[Ghost88]

Ok guys here goes...

So I got fed up waiting for the rest of the parts of this layout being delivered so I thought is start experimenting with a few ideas of how to best utilise the space I've got.

To me this is starting to look like its going to be pretty awesome already!

What do you think:

This is only about 50% of the track I expect to be running when everything is completed.

I still need to figure out pretty much everything but want to first focus on how to complete the circuit making it as much fun as possible to drive and try to come up with a practical solution to working a pit lane in there.

Now I know this isn't much to go on but I just thought I'd throw this thread out there so you lot can watch the build grow & I've got a little place to chew ideas over.

I'll keep updating the thread as parts arrive and ideas develop.

Any feedback, input, ideas, constructive criticism, pointers, common traps & pitfalls you guys can add the better. I'm thick skinned & can take it so don't worry about causing offence.

Also this is my very first idea for a track, the last one I built was an out of the box classic figure of eight about 25 years ago so I have absolutely zero experience in track design / layout.

Hope you all can have a bit of fun in here & enjoy the thread.

Steve...

 

[Ghost88]

Another handful of sport track showed up in the mail this afternoon including a couple of nice corner crossover sections.

Have managed to add all these bits in & hopefully this gives you guys a better idea of what's going in my head with regards to design.

One thing I have just discovered is I'm going to need a LOT if sets of bridge supports for this layout.

Another 20 pieces of R2 outer borders and barriers showed up as well but there's not much point putting them anywhere just now till I can decide where the elevated sections are going to go.

(ignore the analogue powerbase I just threw it in to make things look tidy)

 

[Si.]

Hi Ghost

Nice to see you 'aint afraid of R1's.
Couldn't build a good track without them IMHO.
Started to pen a SSD track the other day.
I decided I liked the curvy changers much more that the straight ones.
Straight ones good for pit straight though.
Glad also to see you 'aint afraid of bridges.
We don't have one at the moment, but did a 6 lane flyover in the last layout which was a humdinger of a cool compact circuit.
What other bits you got coming ?
We also like R4 curves here, don't have any R3's at present, but also good.
We've never bought any more R2's than we got in the start-off set a few years ago.
If you get curvy lane changers, there's a load more R2's straight away.
Our track is very curvy at the moment, but the next one might just be a street circuit with 90 degree bends & the like.
If you want to run pace cars, they are quite easy to set up realy, even with bridges & R1 curves.
I like ALL types of cars, as long as they don't have magnets & are FAST !
What do you drive Ghost ?

Cheers

Si.

 

[Si.]

Hi Ghost

Was posting while your last one came up.
Have you checked out any software circuit drawing stuff like Ultimate Racer 3.
Untill this summer I always drew by hand, but UR3 etc. are very useful tools.
The tracks looking pretty cool to drive.
Like the level 90 degree crossing...
...one day I'll have the courage to get one of them !!!

Cheers

Si.

 

[Si.]

Hi Ghost

SCX crash barriers are best for bridge sections, as the Scalextric ones just fall off !!!

If you get some wood dowel the same size as the boss in the bottom of the sport track...
...and cut to set lengths ie. 1/2, 1, 1 1/2, 2, 2 1/2, 3, etc. you can make a very cheap, very effective support system, easy.
The dowel fits the boss, and the other part needed is a bridge pier, that can be made easy from 2x1 blocks or track width lengths.
These have a tightish fit hole drilled in for the dowel, don't glue it in, a tight fit is better for fine adjustments.
You can also make some top track width sections, drilled half way through for the main flyover supports.
Cheap & easy, add more bits as you need, cut 'em a bit hear and there, and you soon have an ace flyover support system, which is simple & flexible.

Cheers

Si.

 

[Ghost88]

Hey Si

Yeah the twisty-curvy street circuit style of track is deffo what I'm aiming for here with plenty of varying gradients thrown into the mix.

I'm not sure if your into retro video games or are old enough to remember the coin-op originals in the arcade but there was a game from Sega called Outrun anyway that's what I've got in the back of my mind whilst I'm throwing this together it was a real white knuckle ride!

Track parts I'm still waiting on being delivered are as follows:

Another Hairpin extension pack
Another 2x corner crossovers
An outside - inside digital lane change
4x Full straight
4x Half straight
4x R2 curves

Also got an advanced powerbase & booster cables ordered, throttle extenders, bridge kits & supports.

I'm looking at the pitlane stuff at the minute like the corner pit & the pitlane game thing but that stuff is all expensive so I need to make sure I buy exactly what I need otherwise its gonna end up on eBay at half price (good news for someone but not me!)

I've not got a laptop at the minute so struggling to find any track design apps I noticed one on the scalextric site for ipads but not Android unfortunately.

I'll have to get another laptop at one point after Xmas.

I'm not sure what kind of cars I like cause I've haven't done any slot racing since I was a kid so I'll get a couple of different styles and see what I like, got a TT, R8 & a Subaru Impreza police car atm but I need to get them chipped.

*just noticed you posted again will respond after I've had some food!

 

[Ghost88]

Si that's a really good idea using dowel & blocks for the bridge & entry/exit ramp supports that'll look much better than the plasticy grey scalextric stuff & work out loads cheaper too.

I'll have to check out those SCX side barriers as well cheers for pointing that out cause I would have just blindly bought the scaley ones & there's not much point if they fall off and the cars go through them.

I've also got one of those leap straights ordered 2nd hand from eBay but I've got the feeling its going to be a bit of a Easter of time and probably a car wrecker!

cheers

*edit

Does anyone know what's the best size of dowel to use 11 or 12mm, 12 looks like it'd be nice & snug but maybe a bit too tight hmm

 

[sealevel]

QUOTE (Si. @ 7 Dec 2011, 10:32) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>SCX crash barriers are best for bridge sections, as the Scalextric ones just fall off !!!
Si,
How do you attach the SCX barriers to Scalextric Sport track?
The SCX barriers have a prong attachment at the base to attach to the SCX track which would not work on Scaley, I believe.
If I am wrong, would you please explain how they would attach to the track?

I had looked at the SCX barriers until I saw how they attached (click here to see how they look).

Cheers!

 

[Si.]

Hi Sealevel & Ghost

Yeah, when I said barriers, I mean barriers, not borders.

The SCX barriers are similar to the old school Scalextric barriers (normaly red, white, orange), which can be had 2nd hand on the Bay, but are no longer made by Scalectric.

I have tried like many, I guess, to use Scalextric border sections on flyovers, but think it just 'aint worth the agro.
Love the Scalextric borders for a bit of drift action, but I keep 'em on the level mostly.

Unfortunatly I DO remember Outrun, If I had all the 10p's I fed into them Sega's today, I'd have enough to make the tallest bridge piers EVER.
I seem to recall a mate of mine had it on his Megadrive as well, slotcars are way more fun for me these days, I do have a spin on the PC now and again, with Jeff Cramonds Grand Prix 4, & have toyed with the idea of a PS3, but naar ! Get well setup slotcars on a good track & to me it beats the pants of a PS3 anyday.

Ghost, what I did for years for quick & easy track drawing was this...
...Get one of the illustrated cardboard backs from you track parts...
...cut out the curve & straight shapes with a knife...
...you've then got a perfect template, to either draw with on paper...
...or make paper track sections you can cut out and tape / break / rejoin as you want...
...simple fast way to play with layout & groups of corners etc...
...same as a computer, but who needs 'em, CAD (cardboard aided design)

If you are acurate with the template, and make sure you get the 22.5, 45, 90 degree etc. angles right with a protractor, it works real good and saves loads of connecting & disconnecting of track parts, which is very time consuming.

On the doweling, I would get the size SLIGHTLY too big for the bosses & sand a small taper on the ends for a snug fit in the track & in the DIY bridge piers.

Cheers

Si.

 

[Ghost88]

Cheers Si

This looks like them here:

SCX LONG CRASH BARRIERS X 10

Part no. 87970

Do you know if they come in any colour other than Red?

 

[Si.]

Hi Ghost

I thought they came in packs of red & white, but maybe they changed that.

We have a load of old Scalextric red/white barriers at MRW, and quite like the look of alt. red/white/red/white.
You can always wash 'em in detergent, and spray them grey/silver, it will come off a bit with bumber to bumper car action, but can add a realistic kinda crash 'n' bash weathering to them.

Dunno why I said 2x1 for the bridge piers, I actualy think square ones look aestheticaly better, ie. 1x1, 0r 1 1/4x1 1/4 etc.
It looks right with the 1/2" ish dowels.

A bit of Humbrol concrete grey on the dowels, with some rust stains...
...and some nice yellow/black chevrons on the square piers, I think would look VERY Outrun indeed.

If you gouge and mess up the pier timber a bit, then paint them a base grey with a spray-can...
...you can then mask up the yellow/black chevrons, and hand paint them over the surface...
...the gouged up bits remain grey, and look like loads of cars have smashed into them !

VERY 'OUTRUN' INDEED !!!

Cheers

Si.

 

[Guam Slot Racer]

Hi Ghost,

Looks like a fun ride. very creative with the space. I see where you're going with the layout now that it's progressing. This should be a great layout to race with friends. Not sure if you will be doing any pace car racing. If so, then you may want to make your R1 intercangable with at leat an R2, and R3 would be ideal. I see you can make slight modifications to accomplish this. Just a suggestion!

rob

 

[Ghost88]

Cheers Rob, yeah will deffo think about putting some either R3 cornering in there just to add a little variety & I can see where about in the track this could be implemented (approaching the straight lane changer on the elevated section)

I'm not so sure about removing the R1 hairpin though. Mainly because I'm quite tight for space up in that corner think I'd really struggle to get it in there & secondly cause I don't want to make the track an easy-peasy R2 fest.

Not much progress made today as none if the outstanding deliveries turned up although I did start to fit some of the outer borders & barriers that arrived yesterday to the ground level corners:

Swapped the analogue pb out for the 4 car digi number until the apb arrives next week and immediately discovered the PSU's powerlead was going to impede the inner lane on the cross roads so I've had to shift the start / finish line down a full straight. I intend to reduce this nice by a half straight once the rest of the track shows up.

^ need suggestions on how to work pit lane / split lane fancy-ness into this ground level oval too guys.

Have also been thinking back to what Si said yesterday about the scalextric classic barriers for the elevated sections not holding as well as the SCX ones I'm wondering if anything could be done possibly to make them grip better (without resorting to super glue) as it'd deffo be nice to have the variety of the 3 different colours.

Hmmm anyone else use classic scalextric crash barriers on their sports track and had issues with them falling off when a car hits them?

That's pretty much it for the day.

Steve

 

[Si.]

Hi Ghost

Nar...
...that not what I said.

The old out of production CLASSIC crash barriers, stay on bridges FINE.

The new Sport crash barriers FALL OFF.

You can sometimes get the Classic barriers 2nd hand on E-Bay...

...but the current production SCX ones are overall, each much longer, and are similar in design to the Classic barriers...

...and stay clipped on just fine.

Unless your throttle jams !!!

Cheers

Si.

 

[Ghost88]

Ah excellent I' should be able to get hold of heaps of the old classic stuff nae bother, cheers for setting the record straight!

Well I'll be off to have a nosy at fleabay to see what's going round atm.

I've also just had a super late double delivery of sports track from the nice people at Royal Mail, should be enough to complete the first rough draft of the track, oh yeah!

 

[Ghost88]

Si regarding scalextric classic barriers do you know what the difference is between 'standard barriers' & 'armco barriers' ?

Steve

 

[Si.]

Hi Steve

The Scalextric Classic barriers are like the ones seen in the top right of the last picture on the MRW Motor Speedway thread.

I have only red & white.

But they made them in orange as well.

I think people call them Armco as a generic name, they should look like the ones in the above picture.

I would seriously check out the scx BARRIERS not BORDERS as well.

They are longer that the Classics.

You could order 1 pack from Getslotted.com to try.

If you ordered a tester now, you'd probably get 'em on Saturday or Monday latest.

You shouldn't be disapointed with them.

Looks like you'll need quite a few barriers, you'll use 'em somewhere, for sure.

Tis good to have a few different styles of barrier anyway I think, for more visual difference/interest.

Cheers

Si.

 

[Ghost88]

Gotcha.

That's an awesome looking track you've got btw that thread is like a proper little MRW soap opera full of action & drama hahah love it!

Think I will order a set of the SCX barriers & noticed A4 SCX decal sheets on eBay with lots of little random motorsport type sponsors on it so might try & grab a set of those too as you say & indeed you're right, variety is the spice of life and it keeps things interesting.

Got my eye on another little lot of classic Scaley barriers as well a nice mix of red, white & yellow both plain and some with logos. so fingers crossed there aren't too many bidders for them.

So with the new pieces of track that arrived this evening I've finally got a complete circuit & have been able to swap out almost all the used track for new although there's still a couple of R2 turns & half straights that need changing.

I'm fairly pleased with this first draft although I'd like to incorporate some R3 & R4 turns as the main flyover section could deffo be doing with being a bit more interesting It's a little too uniform and angular for my liking.

Anyway here's another couple of dodgy pics.

I'll no doubt spend several hours looking at this tomorrow before going back to the drawing board in my mind and planning the next move

Steve

 

[Si.]

HOLY COW BATMAN !

Dat gotta be one of the best darn flyover tracks I've ever seen !

I was wondering how you'd join up the 2 ends of spaghetti, now I know !

Uniform & angular...

...I see you already have 4x R2-22.5 degree turns in there...
...these, like the 22.5 R3 & R4 turns, are great for breaking up the parallel lines effect, inserted in the right places.
Extra angles not just 45's & 90's.
Having said that, It looks pretty cool as it is.
The funny thing about circuit-maps & aerial photos, is, as a racer you always see the track at an oblique angle anyhow.

FLYOVERTASTIC !!!

The tracks normally only race good in 1 direction, 'cos the way the borders are set up...
...which way are you planning to race ?
If the power-base is the start-line; towards OR away from the level X-over ?
I'm guessing towards the level X-over, since you got the curvy lane changer set up to switch you to the inside line around the hairpin, yes ?

I like the way you used the 22.5 degree R2's leading off the flyover into the DOUBLE X-over, cool.

I rec. you could find a bit of some where in there for a few more, twisty, chicaney, bumper bashin' R1's as well !

Cheers

Si.

P.S. you know what, I said one day I might have the courage to get a 90 degree crossing ! well...
...my INSANE summer plan was actualy to get THREE 90 degree crossings...
...but never did, 'cos the current MRW circuit was racing so well.

New circuit for new season though I think.

You could just of clinched it for me with those 90 X's, to go for another street circuit 'Outrun' track myself.

YES !

 

[Ghost88]

THX!

Initially the plan was to race towards the level x-over but then I discovered that the inside to outside digital lane change (back of track after hairpin) was facing the wrong way and with the half-straight sensor must proceed it there wasn't anywhere else in the circuit I could work it in without changing the layout.

So we're:

Away from the level X-over

Into 2 90 degree lefts around the ground level oval

Through the side swipe chicane

Under the flyover bridge

Across the 90 level crossing

Through an R2 S-bend (opens on exit) under the flyover ring road

Tightens into & around the hairpin

Through a right/left R2 shimmy.

Now for the inside - outside digital lane change and the chance for the inside lane drivers to reach the outside so they can maintain their speed through the 180 degree double corner cross over!

And then a Cheeky little 22.5 shimmy as they mount the entry to the flyover.

A single treacherous corner crossover marks the start of the flyover ringroad.

Around the ringroad & exiting through another left/right R2 shimmy onto the main part of the flyover.

It's pedal to the metal time again as they scream through the flyovers sweeping lefts over both lanes of the underpass.

As the drivers prepare to hit the down ramp to exit the flyover they've got another decision to make at the elevated straight digital lane change (dont forget to pick the opposite lane which you want to end the current lap / start the next lap because your lane decision is about to be reversed)

Onto the exit ramp and through a final downward sloping 180 R2 left with another single corner crossover this time on the exit, don't overcook it!

He who dares wins as the drivers bury their throttles & launch themselves back over the level x-over in a Sprint to the finish.

Or you could use one of those fancy track designer software thingies

PITSTOP ANYONE?

With that its time for breakfast!