1 Lane rally track ideas

Yes, loops are the best way to double your track lenght. Mine (still work in progress) is 28-30meters long, because of the loops.

Thanks for the suggestions. The way back machine is a great call. I haven't used that for years!

Luckily my dad is currently using Arduinos to do the signalling at his model engineering (railway) club signalling system so we should be able to come up with something between us. However I was thinking that if there was a dead spot at the end of the loop it wouldn't matter as the digital cars run fowards or backwards so as long as they pass the dead spot then they could run back down the course fine.

I have a lot of research to do really, so its going to be a long project. I'm one of those people that "thinks" a long time before acting (my 1/24 and 1/12 scale model builds take years rather than months...) sometimes I just need to bite the bullet and try it.... So I might just get hold of some MDF from B&Q over the next few weeks, cut out a simple slot and wire up with a 90s Scalextric transformer to get the basics down.

So far on my to do list I have. Actually might use this thread a build if I do get to a stage where it seems feasable.

1.) A method acuratly sketching my track borders and slot onto the wood
2.) guiding the router to follow it
3.) where I get copper tape or other material to pass the current through - sorted - pendles for braid or amazon for copper tape
3a.) Do I need to cut a recess to keep the copper tape flush with the track surface? sorted - yes if braid no if copper tape providing paint levels with the tape
4.) Whether the track can utilise SSD to make use of my 15+ converted SCX rally cars
5.) how I deal with the return loop - i.e the stuff you mention about with an Arduino and relay.
6.) whether i can put manual "points"/junctions in, maybe controlled like railway points so i can switch up/down the stage route/length
7.) contouring the finished project with about 60cm elevation upto a high point, dropping back down to around 30cm then rising to 60 again before dropping down at the finish.
8.) Arduino as a point to point timing system rather than SSD/Arc pro which would mean 2 passes of the stage (up and down) to get 1 time

Thanks, i think it will probably be a slow burn given the amount of learning then planning that is required.

I've so far worked out 3, and 3a with the help of reading threads on the forum and slotcarracing.org.uk

I think the next steps would be to buy some MDF (although its more expensive than i thought, around £30 per 1.2x2.4m @ B&Q!) and get some copper tape to do a test circuit on which I can test the basic construction methods:

Sketching the slot, particulally non constant radius corners
the Routing itself
Guiding the router (I need to decide/find a cheep and flexible edging material to act as the guide)
working out a way of getting a typical "welsh rally stage" type surface, while remaining smooth to allow sliding.

something like this (myherin) would work.


Thinking further ahead....

..... I've figured that if "points" work on a model railway layout the same logic should work with a slot car layout.

As long as I test how the current flows on some old hornby points, if i replicate that effect using some custom "flippers" milled in brass on my dad's Lathe then it should work. I could even wire up a couple in series with point motors in order to create some custom layouts at the flick of a switch....