SlotForum banner
Cancel
Create thread New Forums

Track plans

1 reading
Jump to Latest
4K views 14 replies 5 participants last post by  RACING LINE  
2
#1 ·
Whilst I am still playing with the Jouef and 1/43rd scale cars, the 'real' plan is to get a decent track built in the barn. I have a space about 4500mm long by as much deep as I need. By a strange coincidence, there are some frames to be removed from the cold frame in the garden that are 2200mm x 1100mm. Three of those in a U shape will just fit nicely.

Given the width, the track will have to be limited to 250mm wide. As I want three lanes, 75mm centres will leave me 50mm each side - down the straights and I can adjust the racing line to give more on the outside of the curve.

So, do you reckon 75mm is enough between lanes and what do you think of the layout? The busy area to the right will be at various levels, probably climbing up to about 600mm on the back straight. This will give natural walls to to track in that area.

Whilst it will primarily be for me and a few friends to use, I will put out feelers locally to guage interest in a club so it will have to have some proper lap counters and timing. Horror of horrors, this might mean having to buy a PC but I suppose I could persuade my wife to give up her Mac Mini and run Windoze on it.

Image
 
2
#3 ·
Thanks for the reply. I reckon that two marshals will cover it, both sat at the corners where the sections join. There is plenty of room to have the drivers in a line and raised up so they can see over the marshal's heads without problem - one hopes. It is inevitable that occasionally the marshals will get in line of site but the barn is multi purpose and the 4.5m x 3mish is all I can use. Given the space, I'm not sure how I can use it better.
 
2
#5 ·
The plan was to have it up against the wall but I could leave space at the back if it proved necessary. The marshal at the back would have to reach downwards though as the back will be quite high in relation to the baseboard.

This is early days as the track definitely won't get built until next year. It gives me the chance to - hopefully - sort out the problems in advance.
 
3
#8 · (Edited by Moderator)
There's a lot of work in building a track like that, so I'd suggest spending some time on the design to make it even better.

It would be a good idea to make a full size plan using paper or card on your frames. Doesn't need to be anything finely crafted, just good enough to see what it looks like for real, check out what you can see when other people are at the track, check out what you can reach to marshal, driver access etc.
Have a look at the changes in elevation and how the gradients work out. 600mm is a lot of elevation change, most tracks have much less and it's not unusual to have trouble getting the gradients right with much less elevation change.
The best place for the drivers looks to be along the longest straight - top of the diagram. It sounds like that might not be convenient, so check out if any alternatives are usable.
It would be worth checking out the reach for a marshal in the middle to the corner at the top right of the diagram.
Is access available round the back without having to crawl underneath every time? Could turn out access along one side to the back is an advantage, if so shortening the track by enough so people can get past sideways could be a good move.
Most of the way round, the track width can be more than 250mm without making much difference to the layout, it would be good to make use of that to allow more space on the outside of bends. Space on the outside of bends is less of an issue with magnet cars, but if you are running copper braid/tape there's no magnet attraction.
 
2
#9 · (Edited by Moderator)
As I have plenty of time, I'm still playing with the basic layout but have taken some comments on board. Marshaling was going to be difficult. Reaching the cars when on my own wasn't that easy so I've shortened the whole thing to allow access up the right hand side and made a cutout at the left and narrowed that section. So its 3.8 metres overall length now.

The problem with a permanent track is when its done its done of course and even laying it out in paper doesn't really tell you how it will drive. I like the idea of the continuous curve running into a second straight but feel it might get boring as the track, although having good flow, might be a bit too easy. I am sort of with the first plan where one section sits over another at the mo. By the time it gets built.....who knows what the plan will be?

I'm definitely going to increase the width between slots though. With so many cars over 60mm now, they need more room. Probably 80 or 90mm I think. All the more reason have a cutout under one section. I'll allow 35mm on the inside of bends so that will allow for a bit of sideways action at the outside.

Image


Image
 
2
#10 ·
All who think wives can be sneaky.......perhaps I should have a poll.

Anyway, my wide - blesser - suggested that I build the new track out in the barn so for the last few weeks, I've been clearing it up, chopping wood and generally planning how the track would go and how I would build the room around it so it could be heated in the winter.

Yesterday, as we were sitting having a wee drink, she said that she had been thinking! Always a dangerous start......as I am now retired, I don't really need a six metre by four metre workshop. If it was tidied up a bit......... ready made room, lots of space, already built, think of the saved effort......etc. etc.

Hmm..... she is quite right of course so guess what I've been doing today...with my bad back an' all? I had no idea just how much stuff I had in there. It was a pro workshop so naturally, there are loads of tools but it's all the other crud that just builds up doesn't it?

So planning is back to square one as the shape will be different. Five metre main straight is good but there can only really be a return at one end as I do want to keep some of the benches in place.

This is the first thought. I've used the previous design but reversed the twisty bit. We shall see. There is access to both ends.

I need a rest....all this tidying can't be good for me
Image


Image
 
#11 ·
Personally, I'd be a bit worried by the lack of borders. Particularly on a routed track, where you might be using copper strip. Even if you use steel braid, you might just want the option of running without magnets. It's good to give the cars a bit of space to waggle their tails.

Actually on any track I'd want borders, but on a permanent set up, I think it's essential. That usually means adding almost an extra lane on the outside of the corners.

So, putting your design into Ultimate Racer, using 9cm between lanes and adding 7cm borders, we get this...

Image


I'd be worried about so much of the underpass being covered... So, I wondered if it might be possible, or good, to vary the lane widths to create a bit more space around the bridge, and hopefully create better visibility. This one has 9cm lane widths for most of the lap, but narrows down to 6cm around the bridge section, and has one corner that is 4cm lane width.

Image
 
2
#12 ·
Thanks for taking the time Jason, very kind of you.

I agree about the tail waggling!!I intend to reduce the inner lane somewhat which leaves a bit more at the outside but take the point. As far as squeezing the lanes is concerned, I have never been keen on the idea. I use to find it quite interesting enough without it in the 'good old days' or maybe I'm just boring or...old!

Now the plans have changed, I will probably increase the depth of the boards around the bridge section so I can avoid the hidden section to a degree. Once the room is properly clear, it will be easier to guage the space. Obviously I will have top allow proper access to deslotted cars - not for me of course, I don't do that sort of thing but hopefully there will be guests or even fellow club members if I can spread some interest
Image
 
2
#13 ·
Yet another iteration. I want this to be a high speed track without too many mickey mouse sections. There is a balance obviously so there must be some tricky bits but, hopefully, it will be fun to drive. I'm going to raise the track up enough at the back so the pit straight will be clearly visible

The workshop is slowly looking less like a workshop and more like a potential club room
Image


Image
 
2
#14 ·
I'm quite sure this has been asked before but what do you think is the smallest reasonable radius for the inside lane of a club track? The 1.32nd cars struggle a bit on the Jouef hairpin at 230mm diameter. The plan above has it at about 300mm diameter but I don't want to make it too easy!!
 
SlotForum
posts
1.4M
members
37K
Since
2002
A forum community dedicated to slot car owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about collections, racing, displays, models, track layouts, styles, reviews, accessories, classifieds, and more!
Full Forum Listing
Explore Our Forums
1:32 scale Cars Tracks & Scenery Scratch building Scalextric Digital (APB, ARC PRO) The Pit Lane