![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blog.jadlamracingmodels.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/TF1.1.jpg\")
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<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\nThe Real Aston Martin Vantage GT3<\/h4>\n
Aston Martin unveiled their new Vantage V8 road car in November 2017, alongside the Vantage GTE \u2013 the new race car that the Aston Martin Racing team would compete with very successfully in the World Endurance Championship. The GTE can be modified to run as a GT3 car, but Aston Martin have produced a specific GT3 package for customer sales. Powered by a turbocharged 4-litre V8 engine, the Vantage offers a nice balance for both inexperienced and professional drivers \u2013 which is the recipe for success in the Pro-Am and Silver categories that make up GT3 series around the world.<\/p>\n
TF Sport entered two GT3 Aston Martin Vantages in the 2019 British GT Championship. The number 47 car \u2013 in the hands of Johnny Adams and Graham Davidson \u2013 was the most successful, winning the Donington and Brands Hatch rounds to grab the drivers\u2019 championship. TF Sport finished runners-up in the Team championship.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blog.jadlamracingmodels.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/TF2.1.jpg\")
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<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\nThe Scalextric Model<\/h4>\n
Like the real car, the Scalextric Aston Martin Vantage GT3 has replaced the Vantage V12. The older sidewinder Aston was a popular car, still able to compete against the newer, lighter GT3 models such as the Mercedes AMG, Porsche RSR and BMW Z4. I\u2019ve enjoyed racing the Massive Motorsport Vantage V12 at my digital club over the past few years. The new Aston was designed from the bottom up \u2013 and we\u2019ll look at what\u2019s under the skin in a moment. However, from the outside, the car looks utterly stunning.<\/p>\n
The low and wide stance oozes class and performance. The moulding lines are sharp and the detail of the rear wing and mirrors are top-notch. The front \u2018face\u2019 of the car is near perfect and the big rear diffuser spot-on. It\u2019s a very good scale model.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blog.jadlamracingmodels.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/TF3.2.jpg\")
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<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\nThen there\u2019s the decoration \u2013 which is simply breath-taking. The satin\/matt\/metallic blue of the TF car looked amazing in online pictures, but looks even better in the flesh. The other 2020 release \u2013 the Garage 59 car \u2013 also looks very nice close up, with a similar satin\/matt finish. The detailing of the TF Sport car\u2019s livery is impressive \u2013 the sharpness and positioning of each of the dozens of sponsors logos are just what you\u2019d hope for on a high-quality diecast model. I think it\u2019s easily the nicest-looking and best detailed Scalextric GT car I\u2019ve ever seen.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blog.jadlamracingmodels.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/TF4.1.jpg\")
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<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\nThe Mechanical Stuff<\/h4>\n
Turning the Aston over, there\u2019s a nice flat underpan and an in-line motor. The front splitter is part of the underpan \u2013 as it the big rear diffuser. The Aston has a DPR hatch, which means it can be easily converted to Scalextric digital using the C8515 Digital Plug<\/a> \u2013 or to Carrera Digital D132 using the Carson digital conversion chip<\/a>. Loosening the three body screws \u2013 two front, one at the back \u2013 there\u2019s some satisfying body rock, although a little shaving of the chassis edges will be necessary for proper body float.<\/p>\n Removing the body exposes a standard Scalextric GT3 layout \u2013 the flat tray interior, inline short-can motor, magnet behind the motor and easy-change guide at the front. However, there are a few unusual things. The first is the two separate LED light boards at the front \u2013 something we saw on the Mustang GT4 and creates just a little bit more room at the front, which is no bad thing. Also at the front, the radiator grille is part of the underpan \u2013 which certainly looks good, although may interfere with body movement. At the back, the rear valance is a separate component, sitting loose on the rear body screw mount and holding the LED light board (see picture, above right). This might be a very good arrangement for creating good body float. Finally, up in the body, the rear body screw fixes into the red plastic of the brake light lenses. I suspect this will be a little more brittle than the rest of the body, so we\u2019ll see how it holds up over time.<\/p>\n Compared to the old sidewinder Vantage, the new Aston is longer, wider and slightly lighter. All the fabulous detail does mean the body weighs in at 29.7g, which means serious racers will want to put it on a diet before they fit a 3D printed chassis underneath. However, most of us will race the Aston Martin as it comes – with a few tweaks and maybe a non-magnet set-up. Let\u2019s see how it does on the my Jadlam SL6 Test Track<\/a>…<\/p>\n Out of the box<\/strong>, the Vantage was tricky to drive. The rear grip was a problem \u2013 there was plenty of magnet, but the slick rear tyres were poor. When the rear let go, it broke free and was impossible to catch \u2013 then a pendulum effect swung the front and the car de-slotted. I like cars with oversteer \u2013 the Mustang GT4 is a hoot \u2013 but on the Vantage it wasn\u2019t fun at all. A two-minute test gave me 20 laps<\/strong> and a best time of 5.21 seconds<\/strong>. Even going carefully, I had two offs.<\/p>\n Back at my workbench, I re-profiled the braids and loosened the body screws (see Scalextric Tuning Part 2 here<\/a>), but my main task was improving the tyres. On my DIY tyre truer, the tyre surfaces scuffed up quite easily. But these tyres are made from a strange compound and I wasn\u2019t sure the scuffing had done the trick.<\/p>\n Thankfully, the Aston was a completely different drive with the scuffed tyres<\/strong>. There was decent grip at the back \u2013 not completely stuck down, but any wiggles were perfectly controllable and the front wasn\u2019t being thrown out of the slot. I put my head down and banged in 26 laps<\/strong> in two minutes, with a fast lap of 4.15 seconds<\/strong>. I suspect it would have been a 27, had I avoided a solitary spin.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blog.jadlamracingmodels.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/TF5.1.jpg\")
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<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\nTrack Performance<\/h4>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blog.jadlamracingmodels.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/TF7.2.jpg\")
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