[FishyDelishy]

So here's my current plan.

It's a hybrid track. On one side there is a digital 4 car power base. On the other side an analogue power base and RMS. This can be used by people who like trying to set fastest laps in our 1990's Jags.

The digital aspect is experimental to begin with. Hopefully we can upgrade to the APB at some point.

I'm running very low on funds now. I still need to buy 2 lane changers, the hairpin section, some cars and DPR modules, the plywood for the base and foam board to make borders.

Anyone want to buy a big selection of classic track? Need to fund this new and expensive project!

EDIT: Oh forgot to say, I've tried to illustrate the room size and the door into the room. Also I was thinking of cutting up some old classic track to make a decorative pit lane, mainly somewhere to store cars when they are not being used. At the moment I don't see the benefit of a working pit lane.

 

[FishyDelishy]

So, we are almost ready to start building the new circuit. I'm going on holiday for a week and I'm promised when I get back the office/meeting room will be emptied of furniture so we can get started. I think I have all the track for the initial build. Still lacking cars at the moment though.

Having been laying out some track in the room I think I've been able to make the track slightly larger. This has allowed me to add an extra half straight into the final straight on the left side of the circuit. I've also redesigned turn 1 to make it more interesting and different to turn 7. The plan is to develop the track in three stages. This is the first stage...

It's initially going to used predominately for analogue using RMS timing with the digital 4 car base for experimenting. I'm going to custom wire the digital and analogue bases so they can be isolated when one is not in use to prevent damage. I'm also reverse the analogue sport power base wires to allow cars to race from left to right down the main straight. The chicane curve leading into a Goodwood chicane is there because people in the office seem to like it. I'm guessing it might go when we switch to 100% digital.

I'd love any further design feedback so we can incorporate it whilst building and testing. I'm also keen to know the best places for lane changers. In stage 2, when we hope to get an APB I'd like to increase the number of lane changers. Stage 3 will then be to add a pit lane. I'll post pictures as we start to build it.

Oh, one final note, I've decided to name it 'The Bourne Raceway'. Wish I could change the title of this topic, don't suppose you can do that can you?

 

[Mr.M]

QUOTE (FishyDelishy @ 4 Jan 2015, 12:56) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Oh, one final note, I've decided to name it 'The Bourne Raceway'. Wish I could change the title of this topic, don't suppose you can do that can you?

Done! Is that because it is in one of the Bournes?

How did the event at the Spectrum go?

 

[Mr Modifier]

Don't have digital and analogue PBs in the circuit at the same time. Even if the power on the digital PB is disconnected there is a real danger that the analogue power will fry the digital PB. Not sure why but it has been a known issue for some time.

I overcame this issue by separating my two PBs from their track pieces. I then wired a female Molex connector to the track piece (keeping all 4 rails separately wired obviously).

Then I wired two male Molex connectors - one each to the two PBs. The analogue connections keeping all rails separate. The digital connection bridging so that the negative rails are wired together and the positive rails wired together.

Then it's simply a case of connecting one or other of the PBs and away you go. It only takes a few seconds to swap PBs.

I think you posted about this in another thread.

If you wanted to run the analogue PB is either direction you could wire up a second Molex connector to your analogue PB with the rails reversed - this way you could change directions on the analogue PB with a simple connector swap. The Digital PB runs in either direction anyway (although lane changers do not).

Here's my THREAD on how I made the swappable PB.

 

[FishyDelishy]

QUOTE (Mr.M @ 4 Jan 2015, 11:56) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Done! Is that because it is in one of the Bournes?
No, the area where the office is based has Bourne in the name.

QUOTE (Mr.M @ 4 Jan 2015, 11:56) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>How did the event at the Spectrum go?
It was good fun. They have an 8 lane Ninco circuit and race Scalextric Lola LM cars with magnets. The speeds were really fast. I would have preferred slower speeds and no magents but it suited the people who weren't slot car fans.

The circuit had been laid directly on top of an old Scalextric track. It was a bit uneven and not pinned down so cars would de-slot it unexpected places. I think their tables had suffered water damage from a leaky roof and weren't flat. They ought to dismantle and rebuild but I guess that would take them out of action for too long.

It was good fun for a couple of hours, I just can't help thinking it could be a better circuit though!

 

[FishyDelishy]

QUOTE (Mr Modifier @ 4 Jan 2015, 12:04) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Don't have digital and analogue PBs in the circuit at the same time. Even if the power on the digital PB is disconnected there is a real danger that the analogue power will fry the digital PB. Not sure why but it has been a known issue for some time.

I overcame this issue by separating my two PBs from their track pieces. I then wired a female Molex connector to the track piece (keeping all 4 rails separately wired obviously).

Then I wired two male Molex connectors - one each to the two PBs. The analogue connections keeping all rails separate. The digital connection bridging so that the negative rails are wired together and the positive rails wired together.

Then it's simply a case of connecting one or other of the PBs and away you go. It only takes a few seconds to swap PBs.

I think you posted about this in another thread.

If you wanted to run the analogue PB is either direction you could wire up a second Molex connector to your analogue PB with the rails reversed - this way you could change directions on the analogue PB with a simple connector swap. The Digital PB runs in either direction anyway (although lane changers do not).

Here's my THREAD on how I made the swappable PB.

That's pretty much what I'm planning to do, I've already ordered some connectors online which should arrive next week. I'll be able to physically disconnect the boards from the track when not in use. It will just be a case of making sure people in the office don't mess up and connect up both systems at once! If they do then we'll have to get the APB... what a shame!

Just need to find £130!

 

[Ade]

Hi
Great looking layout

You also need to factor in two psu's into your budget,but you can save loads of cash buy purchasing Toshiba laptop psu's ,the ones rated at 15v and 4-5 amps.

But if you already have 4 car digital pb then those psu are a straight swap into the C7042apb so you might only need the 1

in wich case it is not good to mix Toshiba and Hornby but still may be cheaper to buy two Toshiba

 

[FishyDelishy]

QUOTE (Ade @ 4 Jan 2015, 14:56) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Hi
Great looking layout

You also need to factor in two psu's into your budget,but you can save loads of cash buy purchasing Toshiba laptop psu's ,the ones rated at 15v and 4-5 amps.

But if you already have 4 car digital pb then those psu are a straight swap into the C7042apb so you might only need the 1

in wich case it is not good to mix Toshiba and Hornby but still may be cheaper to buy two Toshiba

Thanks Ade. The 4 car PB I got on a eBay didn't come with a PSU so I bought a Toshiba laptop one for £5. I'll remember to add another to shopping list.

I have a bunch of Love2Shop vouchers that you can use at Argos in store but the APB is only available from Argos online

Shame as that would have made the APB much more affordable.

 

[FishyDelishy]

QUOTE (Mr.M @ 4 Jan 2015, 11:56) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Done! Is that because it is in one of the Bournes?

I forgot to say thank you for changing the topic name, I didn't realise at first you had done it.

Thanks!

 

[Mr.M]

QUOTE (FishyDelishy @ 4 Jan 2015, 16:25) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>No, the area where the office is based has Bourne in the name.

That's what I meant - like Lower Bourne, Middle Bourne....

 

[Mr Modifier]

QUOTE (FishyDelishy @ 4 Jan 2015, 14:27) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>That's pretty much what I'm planning to do, I've already ordered some connectors online which should arrive next week. I'll be able to physically disconnect the boards from the track when not in use. It will just be a case of making sure people in the office don't mess up and connect up both systems at once! If they do then we'll have to get the APB... what a shame!

Just need to find £130!

Don't use both power base tracks... Just use the one that comes with the 4PB - this has a ceramic capacitor across the rails which does not affect the analogue operation.

This way you have only one connector connected to the track so it is physically impossible to connect both PBs at the same time.

Just make sure you take all the wires off the track before re-wiring. You can't bridge between the left and right lanes when operating analogue which is why you bridge between the lanes in the connector that is wired to the 4PB.

If you look at my thread link it is all explained with photos

 

[MrFlippant]

QUOTE (FishyDelishy @ 4 Jan 2015, 07:04) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>I have a bunch of Love2Shop vouchers that you can use at Argos in store but the APB is only available from Argos online

Shame as that would have made the APB much more affordable.

Does Argos offer a "ship to store" option? That's pretty common over here at places like Target and Wal-Mart. If they do, then you could go in and buy it with your vouchers at the store.

 

[Merc_A]

Lovely track, nice flowing lines and curves

Inspiring

Merc

 

[FishyDelishy]

Mr Modifier - thanks for the tip, when I get home I'll be brave and see if I'm capable of copying your method, I'm not great at soldering unfortunately.

Mr Flippant - I think you can deliver to store and then collect but I think you have to pay online first. I'll double check though as it would be very handy. I did wonder if I bought it online, took it back to the store for a refund and then immediately asked if I could buy it back again!!!

Merc_A - thanks, can't really take the credit for the design though, it's all inspired by the Flying Cow Raceway.

 

[FishyDelishy]

QUOTE (Mr.M @ 4 Jan 2015, 17:57) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>That's what I meant - like Lower Bourne, Middle Bourne....
It's called Bourne Mill named after a old mill round the corner.

 

[FishyDelishy]

So I was back to work yesterday and as promised all the furniture had been removed from the office room where the new track is to be built. There are a few filing cabinets I'd like to remove but until I clear the old track away in the other room I have no where to move them to yet.

So, I thought the first thing to do was lay out the new track on the floor, check it fits and give it a little test. Here's what it looks like in it's basic form. I did test the digital base and then swapped it to an analogue one before this picture.

Now the biggest decision is how I go about making a table. Our constraints are money and transport. I need to keep the cost very low and we only have normal size cars to transport wood etc. I'm toying with the idea of using loft boards made from chipboard and screwing them to a timber frame. We can then place the timber frame on top of 4 or 6 sets or office drawers that are not being used. Any other suggestions?

 

[FishyDelishy]

I'm thinking of buying three sheets of this..

Wickes OSB2

supporting each of the three sheets with two sets of drawers underneath and using a few pieces of wood to secure three boards together.

Any thoughts?

£25 delivery for £38 of wood is killer though! I wonder if Homebase on the business park next to the office sells sheets this big, six people could carry them down the road to the office for free!

 

[MrFlippant]

That's a good plan for the table. The layout looks pretty good, too. It might be a good idea to move the lane changer closer to the bridge, though. With only a 1/2 straight between the turn and the sensors, loose cars will miss the sensors. I've even seen tail-wagging analog cars move the flipper on their first time through, and then change lanes when they come back around. With the lane changer further away from the previous turn, those problems are much less likely to happen.

 

[GRUNZ]

just an idea...but instead of spending the money on the table, have you thought about keeping it as a rug track? if you remove the filing cabinets, the drivers have plenty of room to move around and marshalling the track. you need to build some borders though: I suggest using foam board for that. It is very cheap compared to scaley borders and very easy to fix on carpet using pins. Have a look at the RATC link in my signature for some ideas.

 

[Davefevs]

QUOTE (FishyDelishy @ 14 Jan 2015, 12:21) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>I'm thinking of buying three sheets of this..

Wickes OSB2

supporting each of the three sheets with two sets of drawers underneath and using a few pieces of wood to secure three boards together.

Any thoughts?

£25 delivery for £38 of wood is killer though! I wonder if Homebase on the business park next to the office sells sheets this big, six people could carry them down the road to the office for free!

Could you not buy in B&Q and then get the, to cut into smaller boards for transportation.....they cut for free. That's what I did. You could join them together afterwards???? £25 is a killer!