Digital Diary of the Well Mountain Mad Man

QUOTE (rallyP @ 21 Feb 2010, 04:03) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Hi Lars, do not know how could I have missed this new adventure of yours! Very interesting cut and paste constructions, almost total freedom!!

How is the digital thingy going for you?

Well I've been rug racing on and off with digital for a couple of years but only with a 4-car base which is not very powerfull IMHO, the cars lack topspeed and punch.
It's OK fun though, for a two car persuit on my shopping mall
But with the PB-Pro upgrade it's very close to the analog power and it's a funny sensation when you start a race and the car feels real heavy and slow, and then lab by lab you can feel the car getting faster and faster, due to fuel consumption.
So lots of new stuff that will take some time to get used to and lots of enhancements to the driving experience and gaming aspect.
Of course sector timing would be sweet aswell, and I think it can be done with some kind of program . And that way my Mountain and my Shopping Mall can be included in various ways.

The second thing is a thing that I think all manufactures have got wrong and the reason for cutting up my 3 curve lane changers and 2 X-overs:

The trackpieces available does not create interesting or real racing lines, which leads to a kinda dull sensation IMHO

ex. The esses that ShaunBMX came up with would be so easy for Scalextric to produce (I mean it's based on there own footprint!!!!!)
Yesterday I discovered that the rather expensive leftovers from making one of the esses(the In to Out ends) makes for an exelent bottleneck into a parabolica(I think it's called) singel lane section.
The R3 curve with R4 racing curve inlays like I've done would also be easy to make based on there existing footprint.
A longer X-over, and a variation piece with a 2 lane to 3 lane extension like shown above.
Generally I'm missing track pieces that creates oppertunities instead of blocking options.
Entry and exit flippers with power should be mandatory(Something that I still need to learn), so you had bi-directional driving.
And sensors for triggering the flippers should be made as butten connectors so that you could click them on under any trackpiece prior to the Flipper.
Finally I think there should be a guide where you could mount the incar diode right infront of the guideBlade(Thats another MOD) to ensure that sliding cars would still trigger flippers.

So what do I think of digital ???

Well the PB-PRO saves the day on the control, Power & Gaming side of things, and with some heavy Slice 'n' Dice you can make some pretty interesting moves.
Give it 10 more years and I'll guess that we'll see some pretty amazing stuff.

QUOTE (duncanb @ 21 Feb 2010, 12:42) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Wow...... Im watching very closely to see what you do next. Suddenly, having previously been happy with my layout, I have now decided that a few of my corners are a little boring.... Lets hope I still have enough fingers to type tomorrow!

I hope to have this track cutting journey for a little testspin video in a week or two, probably the later.
Don't sue me if you break or destroy anything , after a little while I'm sure you will come up with new ideas, please come back and share as I'm running out of trackpieces to cut :-(
And Please be careful with whatever you use to cut.
-
Lars

My own idea which I would like to use but have not as yet managed is to...... take 2 pitlane pieces and align them so as to make a 4 into 2 exit.
Now if you were to cut bothepieces down the middle of the straight slot and put the other bits together you would be left with a 3 into one lane narrowing.

My other idea was very similar with 2 XLCs. Again align like a 4 lane 'interchange' and cut down the inner rails. Taking out the smaller bits in the middle and put them together. We have moved from 4 lanes to 3. This should allow both outer lanes an option to the centre at the same time. You would have to engineer the middle flipper as to how you wanted it to work ie. forced onto the 'racing line' with an option to go the other way. Im not sure you could make a car in the middle go straight on. Following????

Proposed position is a 3 lane SF line. Off the grid (cars in lanes 1 and 3) all cars could have an option to break to the centre or avoid a stalled car (false start penalty) in a relatively short strech of track and making it fairer and more realisitc.

You may need to re-read it - I did!

Lars - Can I just ask what you are using to cut the track pieces? A clean cut makes for more accuracy and a better finish.

Cheers
Duncan

You have the right idea without a doubt when it comes to corner creation but lane changing is so "individual" to each lap of the race... I try to think of a layout as "telling a story" each corner designed to do "something" to to the cars to make a lap interesting... the limit with the lane changers, especially the clc's is that story is limited to a single lane and that lane may not be where the excitement is each lap, both cars may be in the other one....

You set my mind thinking about my "loft" and whether when i get up ther to make a layout where i "rout" a wide slot and drop in the "digital electronics" cut from the plastic track for the lane changers and a normal 3mm slot running into them and out of them to create more of a flow so there isn't the limitation of the designs available... you are certainly pushing the envelope using what manufactures make available to us and inspire us all...

My next layout is just for fun, analogue and will complete my wall mounted "trio"... then got a house to sell... then once the summer gets here (if ever) i will prepare the loft in the meantime i'm gonna race as much as i can on my digital layouts and see what it actually adds to the mix... not 100% certain that 4 cars on two lanes gives enough variation, your three lane corner certainly creates a great piece of trackwork that looks fab and probably is a thrill to drive... three cars heading into it neck and neck toward the finish line and it could be carnage! but thats the problem with digital itself... the car infront is a roadblock or a toyota if its just accelerating!

I dont think any manufacturer of "digital slot racing! really knows what it should bring to racing except more participants... 4 people racing is so much more fun than two but six and it becomes "deslot" hell on a small layout... think we all have loads to learn but after five years i think we have done pretty good to get what we have in SSD with PBPro, SSDC etc... now with lars on the lane changers we could be heading for version 2.0

QUOTE (PSRRFH @ 16 Feb 2010, 11:56) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I've just stumbled on this amazing chicane, a must have for my track! Can you tell me how long it is, or how many track pieces it replaces? If Scalextric don't start producing this they are really missing a tric and maybe should just be called Scalex in future. Wonderful stuff. Many thanks.

QUOTE (Graham Lane @ 27 Feb 2010, 04:19) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>I've just stumbled on this amazing chicane, a must have for my track! Can you tell me how long it is, or how many track pieces it replaces? If Scalextric don't start producing this they are really missing a tric and maybe should just be called Scalex in future. Wonderful stuff. Many thanks.

They were called "scalex" when they started making cars that were clockwork... when the put motors in they became "tric".... maybe we should spend some time winding them up until they become innovative again !

Brilliant ! Lars,

The single lane section after the 3 lane bend is inspired.

Dont know if I have the bottle to start cutting up expensive LC curves although it is tempting.

I've got so much Classic scaley track I'm going to carry on with that for now, although yesterday my wife said " Why dont you build a routed track?"

????????????

I notice you have sneeked in a curve between 2 swideswipes.....scaley dont make that shape. What did you use for that piece?

Simon

@Gramham Lane
If you want the "Shauns Chicane" bidirectional you'll have to cut two curve lane changers(2right hand in to out or 2 lefthand in to out)
But if you only need one way driving you can make your own exit piece from a standard R2 piece and a R3 piece. which should be cheaper

The leftover flipper sections from the first solution are excellent for squeeze section entrance or for a marshal track where de-slotted cars can be placed and navigate back into the race.
You can see how I use them in the video creating a single lane parabolica type turn.(right after the 3 to 2 lane turn)

QUOTE (SplitRim @ 28 Feb 2010, 09:14) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>I notice you have sneaked in a curve between 2 swideswipes.....scaley dont make that shape. What did you use for that piece?

Simon

Classic pieces are good for cutting as well eg. take a skid chicane and cut it in half and take a straight piece and cut it in half now glue together a half straight and a half skid chicane X2 and you have yourself a PSRRFH "Skid Blast Chicane" X2
And take a couple of Goodwood chicanes and join them with squeeze curves can make all kind of funky mountain roads.

The piece between the sideswipe and the Grahams "Lane swerve chicane is an R3 inner plus part of a R4 inner.
The entrance to the squeeze is costume made as well. the outer lane is a inner R3 and the inside lane is a quarter straight and a inner 22.5 R1

Here is a first draft of what I have in mind for this project.
The top drawing is the track plan and the bottom drawing is sort of an elevations plan.


Chuppa Chup.
-Lars

Cool Lars, very cool!
PS: If the sleepy people in Scalextric pics up on this, make sure you get a "finders" fee
Seems like you can do with some more track to play with
Per

Well I made some scenic borders for my new S-Section, the locals call it "Hole 19" as people who spend the night at the "Well Mountain Golf Resort" often loose it here.


Right Left entrance


A close up


A close up of the grass


Peak around the Left Right Exit.


And a final one of the car


Kind Regards
-Lars

De-slotting in that section will be great fun for the marchalls. I doubt the flags will all stand after a 3 minute race. But it looks good though. Very nice feature with the grass, Lars

/Christian

QUOTE (Minardi @ 4 Mar 2010, 12:31) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Wow, great job ! Great photos too ! Suppose there is no 'how to' of converting standard scalextric borders in pieces of art ?
thx, I didn't really take any photos of this one, I "Only" got a zoom for my cam at the moment, and you have to be 2-3 meters away from anything
Basically it's a baseboard of 3 millimeter plywood cut to shape, then I glued and stapled some corrugated cardboard, and on top of that its drywall mud. then I sand it, carve in the details with a sharp knife and then I paint.
Rails/fence are old Scalextric Red and orange ones cut down and held in place by the flagpoles(Wooden barbeque sticks painted white)
grass are from some old African broom hotglued in place and then painted/drybrushed green.
Rocks are blue styrofoam hotglued into place and then some drywall mud to hide the seems.
Trees are homegrown using the usual twisted wire technique.

I'll see if I can do a tutorial on scenic borders, I remember seeing a tutorial somewhere maybe it was drummer. hmmmm I can't find it right now.

QUOTE (aZLAn2000 @ 4 Mar 2010, 13:14) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>De-slotting in that section will be great fun for the marshalls. I doubt the flags will all stand after a 3 minute race. But it looks good though. Very nice feature with the grass, Lars

/Christian
Thanks Mr. Criss Cross, I might have to hot wire the flag poles ..... that'll teach the marshals a lesson or two I thought track call was for slow and careful marshalling in difficult to reach spots ???
Raillings and flag poles can be taken off and leave the cars piling up in the grass instead (That'll teach the drivers a lesson or two when they have to go to the pits to remove debris)

Chips and Dibs
-Lars