[Dali]

Hello

Still new and learning before i take the leap into routed wood digital.
And wanted to know if its possible the connect a Scalextric Advanced 6 Car Digital Race Control Powerbase C7042
to a routed wood track and all the features of the 6 cars still work? I understand I would have to purchase an extra 15V PS.
Also would the powerbase run SCX and Carrera Digital cars...

Any help tips or advice would be appreciated.

Thanks
All

 

[GregK]

Hi there ..... it is entirely possible. You can disconnect the electronics from the plastic track and just fix it into the routed track in reverse order. Some people like to transplant the plastic track into the routed wood but there is no specific need to do that in your case.

The Scalextric APB will only communicate with SSD coded chips. These chips are made by Scalextric - Slot.It and Pioneer both licence the chips from Scalextric and so are compatible but no other brand will work.

 

[Mr Modifier]

To add to what Greg says (which is completely correct);

You can take ordinary non-digital SCX, Carrera and any other 1:32 scale slot cars and add a Scalextric in-car digital chip to allow them to run on Scalextric digital. You need to be reasonably handy with drills and a soldering iron.

Scalextric chips come in 4 flavours - the DPR ones which come in 2 sizes - small for F1 cars and standard for saloon cars. These are easy to fit and only require a small screwdriver. They only fit into Scalextric and Pioneer cars that are "DPR ready".

The non-DPR ones - called in-car chips come in a slimline one for tight spaces (the single seater chip) and a larger chip with extra features that most people don't use (the saloon chip). These chips can be used to convert any analogue 1:32 car to digital.

I have used the in-car chips to convert analogue cars from many other manufacturers.

Now to the APB - you could disconnect the track piece from the APB unit and connect to routed track BUT bear in mind that the plastic track piece is not simply a power feed - it also has sensors embedded in the bottom of the slot that read the passing car LEDs, there are two sensors per lane. If you use SSDC as a control system on a PC (which is fab by the way) it only uses one of the sensors (the one that reads the LED - it ignores the sensor that detects the guide blade passing).

I would be inclined to embed the APB complete with its track piece into your routed track. You could always copper tape over the rails and paint the plastic track surface to blend it into your track.

Avoid deep wood guides as these rip the sensors from their mountings (or your could bury the sensors deeper into your slot but run the risk of missed laps).

You will want lane changers. Some people have made longer, smoother lane changers from routed wood and used the electronic innards of the Scalextric lane changers. Or you could embed the lane changers and hide them in the same way I suggest you hide the APB track piece.

 

[Dali]

Wow, that's a worth of information, which brings up even more questions.
First of all thanks for all the tips and info guys.

Based on what I'm trying to do here. (routed wood, digital 6 car pit lane and 5 ghost car)
Which brand would be best for what I'm trying to achieve.

SCX Carrera or Scaly? mind you I just want the main powerbase (some kind of digital powerline) area not the complete track.
I know SCX has a pit box unit (which is nice and colorful) and Scalextric has something similar but i don't know about Carrera.
I am partial to the Carrera and SCX Nascars. But since those cars can be chipped to run on
the Scaly APB that might be a choice.

The cost a multiple ghost car is not a factor, but I would want to know/learn which brand would be best to run 5
on a routed digital.. At the moment I have Carrera and SCX Nascars, GT and Rally Cars. None Digital or Chipped yet.
I will be purchasing Digital as soon as I have a understanding if this can be done.

The embedding of the whole (A Digital Control PowerBase) unit seems like the best option for me. I would do the same for the LC (purchase 1 or 2) too
depending if they would work. Would the lane changers need to be near the main powerbase unit or could i put it on
any section of the layout? I would at some point want the choice of either going clockwise or counter clockwise.

Hope I'm not sounding too newbie, but hopefully other members reading can learn from other veteran slotter's helpful tips and advice.

Thanks again

 

[Mr Modifier]

LCs can be positioned anywhere. They draw power from the track. I know that the Scalextric LCs can be modded to be powered independently. LCs ony work in one direction BUT you could build a modular track with LC straight sections tat could be turned around.

As Scalextric digital runs on AC you can run the cars in either direction. A lazy but expensive option would be to have 2 LCs next to each other but facing in opposite directions. When I win the lottery that is exactly what I will do

Before you make your choice take a look at the cost of your options including what cars you can have and what it will cost to chip all of the cars you anticipate buying. It's amazing how it all adds up.

 

[MrFlippant]

Since the cost of multiple safety cars (SCXD) is not a concern, I'm thinking that cost is not a big concern overall.
I think for bi-directionality alone, SSD would be the best choice. Cars and lap counting can already run in either direction with no changes. Only lane changers would need to be accounted for by providing actuated flippers for each direction. If you limit to a couple "change locations" on the whole layout, the expense wouldn't even be a big deal.

 

[Dali]

Hey guys thanks again for all the helpful tips and advise.

I kind decided to go with the Scalextric Advance Powerbase (if it can be done)

I want to be able to do this but with carrera and SCX digital cars also. I realize I'll have to do some super duper chipping.

see below...

I would only want to use the powerbase and maybe two connecting track on each side to append the routed wood.
Doable?

Thanks

 

[MrFlippant]

Just be sure to buy Carrera and SCX cars, as opposed to Carrera Digital or SCX Digital cars. Otherwise, you're wasting money on chips that won't work on your system. Get the analog cars, and install your own SSD chips.

 

[Dali]

That's a great note. I didn't even take that into account. One more question..
Does Carrera bodies go now Saclextric Chassis? Or should I just experiment?

Thanks for all your help. I'm diving in. Will post pic of the routed wood digital track once i get it started.

 

[MrFlippant]

Putting the body of one make onto the chassis of another is not easy. If you are good at building models from scratch, then you can do it, or develop those skills. It's much easier to use the chassis that the car comes with. Just keep in mind that different brands will perform differently, just as different types within a brand will perform differently. If you want cars that will be competitively equal, they should be the same class from the same brand. That's why it's so nice that other brands can be chipped with Scalextric chips. You are not limited to only Scalextric brand cars. I have a variety of cars, including chipped sets for racing. Although I prefer Scalextric, I do have sets of other brands, and continue to build new sets as I find types/brands that I really like:
http://www.slotforum.com/forums/index.php?...st&p=556319

 

[lance]

Someting you might do is find out if you hobby shop has a track, or if there are any digital racers around your area. That way you can see the systems work. post you location (just city and state) and maybe we can direct you to someone near you.
Every one is really nice here and most people welcome new racers to see their tracks. I have been on vacation in other states and have emailed some in the area i'm visiting to get information. The have always invited me over to see their layouts and run with them. The digital racers will even have extra cars and controllers for you to use.
I have scalextric digital, but i have run on carrera digital also.
there are many differences in the systems, and depending what you want, is the system you will look into further.

 

[Ade]

hi
i have recently gone the routed mdf route and i used the apb as the starting point....

Firstly i removed the track section from the base,this then means you can have your start/finish where ever you like and still have control over the buttons from where you would like to stand,in my case next to the pc wich is on a shelf.

Then sink the track section into the mdf,the fun part start's when you route upto it as the slot in the track section is smaller than 3mm and 3mm is the smallest of the shelf cutter you can buy.

So when you route upto your track section it is vital to be precise in getting the cutter to finish exactly central,worse case scenario is for it to finish flush one side and have a step the other as the guide flag will catch it and it will cause the car to jump in the air a little.

Precision is the name of the game when it comes to sinking digital track sections.

 

[Dali]

First off thanks lance for the advice, I should of stated that further into the video is what i was trying to point out where all 6 car are running at once. All were
pacers.... of course i would control one once in awhile. Also I'm only (want to us) using the PB, maybe a couple of track pieces extend from the APB and one or two LC track
which will be in the turn(s).

Bigbird: that's a great caution tip when i do get to that part. I"m glad you shared that with me. I'm sure I'll have some trial and errors but as long as i know its doable
I'm going to invest in the unit and material. Do you have any pic's of your routed digital?
Also with this powerbase is it possible to run bi-directional?
Does scalextirx sell a Pit box/stop track layout?

I'm going for a Infineon Raceway/Sonoma track layout (Here in Califorina)

Thanks guys

 

[Michael363672]

Hi

If you have a look at what Lee did with our track you should get some ideas

The THORNDIKE Oval build

Also in our club forum are some more threads on lane changers etc

Michael

 

[Ade]

hi
yes the apb does run bi directional,but at the moment you have to plug in the tower to access it,once set to your chosen direction then it will keep it until it's changed again.

Expect future releases of ssdc to be able to alter direction wich should render the cruddy tower to the bin once and for all.

 

[SJW]

QUOTE (Dali @ 8 Sep 2012, 12:15) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>I'm going for a Infineon Raceway/Sonoma track layout (Here in Califorina)

It looks like you might be near me (Oakland). Are you in the Bay Area ?

I have a SSD track and I race with another guy in Danville who has a SSD digital wood routed track.

Steve

 

[Dali]

Tower?

The display panel thingy? I had a chance to view your track, Are you finish with it yet?

SJW: No I'm a bit down further in the Los Angeles Area....

 

[Ade]

hi
yes the panel thing wich should have been colour and backlit.

No the track is far from finished,there is still much to do scenery wise but is not putting in 100% race meetings.

Im afraid my modeling skills are ambitious but bordering on rubbish,so i tend to buy stuff in kit form etc.

 

[jmswms]

QUOTE (Dali @ 9 Sep 2012, 08:07) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Tower?

The display panel thingy? I had a chance to view your track, Are you finish with it yet?

SJW: No I'm a bit down further in the Los Angeles Area....I'm also in Los Angeles area. I'll be interested to share notes as I'm working on a routed wood/SSD digital track as well.

 

[sealevel]

Maybe someone should mention that Dave Chang's book on Digital Slot Racing will give the newbie to digital a good overview of the different systems, strengths and weaknesses. OK, I will.

Just a suggestion... I certainly have learned some things I did not know about other brands (i.e. not Scaley) plus it puts everything in a convenient package rather than search all around this forum. Worth the price.

Cheers!