[Difflock]

I've been messing with the track planner again. Thanks to GRAH1 upgrading to Carrera, I've taken over his old Polistil track, which works out at about 4 sets of figure 8's but with some banked curves included too. Here's 3 ideas for the attic space I have, approx. 3.6m x 1.7m. It's all standard curves and straights - the banked curves are the smaller section ones (6 to make a 180 deg turn)

What do you guys reckon. Which one should I go for?

Mark.

 

[Difflock]

Where would I park the bus then?

When you say the other side do you mean the straight immediately behind that front straight? I've got to have a "Bus Stop" in my layout haven't I?

BTW both lane lengths are equal

Hope I'm using Photobucket.com correctly

Mark.

 

[Difflock]

QUOTE (Fergy @ 27 Mar 2004, 22:43)I'm with Beejay too. The bottom one and move those lower esses, perhaps to the top right.

And you don't need a bus stop - it won't be parked - it'll be racing!

Aye! I'll make sure the bus fits under any bridgework

You say maybe move the esses to top right? Well the top right 180 degree bend on these plans is made from Polistil's banked curves (more gentle than Scalextric's). I suppose I could eliminate the banking.

great stuff

Mark.

 

[Difflock]

Ok. One main straight going in at the front of the layout. Erm...hang on...bus wont go round banking anyway will it? D'OH!!

I forgot to mention that the track will have appropriate borders and railings around it together with some form of scenery. In addition I'll take up GRAH1's idea of using copper tape over the track rails and having the power fed directly to that so hopefully no continuity problems, but still got magnatraction as and when I choose.

Mark.

 

[Difflock]

Alfa, the magnets are being ditched (but not on my Indy car..yet!) however, the layout will still have the option of running mags thanks to the metal rails, especially as and when Lewis has a go

Sorry, Inte it's going to have a regulated supply so no caps blowing in my loft and scaring the pets!

Here's a plan with the main straight:-

Mark.

 

[Difflock]

Lap length on Carrera track is 16.11m equal on both lanes. Polistil is slightly smaller so slighlty less length, but lanes should still be equal

Mark.

 

[Difflock]

Not quite sure I understand David, but here goes. Assume the big straight at the bottom of the plan is the start/finish straight and that the cars run anti clockwise. You're suggesting taking out the kink on the straight after the first 180 degree corner, so that I'd have 2 almost equal long straights, is that it?

I'm not too sure about taking some kinks out. Maybe its a "value for money" thing i.e. wanting to use as much track as possible without going too stupid

and still having space for some buildings.

All this "committee" input is interesting though and appreciated.

As an aside, the flyover arrangement could of course be reversed to make coming out of the infield towards the top right of the plan somewhat easier, especially in construction

Mark.

 

[Difflock]

I have a problem with 1/2 curves David. I haven't got any

What you see on the right hand side of the plan - those 2 180 degree corners which look like they are made from 6 half curves each, is just my way of representing banked curves within the planner software.

Because the track I inherited from GRAH1 was made up from 4 figure 8 sets of Polistil, there's only standard curves and straights included.

You're right, I could get rid of the wiggle over on the left of the plan, but I'd have to get out the hacksaw etc. I was just going to try layouts in a similar fashion to those on SF's resource page made from the Carrera figure 8 sets.

I suppose that the layout is more of a test track than a race track, but hey if I could, I'd have an industrial unit setup like Thomas does! (Wouldn't we all?)

The committee idea is working though, thanks

Mark.

 

[Difflock]

Sorry David, I bet you thought it's like flogging a dead horse!

Hopefully I'll enjoy driving on it, who knows until it's been constructed?
There should be some room for a few buildings and a bit of landscape too

Mark.

 

[Difflock]

Good points Mo55man

I do propose nailing the Polistil track down tight. I've painted some of the brickwork with white emulsion already and I will have vertical boards blocking off the "unuseable" parts of the loft near the eaves. The track will be mounted off the floor on some kind of framework and walled in either by perspex or skriting board or some such.

Mark.

 

[Difflock]

Hi again John - these kind of committee meetings I can enjoy

Well, it's Polistil track which is hard plastic unlike Scalextric et al. Yes, you're right there will be differing rates of expansion, plastic, metal etc. but it may not be as bad as plexy track.

Has anyone nailed this sort of track down? How does Raceway 240 cope (I'm only up to about 52 feet or so!)?

Mark.