After skipping it in 2018, Andy and I decided to attend this year's Swapmeet in Swindon to re-kindle our enthusiasm for slot cars.
We were pleasantly surprised to see the hall space was 50% larger than previous years with a corresponding increase in the number of trade stands. I sold a limited edition National Scalextric Collectors Club Audi R8 that I received when I attended the NSCC/Hornby Weekend back in November 2011. I kept most of the money in my wallet but I bagged a few bargains - some tyrewalls and a couple of Penelope Pitlane kits (a 1933 Napier Railton racing car and a 1937 Chevy Coupe hotrod - examples of completed kits below):
I also bought some new track pieces. My Highwood Circuit layout is 10 years old this year and so I'm thinking it may be time for a change. A re-design would be an opportunity to include some different track features. I bought a Le Mans start set from the 1960s:
Unlike later sets, this has a break in the track that is completed by a switch being pressed - so cars can park in the starting position whilst other cars are being raced on the track.
I also bought another vintage track piece - a manually operated pit lane:
The track pieces need cleaning up but are otherwise in good condition, so I hope to incorporate them into a new design later this year.
We were pleasantly surprised to see the hall space was 50% larger than previous years with a corresponding increase in the number of trade stands. I sold a limited edition National Scalextric Collectors Club Audi R8 that I received when I attended the NSCC/Hornby Weekend back in November 2011. I kept most of the money in my wallet but I bagged a few bargains - some tyrewalls and a couple of Penelope Pitlane kits (a 1933 Napier Railton racing car and a 1937 Chevy Coupe hotrod - examples of completed kits below):
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Unlike later sets, this has a break in the track that is completed by a switch being pressed - so cars can park in the starting position whilst other cars are being raced on the track.
I also bought another vintage track piece - a manually operated pit lane:
The track pieces need cleaning up but are otherwise in good condition, so I hope to incorporate them into a new design later this year.
