[Sam RS]

QUOTE (RichG @ 14 Aug 2012, 10:57) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>I would suggest this as a centerpiece.

Make the track using the largest radius curves available to avoid delsots and design the track to have equal lane lengths / include a crossover.

I am sure someone who likes playing with the track layout programs will come up with a design.

Rich

Actually love that idea! To incorporate large curves we may need to make the logo slightly less 'blocky' but I'm gonna try and make it using their track selector

Brilliant!

 

[chris99]

Click on track to download Racer track plan (.scc). Feel free to modify/improve.

46*Radius 4 curves (C8235). 6*Half Straights (C8207); 4*Quarter straights (C8200); 35*Straights (C8205)
4.18m*4.17m. Track1 = 24.82m; Track 2= 24.33m

(NB these figures have not been checked & may be wrong.)

 

[Sam RS]

QUOTE (chris99 @ 14 Aug 2012, 12:20) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Click on track to download Racer track plan (.scc). Feel free to modify/improve.

46*Radius 4 curves (C8235). 6*Half Straights (C8207); 4*Quarter straights (C8200); 35*Straights (C8205)
4.18m*4.17m. Track1 = 24.82m; Track 2= 24.33m

(NB these figures have not been checked & may be wrong.)

That is superb! Thank you!

Which track designer was that built in?

 

[chris99]

Hi Sam,

The above was done in Ultimate Racer 3.0: http://www.uracer.org/ur30/UR30.htm

If you are actually going to buy one though I think Track Power is easier to use and prettier http://www.trackpower.net/eng.htm
Nb they are not compatible with each other. Both have limited demo versions.

Scalextric own track designer is free but has bugs and I have never managed to complete a track plan: http://www.scalextric.com/track-designer/.
However, there's a new Scalextric iPhone app which I haven't tried: http://www.scalextric.com/scalextric-app-f...touch-and-ipad/

Cheers
Chris

 

[Erik M]

The offer from Scalextric is grand indeed.
This would however go out as a webshow, right?

So there could be cameras around the track, showing the lead car etc.
Perhaps 1:24 would be better for that? They are bigger, thus demand less resolution to be seen.

That would however need either Carrera or Ninco track, for the wider width of the cars.

 

[Sam RS]

QUOTE (chris99 @ 14 Aug 2012, 13:14) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Hi Sam,

The above was done in Ultimate Racer 3.0: http://www.uracer.org/ur30/UR30.htm

If you are actually going to buy one though I think Track Power is easier to use and prettier http://www.trackpower.net/eng.htm
Nb they are not compatible with each other. Both have limited demo versions.

Scalextric own track designer is free but has bugs and I have never managed to complete a track plan: http://www.scalextric.com/track-designer/.
However, there's a new Scalextric iPhone app which I haven't tried: http://www.scalextric.com/scalextric-app-f...touch-and-ipad/

Cheers
Chris

I thought it may have been UR3 although I had some problems once it was installed

I've not come across Track Power before, and the official app is definitely very buggy - gonna try and see if I can find someone with and iPad to try the app version on

Cheers Chris

QUOTE (Erik M @ 14 Aug 2012, 13:36) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>The offer from Scalextric is grand indeed.
This would however go out as a webshow, right?

So there could be cameras around the track, showing the lead car etc.
Perhaps 1:24 would be better for that?

It is going to be streamed online, yeh, so the bigger cars was always the plan. As for camera feed, the current plan is just to have an aerial view with the full track in view...although one of the submissions has considered taking stills automatically, which we quite liked

 

[Abarth Mike]

QUOTE (-Sy- @ 20 Jul 2012, 04:51) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>.I think we need ideas like this to get the younger generation interested in slot cars, the hobby is full of 40+ people, no so many teenagers tho.

I have to claim a disinterest in making slot cars like a video game.

The above however is due to young males chasing women, then busy nest building and child rearing so it is not until 40 that one gets any kind of respite for something that is on the whole well quiet and for the most part done in a large shed. Add that to the fact that very few children and into model building etc...

Now a pub with a slot car club? That may attract a younger crowd but there is still all the testosterone to deal with. When I was younger and messing with real cars, something that is getting to be outside the domain of the tinkerer, I always wanted my workshop to be a one-way mirror away from a disco or club.

Anyway I hope someone gets some pleasure out of Tweeting.

 

[Erik M]

So you have accomplished two of the objectives then?

You start out with BBB, brudar, bärs och bilar (broads, beer & ... well wheels I guess).
Then you end up with VVV, villa, Volvo, vovve (house, Volvo/Vauxhall, dog).

Welcome back in let us say twenty years!

I'm not sure the videogame analogue works thou. There are after all slotgrannies...

With which I mean to point out there are a wide range of what could be called slots.

You do however open one aspect here.
Part of what could go into this project could as well work in a pub.
Ie the secondary handle of the throttle.

 

[Sam RS]

QUOTE (chris99 @ 14 Aug 2012, 12:20) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Click on track to download Racer track plan (.scc). Feel free to modify/improve.

46*Radius 4 curves (C8235). 6*Half Straights (C8207); 4*Quarter straights (C8200); 35*Straights (C8205)
4.18m*4.17m. Track1 = 24.82m; Track 2= 24.33m

(NB these figures have not been checked & may be wrong.)

Chris - quick question for you

Do you think it will be easy enough to get this close to 50' of track length? I'm trying to do it myself although it's taking me a long while!

 

[chris99]

17.42m/17.91m if UR3 is correct.
To get down to 50' you will probably need to use some Radius 3 and maybe Radius 2.

 

[chris99]

Another few feet shaved off:



Some Rad 3 curves substituted for Rad 4s. I've tried to at least keep the piece at the entry to curves as a Rad 4 to reduce deslots, assuming you're racing clockwise.
15.98/15.49m
Your corporate logo police probably won't be happy though.

 

[Sam RS]

QUOTE (chris99 @ 15 Aug 2012, 08:59) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Another few feet shaved off:



Some Rad 3 curves substituted for Rad 4s. I've tried to at least keep the piece at the entry to curves as a Rad 4 to reduce deslots, assuming you're racing clockwise.
15.98/15.49m
Your corporate logo police probably won't be happy though.

I can deal with the corporate guys at another time!

I need to place my order with Scalextric fairly soon and as I'm still having troubles with the track designers I'm trying (SlotMan is so far been the most reliable) could you list the pieces required and I'll get the order in!

Cheers Chris

 

[chris99]

Hi Sam,

I've swapped a couple of half pieces for a straight:


From the original idea by RichG

According to UR3 (unverified!):
16*Radius 4 curves (C8235). 30*Radius 3 curves (C8204); 6*Half Straights (C8207); 1*Quarter Straight (C8200); 16*Straights (C8205)
2,79m*2,80m. Track1 = 15,58m; Track 2= 16,07m

There are always trolls who will moan about the lanes being unequal. Maybe a handicap can be built into the program on the shorter lane?

Chris

 

[Sam RS]

QUOTE (chris99 @ 15 Aug 2012, 10:49) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Hi Sam,

I've swapped a couple of half pieces for a straight:


From the original idea by RichG

According to UR3 (unverified!):
16*Radius 4 curves (C8235). 30*Radius 3 curves (C8204); 6*Half Straights (C8207); 1*Quarter Straight (C8200); 16*Straights (C8205)
2,79m*2,80m. Track1 = 15,58m; Track 2= 16,07m

There are always trolls who will moan about the lanes being unequal. Maybe a handicap can be built into the program on the shorter lane?

Chris

Thanks very much Chris - the issue of unequal track lengths is manageable. Just about

There are ways that we can combat it - for example, the cars are being judged on amounts of laps completed, however seeing as we know the distance of each track we could retrospectively how many laps each car has completed by dividing the full distance by the shortest track length. Not ideal, of course, and a little messy - however it's certainly fair!

The track I've been trying to build in slot man is a very basic figure of 8, with a bridge at the junction - I'm sure this is a staple ingredient of slot car racing, but to me it's quite pleasing to know that this method has exactly the same track lengths! Little things eh?!

 

[chris99]

Adjusting the laps to compensate is certainly messy. A flyover is a solution but I can't see how to get it in easily or how to twist a figure of 8 into an RS shape.

Actually, if you put a couple of straight crossovers in (C182 classic track), according to UR3, the tracks become identical at 15.85m but you may get some crashes and there's a dead spot. Also, I don't think they are made now and you would need 4 half straight classic/sport track converters - not recommended.

There are some crossover curves (C8203) in the newer Sport track but they are Radius 2 so in addition to the collision risks and cars clipping the plastic x, they limit the max speed as one side is actually sharper than radius 2, so again not recommended.

 

[chris99]

It's a bank holiday today in France so it's your lucky day.

Eh voila, equal tracks:



According to UR3 (unverified!):
17*Radius 4 curves (C8235). 29*Radius 3 curves (C8204); 4*Half Straights (C8207); 1*Quarter Straight (C8200); 15*Straights (C8205)
2.83m*2.66m. Track1 = 15.19m; Track 2= 15.19m

Cheers
Chris

 

[Sam RS]

QUOTE (chris99 @ 15 Aug 2012, 12:18) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>It's a bank holiday today in France so it's your lucky day.

Eh voila, equal tracks:



According to UR3 (unverified!):
17*Radius 4 curves (C8235). 29*Radius 3 curves (C8204); 4*Half Straights (C8207); 1*Quarter Straight (C8200); 15*Straights (C8205)
2.83m*2.66m. Track1 = 15.19m; Track 2= 15.19m

Cheers
Chris

Incroyable!!

 

[-Sy-]

Will you be posting details on entrants with desciptions of what they have entered?

 

[Sam RS]

QUOTE (-Sy- @ 15 Aug 2012, 14:17) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Will you be posting details on entrants with desciptions of what they have entered?

I'll be posting the winner, definitely - not sure of the others, will ask for permission I think

 

[Sam RS]

QUOTE (chris99 @ 7 Aug 2012, 18:37) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>PS Whilst I'm here, maybe RS might deign to divert some of their work experience people to deliver my Raspberry Pi for which they relieved me of my pennies 7 weeks ago

(yes I know the order said despatch might take 9 weeks but why take my money if you knew that?)

Chris - was it an online order, or a phone order?