The Spa-Francorchamps inspired Digital Wood Track Story Options

[dda]

The Spa-Francorchamps inspired Routed Digital Track Story

Hi,

I'm finalizing a Routed Digital track inspired by Spa-Francorchamps (normal for a Belgian guy, isn't it).



The Concept Phase :

The track is using the BLST (Best Lane Slot Track) concept developped by David Caille (http://sillage.racing.free.fr).
It contains 14 lane changers (each automaticaly managed by its own electronic) taking care, at strategic places, to give a chance to the second car to pass (outside the best lane) the first one when enough close behind and providing an anti-colision mechanism to offer a car the chance to come back on the best lane at the right moment.

BLST is independant from the Digital system used. You can look at it as a buddy managing lane changes for you. Needed when you have 14 lane changers or you better be a Jedi

The Digital system used in the first phase is a Ninco N-Digital.

In a couple of weeks, the Digital system that will be used is the Wireless "Scorpius" developped by Australian friend Rick (alias Injectorman).
Scorpius will be in charge of only one lane changer, the 15th, the one to enter the pitlane. It will of course also take care to manage up to 16 cars (but I will most probably limit myself to 8) and lap counting.

The track has been designed on CAD/CAM software.



We had to troncate the Fagnes-Stavelot part to make it fit in my space. The Paddock had also to be placed on the opposite site as there was no space left in the center next to La Source.

The CAD/CAM file was used as input on a numerical router to create the 10 pieces that are making the track.

Here are 3 pieces created by the numerical router



I've created 22 feets adjustable in height and angle to simulate the Spa-Francorchamps landscape.




Here are a few pictures of the track construction.


The Wood Phase :

- The complete track assembled on the ground. The track is 4,8m x 2,0m.
If you consider the nearly straight (parabolic) line (of the best lane in red on the CAD/CAM drawing) going from La Source up to Rivage, it measures nearly 6m.



- Close ups on the lane changers (homemade by David Caille)







- The track positionning on its feets









- A few views from La Source first and Le Raidillon in Second







The painting phases :

- White Lines



- The uniform grey Macadam from the beginning



- The artistic touch to make it a little bit more natural



- And for the BLST lisibility , I've added some tire traces



- Finaly, a global view of the track after the paint phase



- A view of the Raidillon, for the fun





The copper tape phase

- Easier with a tool like that one



- A global view of the final work



It looks more and more like a slot track
We're gonna drive soon !

- A close view on the different sections around the lane changer used by the BLST system to automaticaly manage the flippers



Some soldering to connect the different sections to the BLST electronic pieces under the table and we're gone.

A few hours later, DONE ! The cars are running.

First chrono :
Ford GT40 Scalextric (no additional weight)
Dirty Track : 7s29
Clean Track (no special treatment) : 6s41 et 20 minutes later 6s14
Clean tires : 6s07 !
Some weight in front of the car and in front of the back wheels : 5s85 (tour record today)


The Plexi phases

- Quick ground painting along the track for more realism before placing some grass and trees



- After the 1m jump of my Ferrari 512S, it was big time to put a Plexiglass fence aroud the track



- So transparent that you have to correctly open the eyes



- And the final touch with a black paint on the bottom part of the Plexi.




That's the track today.
Waiting for the World Premiere BLST+SCORPIUS ...

Yup,

DDA

[Graham Lane]

OMG! That is simply amazing! I'm going to have to come back and study this when I've picked myself up off the floor. We'd love to see a video of the cars racing, pretty please.

[pedemann]

fantastic superb work must be great feeling racing there

[Count]

Very sophisticated work, dda!! I love the way you can trace the racing line thru that maze of LCs by your use of paint. Beautiful!

Count

[tossedman]

Cool! I love the race line and all the lane changers. Interested to hear about how it is to race on.

Todd

[dda]

It's a digital bomb to race
Starting with 4, you nearly never take the same trace twice.
You need constant attention, anticipate what could happen and react in consequence.
It's more like a real race than traditionnal slot. Even a step further than traditionnal digital.
100% adrenaline guaranteed.

Yup,
DDA

[Ronan]

Wow! That is a work of art! Your workmanship is first class and I really like the plexiglass safety barriers you added as well.

[justDave]

Really fabulous looking track. Great stuff - I look forward to seeing it with landscaping.

David

[perthor]

Wow, that looks great! I look forward to following the progress on this one. How did you build the lane changers?
Well done, keep the updates coming, oops nearly forgot my plane. Got to rush, hope it will be an update by the time I get home!
Per

[Dave Wisdom]

Absolutley Stunning!! You've done a fantastic job - a real work of Slot Art!!

Dave

[oooooomonkeys]

nice work thats amazing

[ferraif40]

Hi

That is simply amazing! It really captues the "look" of Spa. Are you going to add more scenery, like trees along the Kemmel straight? Or maybe some pits, the list goes on. I would love a video!

Jon

[jmswms]

That's an amazing piece of craftsmanship. Congratulations and thanks for sharing it with the forum!

[Chip of FDSC]

I love checking everyone's track and yours is probably the best I've seen in terms of racing and realism.
How many lane changes do you have there? I lost count twice trying to count and I gave up.

Are you a technical genius?

How long did this take you to make?

I also can't wait to see a video of this

[OrlokKahuna]

VERY NICE......Very technical-neat ...a master piece.....Thank's for sharing!!!!