Scalextric Kits

Seeing this headline surely a few of you will expect an article covering the old Scalextric
kit cars, CK/1 AC Cobra and CK/2 Porsche 904 GTS. Sadly you are wrong. This article will
concentrate on the old Scalextric "do it yourself" buildings, so if you are not into
accessories, you can stop reading here.

- K/701 Racing Pit
- K/702 Owner´s Stand and Racing Pit
- K/703 Control Centre
- K/704 Marshal´s Hut
- K/705 Spectators Stand

Af Holger "Slaasshh" Thor

If you are into vintage race cars, you definitely need some buildings and accessories matching
your old cars. In my humble opinion none are better then the old Scalextric "do it yourself" kits.
Unfortunately Scalextric never released more than five different buildings, and they are today
very rare and not easy to find in good shape.
From the very first catalogue, 1st edition from 1959, Scalextric did offer buildings and
accessories for their tracks, but it were static buildings, ready for use. Fourth edition of the
catalogue from 1962 was the first milestone in the new company´s history. Over shadowing
everything was the introduction of the new Plexytrack track parts. A track design today known
as "classic", which would remain unchanged for approximately 30 years. But page 11, almost
forgotten today, was sporting the new "do it yourself" kits. The subtitle said it all: "Now - have
the fun of constructing these fine scale buildings to give your Scalextric layout the finished
look".
Four kits were released, being K/701 Racing Pit, K/702 Owner´s Stand and Racing Pit, K/703
Control Centre and K/704 Marshal´s Hut. All four kits were made up of a different number of
unpainted, white plastic parts, which were to be glued together after an included instruction
plan.

The racing pits K/701 and K/702 were basically the same kit, only difference being a second
floor and a staircase added to K/702. K/703 Control Centre was a huge kit, 3 floors high and
even today often the eye catcher of many home tracks around the world. Only K/704
Marshal´s Hut was a little aside, since it is a funny little tower, more like 1/43 scale. Especially
the door on the back side is approximately only half the size than the doors on the other
buildings. But maybe only hobbits were intended to be marshals on your home track?

In the sixth edition catalogue from 1964, K/705 Spectators Stand was released with the subtitle
(available Spring 1965). Also a fine kit, but only made out of four white plastic parts, so it was
obviously, that this was the swan song of these fine "do it yourself" kits. Although they
continued to be present in the catalogues over the next years, there would be no more
releases in this series, until they suddenly were missing in the 13th edition in 1971.

If I intend to include "do it yourself" items on my track, I insist on doing them myself. So
several years ago I started to hunt these five kits down in "mint boxed" conditions. After years
of search I have finally completed my task. To the horror of many a serious collector I have
actually removed the parts from the boxes, painted the white parts and glued them together. I
know, they are far less valuable now, but they are mine.

And I do occasionally race my limited edition cars…..