor made. A new NC1 speed motor that's an FF-can.

From the thread on Home Racing World written by Al:

"For those that don't know, the FF050 is the newer slimline smaller can motors as used in the newer range of Scalextric Classic F1 and GP cars. The FF030 is basicaly the same size/shape, but, shorter, commonly reffered to as the Beardog Mini motor(although, I was the first person to use one of these rather small motors in a slot car, around 1998, and, told Chris about them a year later.)

Both motors have the 1.5mm shaft, and, both fit my Mini Motorbracket chassis.

Here's a shot of the test mule chassis.

Delivery should be 4-6 weeks. Price should be around $4.00. Shipping from far away country for my order is going to contribute a substantial amount of that price."


To pre-order this motor contact Al at: bwapenrose@hotmail.com