[Xlot]

Took advantage of a business trip to Paris to meet...not the usual nice girls in Pigalle but David (as in DA-VIC) Laurent - wanted to ask him how he saw the future, what with SCX Digital, Carrera Pro-X etc.

Turns out he's a very nice person, but your typical inventor - he's not fazed by the new arrivals and keeps sold(i)ering on at night, turning out a system every 2 months (about 1,000 Euros to convert a 6 laner to 15 cars) - his backlog is presently until next October
Meanwhile (from his words and other info) DS is evidently going nowhere in industrializing it

So, in the coming year one can expect a handful of tracks using it for long distance races, but not for the "big" events (Alcorcon, Igualada, Verbano) - a pity...

Going now to commercial systems for 2 lanes :
- some people here swear on Scalextric introducing their fully compatible system - as we'll see below, this is certainly possible - let's wait and see
- Carrera Pro-X - judging from the latest pictures in slotcenter... I think not, it's limited to 4 cars, the track is compatible but cars aren't, they keep that absurd 5 cm long guide for lap counting

That leaves the much reviled (for total incompatibility) SCX system :
- for one thing, it's already on sale in Spain - 305 Euros for the starter circuit with 3 cars/controllers, electronic lap counter - let's say 400 Euros for a barely adequate track
- it'll be intersting to see how it's received by the "toy" market - egoistically, I wish it well
- this because in fact, it's very easy to convert the electronics package to work with any track and car - and likewise, building a lane change section from standard track parts

Ergo, with either Scalextric or modified SCX next year it'll be certainly possible to convert a 2 lane track to 6 cars/pit lane, at a cost of about 350 Euros

No more stints on the various lanes, races will be very much more exciting, the (interchangeable) decoder chip at about 20 Euros, the hand controller becomes a joystick and will not be that important any more (SCX : 25 Euros), I have a feeling motors will be limited say to 23k for non-magnetic

So, everything's rosy ? Not quite - the brick wall of collisions is still there :
- there will be more offs due to more direct racing, but I suppose one could live with it
- collisions on lane change are very easy to prevent with electric interlocks
- but front-to-rear collisions are unavoidable

David confirmed that, apart from long distance races, they are now trying shorter events - but you need experienced gentlemen drivers, and a (muscular) race director.
Honestly (as Michael says when he's eaten the canary) I don't know how big an obstacle this is

Comments ?

Beppe
BTW (you knew this was coming) : this is precisely the reason I'm developing my special track, where offs and collisions are a thing of the past

 

[Xlot]

So, it's shunts in English - in French, it's telescopages, which is even nicer

Two comments:
- cars cannot really be reslotted anywhere, because of the danger of high speed collisions with oncoming cars - you need either additional reslotting lanes, or reslotting stations (like single lane Le Mans starts, good idea not mine), or a specific lane switch/track layout that channels cars most of the time on a single lane, leaving the other for overtaking and reslotting (my Xwitch arrangement)
- IMHO track length cannot be increased indefinitely (you run out of corner marshalls), ans 6 cars IS about the practical limit on 2 lanes

Tropi, please excuse my comment on the other thread : it was crass of me to expect 24/7 attendance

Beppe

 

[Xlot]

no, it's related to current draw and a 23k motor is universally understood today as semi-mild - remember that the total amperage for all the cars has to be supplied (and modulated) by the control unit - I really don't know the specifics, but 10 A look like an healthy limit

Also, the same amps have to flow in theory through a single couple of rails - this is why I say that the track needs to be permanent and well jumpered

But since you mentioned, one of my favorite grievances is today's characterization of motors by no load speed : this causes no end of polemics at races in Italy, but nobody seems to understand that it's an indicative figure that should not be used to determine whether a motor is legal or not
I just wonder why the old method of measuring current draw (accelerating or at the end of the straight) was dropped

Beppe

 

[Xlot]

I thought of reviving this thread to sum up the new experience gathered at the London Toy Fair

So :

- digital, compatible racing of 6 cars on a 2 lane track is a reality

- offs and shunts are a problem

- LCs are better in a curve, and of the single type

- it works better with non magnetic cars

Hmm.. nice to see that all the previous assumptions are being confirmed !

Well, here's a new one :

- Thomas will be happy to know that the path to standardized, open source systems (a la NMRA) is being opened. The LC triggering concept Scalex are using cannot be patented, this means that any track manufacturer can now make its own LC on the same principle . The proprietary part is (for now) limited to base station, decoder chips and lap timer. I do wish that Carrera - who, in my mind, make the best track for digital - could be told this

 

[Xlot]

Well, I suppose the heart of the matter is :

does the additional fun justify developing a new code of conduct so that this does not degenerate and formal races (think national championships) can be held ?

Personally, I believe the answer is YES

About collisions on LCs, it's a non-issue : just read my comment on one of the other concurrent threads (I know, it's not easy to keep up these days

 

[Xlot]

Et tu, Trope ?

Of course I haven't implemented the anti-collision protection yet (without a digital package, it's a bit difficult to have collisions on the Xlot track while only one car is running)

But the thing is so elementary that it can only work - matter of fact, you may remember that this feature has also a fundamental role in making passing easier - when coupled with the Xwitch geometry, which is one full step ahead of the Scalex LC (but it's patented ha !)

To be honest, I believe a similar protection has been developed for Davic

Beppe

 

[Xlot]

jonny,
trust me - don't worry about collisions on LCs or not having clear space ahead, this will be solved : I repeat the only issues are offs and shunts - if you think that's something one can live with (and I trust your judgement) it's done

 

[Xlot]

Preventing collisions on lane change is very easy : whenever you are approaching the LC and there's another car abreast on the other lane, the LC solenoid is inhibited - this can be achieved with a lap counter sensor and a time delay relay

I'm afraid judgement calls will remain, but only for shunts - that is why Wankel's study would be so important - see how serious the issue is, who is to blame when

As for my own project, [I suppose Peter doesn't know about it, what with 180 degree spins and no shunts] I should be going back to Rome in two weeks - and then it'll become a full time occupation.
The third (and hopefully final) track prototype should be ready by May, the big question is whether I'll wait until the end of the year for Scaley's Digital package or use SCX's initially - even though I know it's a dead end

 

[Xlot]

Hi Peter,
you can readily find info on my project in SF, albeit in odd places :
- pictures are midway through the "Slotcars in Dubai?" thread - the Pit Lane page 5
- description, "It was 1966" - History, Culture etc , page 2

I'd like your comments afterwards

About the test track, it's got nothing to do with the brand - it's this diode system that allows running two cars on the same lane - oddly enough, somebody reminded me of it a few days ago, but I didn't realize its interest until Wankel wrote about it

Ciao
Beppe

 

[Xlot]

Hi Brent,

good to hear from you again ! And not at all off base, I would say - it's quite an original layout
The only problem I see is : if you are coming down from lane 1, how does the LC on lane 2 know whether you intend to move to that lane or go further ? The position of the blade would have to be different . Maybe you could accept changing one lane per lap (i.e. first lap 1-2, second lap 2-3... )

The Scalex hardware is announced for the end of the year, and should be an easy fit

Ciao
Beppe

 

[Xlot]

an afterthought (and more serious issue) : if you are on lane 2 and want to change to lane 3 , fine - you press the lane change button well in advance.
But if you intend to move up to lane 1, you need really quick reflexes !

 

[Xlot]

Well, I'm back in Rome after 3 months - and what a difference a Fair makes !!

I visited my favorite shop (40+ m, 6 lane Ninco track) - before, I was considered an eccentric, if mostly harmless, individual - after they went to Nurnberg, they know digital is (at least part of) the future

And their evaluation makes sense :

- SCX , a fun toy

- Carrera , they are serious (they even printed a glossy brochure in Italian) - still not clear whether the actuator's in the car or trackside

- Scalextric , potentially the best because of total compatibility

I'm not saying they are total converts, but they didn't take up my bet that, come next year, they'll reconfigure the track to an 80 m , 2 laner !!