Xlot's new digital track in progress....

Hi Cools,

thanks for the tip - I'll keep that in mind (if I ever get to the stage where I can deal with aesthetics ! )

I still think, though, that the solution is "optical" : there's a 2 cm chamber between the base board and the track surface where one could fit some "cold" lighting, the idea being that indirect light would seep out from the slot and hopefully hide it

By the way, you can see from the pictures that wiring for a digital track is very simple : you only need two contacts, as same polarity strips are in parallel - what with the oversize braid I'm using, I figure you could run digital wing cars on it !!
I'm leaving braid pigtails at each junction, and use hi-tech quick release connectors (namely laundry pins)

Ciao

Beppe

Et voila !!!!

So, the track is done - now, as soon as SSD becomes available in Italy, things will get interesting

The other good news is that I've met the owner of a largish CNC shop : he has no less than 5 routers, the smallest being the same as the one that cut my track pieces, the largest a 7 x 3 m, 5 axis monster
He likes my project, and has already sketched out how the track can be made almost entirely on the machines - no tooling required !

Planning is now :

- run tests on the prototype with SSD until February

- make a 2 module, pre-production track in March with 8 cars

- add a third (middle) module in June, and go to 12 cars

- ........

Beppe

Hi Jim,

since you asked....

I don't visualize a glass top, but yes I'm planning to test market the pre-production track to bowling alleys : they have the space/infrastructure, are accustomed to a modicum of maintenance (unlike video arcades) and aren't doing too well generally with their traditional line

And yes, my main functional requirement has always been that it must be suitable for rentals - "conventional" slots aren't, I remember only too well the dire results when this was tried in the sixties

That said, I'm making no bones about the aspiration that this provide the basis for a real revival of slot racing, bringing it back to the status of most popular model hobby bar none - if the two gentlemen in white don't take me away first !!

Ciao

Beppe

P.S. : one limitation I've found is that Xlot doesn't cater to my recently discovered vocation for nerfing - but you'll be much more relaxed when we meet again

Just two words, Beppe: A - MAZING

Hope you still think we can show Xlot next year in Barcelona's "Saló del Hobby"... you know... maybe some slot maker want to see an "S-tangent" LC working... ;-)

QUOTE I would never have had the nerve to try it on purpose

Just as well it happened because you NEEDED to know this!
It is looking SO good, Beppe.
I really REALLY like it.

Progress report : still waiting for SSD (or maybe not ... ), I've now been driving the car around for quite a while. It felt really good, since it's the first time I have a complete track, rather than track halves - I'm having a bit of fun at last !

Grip is building up nicely as rubber is laid down, but it's already apparent that indeed cars will be substantially slower in a curve compared with traditional slots (excessive IMO)

Not unexpectedly, positioning the guide just aft of the front axle (actually, on the front axle for the Porsche, but there wheelbase is quite short to begin with) makes the car a real handful - also, the front moves inside during a slide, much nicer than the usual "hanging by the nose"
It does look a bit too much like rally driving though - like I said, I think I can also introduce understeer, but that will have to wait

A small problem I've found - but maybe it's just untrained me and the old plunger controller I use for now - is that my thumb gets pretty tired after a while of non-stop driving - de-slotting may be a drag, but at least it gives your finger a rest !

Beppe

That's a common problem with thumb plungers Beppe.
I know that some thumb plunger controllers are large and not designed for it, but you could try holding it in such way that you operate the plunger with a finger. It will not fit naturally into the hand this way, but it does give your thumb a rest!
Seriously, do try it - it works well with small controllers, though Carreras are a bit of a handful.

Strange bedfellows !!..... (comparative advertising is forbidden in Italy)

Now, back to work - but why on earth didn't Scalextric make the ingress flipper conductive ?

Beppe

Hi Beppe
QUOTE (Xlot @ 29 Nov 2004, 15:03)<snip> - but why on earth didn't Scalextric make the ingress flipper conductive ?
Just a quick thought ... couldn't you cover the flipper with self adhesive copper foil . That would automatically give the flipper the right polarity, when it touches the rail at the pointed end. Make shure that you maintain a small isolation zone at the fat end though.

//Søren

Good tip, Søren

I would just take care about wrapping real tight at the flipper tip, and in a way that the car guide doesn't peel it off - also, I have a feeling this shouldn't be done/ or done only partially on the exit flipper, which is idle and could take the wrong polarity - hence short when the car bridges the intermediate rail with the flipper

Of course, this is not my problem - as David/BLST noticed (and he would know), on my track cars can crawl over the LC !

Ciao

Beppe

QUOTE (Xlot @ 29 Nov 2004, 20:30)Of course, this is not my problem - as David/BLST noticed (and he would know), on my track cars can crawl over the LC !
Your track really does look quite amazing

Søren

And now, for a bit of comic relief..... does anybody know what I'm about to do here ?
(hint : the bucket is to be full of water)

QUOTE And now, for a bit of comic relief..... does anybody know what I'm about to do here ? (hint : the bucket is to be full of water)

Relieve yourself?

...sorry... couldn't help myself....

Canadians are getting too cheeky as of late !!!

Although I loved the story of maple leaf T-shirts and "How to Pass for a Canadian" booklets being peddled to your cousins South contemplating a trip over here