Carrera/Scalextric Connector track pieces

1188 Views 19 Replies 11 Participants Last post by racerunner, 6 d ago

racerunner

Discussion Starter · 3 mo ago

I'm in the throes of designing a Carrera/Scalextric Connector track piece. This is a 3D print project. My plan is to make them and sell them.

A couple of questions:

1. I've ordered some 40 micron aluminium foil, 6mm wide, to use as the conductive strip. Any one know if this works as well as copper strip?

2. Different configurations are possible. Which is most useful?

Product Slope Font Rectangle Parallel

"curve match" shows Carrera R1 joining Scalextric R2, unless I am sadly mistaken.

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RichD

· #2 · 3 mo ago

Aluminum is only 63% as conductive as copper. For short lengths that should not be important and you could compensate by using thicker or wider tape to increase the cross-sectional area. If the track gets wet for long there can be corrosion where aluminum and steel meet. Aluminum does oxidize and the oxide is an insulator.

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GRUNZ

· #3 · 3 mo ago

I like your ingenuity but my question is why? Who would need to mix carrera and scalex track?
The different configuration of the slot and rails alone would make preparing a car that can handle both tracks a nightmare.
Maybe I am missing something...I have both track systems and I have never had the urge to mix the two.

Slotspeed

· #4 · 3 mo ago

I also considered joining the two track systems early on, (I wanted to incorporate some of the Scalextric classics that I'd never had as a kid such as the Goodwood Chicane) but after looking at them side by side decided against it. The braids would need to be coaxed to get contact with both track systems as the contacts on the Carrera is much wider. In my situation many of my cars have the Carrera wide and deep guide which I'd need to swap out on all the cars to get them to fit the Scalextric slot. In the end it wasn't for me. I also thought for a long time that I could mix Ninco and Carrera with an adapter. But now that I put both side by side, I can see some similar problems, mostly the slot is too narrow. Then there is the magnetic affect of the rails that you will miss unless you move to another rail material (I've used baby formula tin for custom track pieces, its also rust resistant due to nickel or tin plating and reasonably conductive)

If you want to work on your project, then I don't want to discourage you, but mentioning this so you can evaluate what you might be up against, depending on what kind of cars and guides you have in your collection. But if its to ultimately use all the track that you have, I'd instead look at increasing your Carrera track inventory and perhaps build custom track pieces for that instead if you are looking for versatility.

I think I like the B version by the way if I was to choose.

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P944guy

· #5 · 3 mo ago

If you’re going to make and sell adapters I would like to see a Policar to scalextric sport adapter. That would make the pit lanes and the lane changers available for the for Policar as well as the power bases. Just my 2 cents.

Mike M.

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MrFlippant

· #6 · 3 mo ago

P944guy said:
If you’re going to make and sell adapters I would like to see a Policar to scalextric sport adapter. That would make the pit lanes and the lane changers available for the for Policar as well as the power bases. Just my 2 cents.

Mike M.

That would be nice.
I mean, you could do it with a Policar to Ninco adapter, then a Ninco to Scalextric Classic, and then Classic to Sport adapters... three adapters on each end of any section with Sport Digital pieces. LOL
But, the same situation with the braids applies as for Carrera to Sport. You'll be stuck with the worst of both worlds when you mix the two.

I'm really hoping the Policar lane changers do come out this year.

Roguejackal

· #7 · 3 mo ago

P944guy said:
If you’re going to make and sell adapters I would like to see a Policar to scalextric sport adapter. That would make the pit lanes and the lane changers available for the for Policar as well as the power bases. Just my 2 cents.

Mike M.

That gets my vote for sure

racerunner

Discussion Starter · #8 · 3 mo ago

Thanks to all contributors above. Much appreciated. (I like this forum. You actually get some answers of substance.)

If and when I do a Policar/Scalextric adapter the transition is not as severe:
My adapter is 240mm long (because my build plate is 250mm long)

Rectangle Slope Font Parallel Diagram

But the curve match is not an option. Policar and Scalextric simply don't see eye to eye, with respect to curve radii.

Anybody besides Slotspeed care to state a preference between A. and B. above?

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Steve A

· #9 · 3 mo ago

B
assume LH and RH pieces could be just a mirror image so both will be made allowing 4 lanes as shown?
looks good

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RichD

· #10 · 3 mo ago

If you run cars with traction magnets there would be no magnetic downforce in the adapter sections and different degrees of downforce in Carrera and Scalextric parts of the track. That might mimic 1:1 tracks that do not have a uniform type of surface. If you don't run cars with traction magnets the differences would be much less.
If you wanted to sell the adapters the printing time and the amount of material needed would tend to make them expensive. You might want to confine your efforts to straight sections. Running tape around curves is a tedious business. You might 3D print the protypes to prove the concept but have the production sections CNC machined from MDF or Sintra. In that case you could also have gains included for braid, which is actually easier to install as well as being much more durable.

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P944guy

· #11 · 3 mo ago (Edited)

racerunner said:
Thanks to all contributors above. Much appreciated. (I like this forum. You actually get some answers of substance.)

If and when I do a Policar/Scalextric adapter the transition is not as severe:
My adapter is 240mm long (because my build plate is 250mm long)
View attachment 341337
But the curve match is not an option. Policar and Scalextric simply don't see eye to eye, with respect to curve radii.

Anybody besides Slotspeed care to state a preference between A. and B. above?

I would pick A. No advantage to either lane. I would only want to connect to the lane changers or pit so no big deal about the turns since you need some straight before the lane change.
PS. Will they be done tomorrow? Not that I’m in a hurry or anything.
Mike M.

Slotguy

· #12 · 3 mo ago

It would be nice to have option "A" as it would allow adding a Carrera bank turn or two to a Sport digital layout

racerunner

Discussion Starter · #13 · 3 mo ago

Thanks for the replies and for casting a vote. I've done most of the CAD and I've starting printing prototypes. I'm waiting for the aluminium foil to be delivered. It takes a while when you're doing it in between everything else.

T.Tom Meshin'gear

· #14 · 8 d ago

The idea is to use the Carrera operating system and tighter Scaly turns to create an interesting track in a smaller space. Testing Complete on 'scalarerra' system - HRW

racerunner

Discussion Starter · #15 · 8 d ago

Nice work T.Tom! Thanks for sharing on Slotforum. Looks like a fun track you've got there.

My Scaley to Carrera connectors are inching closer to being finished - suffering neglect due to other projects.
Doesn't look like I'll be making and selling these things. Customers don't want to wait months for their purchases.

T.Tom Meshin'gear

· #16 · 8 d ago

T.Tom Meshin'gear said:
The idea is to use the Carrera operating system and tighter Scaly turns to create an interesting track in a smaller space. Testing Complete on 'scalarerra' system - HRW

racerunner said:
Nice work T.Tom! Thanks for sharing on Slotforum. Looks like a fun track you've got there.

My Scaley to Carrera connectors are inching closer to being finished - suffering neglect due to other projects.
Doesn't look like I'll be making and selling these things. Customers don't want to wait months for their purchases.

Thank you, we are starting to build a larger circuit using the adapters. I had six adapters made so it can transition three times. the difficult part is wiring as the copper tape is delicate. With no magnets, two lanes digital and a thinner guide flag allows this idea to work. I would be interested in purchasing any you create. T. Tom

crustypop

· #17 · 8 d ago

i carnt understand why anyone with carrera track would wont to use scaley track ,
the best " adaptor " piece you could make would be just a tighter carrera curve that would allow anyone that wonts a tight corner ,make it the same width as carrera but a r 0 for wont of a better term ,that would sell better in my opinion that adaptors

T.Tom Meshin'gear

· #18 · 7 d ago

The reason is a Carrera track with scaly sections allows for 1/3 more track in the same space and a more demanding circuit with the better Carrera Digital system. The compromise of 1/32nd only and the change to the BRM (S-126 ) universal guide blade is worth the longer and demanding track. I'm interested in digital two lanes,only but your excellent idea of a Carrera " R-0" is being explored but I've not yet seen it on the market: Coming soon: R1 – Carrera / HOBBY CLASSIC. The challenge of creating a turn is the rail or copper tape. I would certainly purchase this when or if it comes out.

racerunner

Discussion Starter · #19 · 7 d ago

T.Tom Meshin'gear said:
I would be interested in purchasing any you create.

That would be great. I have hit the accelerator on getting them finished. I'll post some details and you can see if you're still interested.

racerunner

Discussion Starter · #20 · 6 d ago

Completed connectors with borders:

Complete (right) and showing steel wires in place (left)

Surface pieces(left) are glued to base(right), then foil is placed.

This design involves removal of the protruding metal pins from both the Scalextric and Carrera ends meeting the connector.
The steel wires are included to attract the magnet in the slot car and create "downforce".
Valleys either side of the wires allow the edges of the foil to be tucked down below the surface of the track.

Here is a video showing cars negotiating the connector at speed, followed by dismantling the connections to show how it works. link

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