and so it starts, again... Options

[joegraphix]

i will post pics of the garage in the next week or so, still have a dumpster load of garbage to get out of it,
then the whole thing needs drywalled, painted, then i can start building, but i'm going to start this thread with first, my idea,
next the before garage, garage build, track build, so on...

the table outlines show the 4'x8' mdf sheets pre cut.
in the end, the outer edges will be cut to the shape of the track,
inside edges will be flush with the wall.
yes, this will be along the back wall. i thought thru all the pro's and con's
of doing it like this, but it's the way it has to be if i still want to work on real cars in my garage as well...
unlike my first build, this one will be easy to retreave deslots easy, no tools required.

the route lines are a bit ruff, but it gives you an idea of what i'm going for...
high speed 4 wide straights, up and down hill esses, 4 to 3 lane switch, should be fun to navigate the lanes...

what do you guys think??

[Graham Lane]

Great to see you are off on a mission again Joe and I can't wait to see how this develops.

I have to say I am worried about a few things.

• With four lanes, and up to eight drivers, they will be standing in each others way, big time.
• The cars will be taking some very strange racing lines through the corners.
• Only two straights?

[joegraphix]

i am open to any layout suggestions.
the tables will be set as is though.
the other must haves are 4 lanes to 3
and the option cross over 3 lanes like in the back straight of my first sample.

also, this track will be made with a 4 car power base, only 4 drivers ar a time.

copper tape, no mag, 24" of elevation change.

HELP

[Umbra]

WHOOOHOOO He´s back :-P

This will be interesting to say the least :-)

Will it be a Scorpius track or what Digi will you be using ?

[Savage]

I look forward to watching this one grow
I second Umbra's question, what digi system ?

[flying_lizard]

Seconding Graham's point; watch for your sight-lines on a 'U' shaped track. My last one (first permanent build) was a 'U' shape, designed on the floor and on a computer screen. I didn't foresee the sight line issue until it was on a custom table and too late. Two people were OK, although you still had to stand back a bit, but three and above and you lost your view of some corners.

[joegraphix]

this track will start off as a 4 car powerbase.
i'm going to use the flippers and base from my old track.
down the road, it will be upgraded to 6 car pb

[knoath]

Joe, I'm looking forward to this track build too mate... don't take too long on the garage!

Could I offer something?
I think you'd do better to delete the tight left hander in the top right corner. Replace it with a sweeping left onto that straight and it will flow better. If you're going non-mag the flow will be better than jerky stop-start driving.
I'd also lose the left-right chicane in the back straight and slightly curve the straight to meet the right-left before the tight left bringing you back 'down' the page.
You have plenty of tight corners to keep you busy... too many and it just won't flow.
What's the theme of the track?

I can sympathise about the space requirements, they do put a strain on your creative impulses, don't they?......

Wishing you a great build mate!

Dick

[Sledgehammer]

I like it except that the back straight should run full lenth of the table and smooooth the corners in and out. Give your self a chanch to open up the cars... Look forward to watching this build.

John W.

[Jaak]

What i thinks.....hmmm...

Well that it will be really interesting to see this track develop.
From what i now see on your design it is best to have the driver stations on the left L piece as there you have the minimal chance of people standing in one and the others view.

Keep up the good works.

Cheers,
Jaak

[joegraphix]

okay, the new and final layout...
still have to figure out the slot lines, may loose a lane, but this is going to be my track.

i had this idea in my head for awhile, building a exact replica of mill creek park.
it is located in youngstown, ohio. the park's huge cement bridge and mill is 5 blocks from my house.

after some map searching, i noticed that amazingly i can pick out a route from the park that hits all the areas i want to make
in my model, it fits my table perfect, and it's a pretty nice course... i drove it a few laps after work today! haha

when the track gets routed, i will take the best lines thorough it all to make the track flow as smooth as possible.

heres the ruff idea of the track layout, with some key areas numbered, followed by pics of each spot...

enjoy, tell me what you think... other then the obvious of...
...dude, you got some work to do! ...hahaa



the water line is down in a valley, back straight elevation much higher then front straight.
area to the left is the lowest elevation.

area #1



(in the 2nd pic, you can see area #4 "the old wood bridge" in the trees)

area #2



(the top surface of the huge bridge is level with the road course)

area #3




area #4



area #5



some random shots of corners and areas along the top straight





... i may need to loose some trees though so we can see the cars...

[joegraphix]

haha found someone doing a half lap of my track on you tube...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_knNsgmzPBk

the video starts just after area #2 along the bottom straight
and ends just before the up hill left to go along the back straight...
"the flats" will be driver station #4

[joegraphix]

2 cool pics i found from the 1930's...

[Sledgehammer]

Now your talking, that will be cool. This will be one to keep checking in on. You have to post a "pre--start" on your garage though

John W.

[Savage]

WoW, thats gonna be quite a challenge, I look forward to it even more now