Discussion
Rude-boy said:
My Fiancée is usually the one that pushes me from "Oh, look a Fly Le Mans 1981 BMW M1/ load of cheap Scalextric / 968 CS, I've always fancied one of those." to purchase.
Seriously, it's all her fault I stop procrastinating and buy
As a total div would I've made a real cock up!! Because the board is 10ft x 8ft, on the main part, there is no way I'll be able to get to the far edges. As suggested I've bought a grabber but how do I build the track and sort landscaping out??
I'm going to cut a hole in this centre so I can't reach everywhere but I'll have to see how that affects the design!
I'm going to cut a hole in this centre so I can't reach everywhere but I'll have to see how that affects the design!
Rude-boy said:
Very sadly not. I have looked everywhere and about the only thing I have ever found is a Matchbox size and quality vanilla 968 iirc (or was it a cab?)
Anyway, no one ever seems to have made a modle of the 968, let alone CS, let alone in 1:32 scale
it was the real one she convinced me to buy 
I might lobby parliament and get them to sort a 968CS in white with red decals like mine!Anyway, no one ever seems to have made a modle of the 968, let alone CS, let alone in 1:32 scale
it was the real one she convinced me to buy Mark. said:
falkster said:
Rude-boy said:
Very sadly not. I have looked everywhere and about the only thing I have ever found is a Matchbox size and quality vanilla 968 iirc (or was it a cab?)
Anyway, no one ever seems to have made a modle of the 968, let alone CS, let alone in 1:32 scale it was the real one she convinced me to buy
I might lobby parliament and get them to sort a 968CS in white with red decals like mine!Anyway, no one ever seems to have made a modle of the 968, let alone CS, let alone in 1:32 scale
it was the real one she convinced me to buy http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Scalextric-yellow-Porsch...
Update so far. Haven't really done much today other than get the cloth for both the sides and the top. Ill carry on tomorrow after taking the centre section out.
I have done some research on pit garages and rather than spending £250 million on the scalextric ones which is just stupid or make some myself using MDF.
The pit garages
I have done some research on pit garages and rather than spending £250 million on the scalextric ones which is just stupid or make some myself using MDF.
The pit garages
theshrew said:
Looks like your doing well with it.
Rather than cut a hole in the middle could you do one in the corner ? I suppose it depends how the layout will be. Or as someone else said a hinge on 1 section. If you need a hole you could always make one that you can slot back in
I didn't have to do anything like that with mine as I never finished it and I made mine out of 12mm mdf so should be ok to get on if needed.
I'd rather have a hole in both far corners but being 6ft3 I'd struggle. The hinged idea is pretty good though!! Rather than cut a hole in the middle could you do one in the corner ? I suppose it depends how the layout will be. Or as someone else said a hinge on 1 section. If you need a hole you could always make one that you can slot back in
I didn't have to do anything like that with mine as I never finished it and I made mine out of 12mm mdf so should be ok to get on if needed.
12mm?? Bet that's really fun to cut - you should get it finished or send everything you've got and I'll realise your dream !
theshrew said:
Yeah i think it was 12mm but it was well over a year ago when i did it. Jigsaw is your friend lol
If i get chance i will get up in the loft over weekend and see what i need to finish it. I think i need some more track to make it as big as i wanted and to work out how to put power caps in. Mine is all classic track that i had when i was a kid and it got a lot of use. The extra i bought is a mixed bag some are like new others not that good. If i get extra think i will just get sport then replace the older stuff bit by bit.
I'm just at my mums so I'll have a look in the loft to see if I've still got some classic track. I'll let you know what I've got. If i get chance i will get up in the loft over weekend and see what i need to finish it. I think i need some more track to make it as big as i wanted and to work out how to put power caps in. Mine is all classic track that i had when i was a kid and it got a lot of use. The extra i bought is a mixed bag some are like new others not that good. If i get extra think i will just get sport then replace the older stuff bit by bit.
flattotheboards said:
Has there been any more progress? This is absolutely brilliant!
Unfortunately not! I've been b
ked by the wife and went to see my parents on Friday, Xmas shopping and cleaning Saturday then seeing friends today!She has no idea about priorities!! If I wasn't so scared of her I'd give her a piece of my mind.
Seriously though, the set doesn't arrive until 15th and until I get a scale copy of the design I can't cut the hinged hole or do any sort of planning so the work stops.
I do, in a really sad way, keep making notes of things I want but I really do think it's going to be a very long journey. The cost of the track and the wood etc is one thing but then you start adding up trees, grand stands, pit garages (if I don't build them), adding another pit lane, extra overtaking straights etc, you're looking at about a grand!! I suppose that's the reason I went with the poker cloth, so it wouldn't look too bad to start and I can add to it.
Time for an update
Last night a mate of mine picked up the track for me and brought it to work with him. I was going to crack on with it last night but it was almost 10 when I got home so got up nice and early this morning (11am - hardly early is it?) and started to make an erection!!
Ive changed a few things around since the track was designed, too much of the board further away was getting used and I didnt think I was using as much of the board as possible so Ive added 4 extra pieces of straight to use more of the internal loop and also positioned the pitstop on the start finish straight rather than part of the L shape section.
Getting organised
First corner goes in
Re-positioned pits
Internal loop
Bottom hairpin
View across the lanes from the pits
The lengthened infield
Another pic of it fitting like a glove
The bridge section
Almost complete back straight section
The wooden chocks
The hard to reach section - the track still needs pulling together a bit in that corner section.
Almost complete build
With all the changes Ive made I need 1x 1/4 straight which I would have been to buy but it would appear my wife has stolen my debit card to go xmas shopping.
Ive got mounting paper/card to box in all the wooden chocks and printed off some sponsors on photo paper to stick to the complete bridges.
Im hoping to have it complete, and working, by the end of tomorrow with just scenery to sort after that!! There isnt a great deal of infield space so there might be some pit walls and some sand with maybe an odd tree but not a massive amount of buildings etc
Last night a mate of mine picked up the track for me and brought it to work with him. I was going to crack on with it last night but it was almost 10 when I got home so got up nice and early this morning (11am - hardly early is it?) and started to make an erection!!
Ive changed a few things around since the track was designed, too much of the board further away was getting used and I didnt think I was using as much of the board as possible so Ive added 4 extra pieces of straight to use more of the internal loop and also positioned the pitstop on the start finish straight rather than part of the L shape section.
Getting organised
First corner goes in
Re-positioned pits
Internal loop
Bottom hairpin
View across the lanes from the pits
The lengthened infield
Another pic of it fitting like a glove
The bridge section
Almost complete back straight section
The wooden chocks
The hard to reach section - the track still needs pulling together a bit in that corner section.
Almost complete build
With all the changes Ive made I need 1x 1/4 straight which I would have been to buy but it would appear my wife has stolen my debit card to go xmas shopping.
Ive got mounting paper/card to box in all the wooden chocks and printed off some sponsors on photo paper to stick to the complete bridges.
Im hoping to have it complete, and working, by the end of tomorrow with just scenery to sort after that!! There isnt a great deal of infield space so there might be some pit walls and some sand with maybe an odd tree but not a massive amount of buildings etc
Blakeatron said:
Looking great, very jealous!
I would be a little worried about the wobbly bridge though
No need to worry, they'll be totally secure by the time its finished. I would be a little worried about the wobbly bridge though
I'm now trying to come up with some sort of infill to go between the tracks so I can cover it in pva and sprinkle sand on it for sand trap effect!!
Rude-boy said:
Looking very good there.
Any space up the top end of the main straight? If so you might want to put some run off on there as the outside lane will have an advantage of being able to get the power down earlier and 'lean' on the armco, add a little run off and it mitigates that advantage a little as the rear of the outside car will be able to flick wide.
It's difficult to show things with the rubbish iPhone camera. Any space up the top end of the main straight? If so you might want to put some run off on there as the outside lane will have an advantage of being able to get the power down earlier and 'lean' on the armco, add a little run off and it mitigates that advantage a little as the rear of the outside car will be able to flick wide.
This straight is 12 ft long
I am having trouble getting it running right!! Half the track works really well on both sides, a small section of the track doesn't work either side and another section only works on one side!!
Frustrating given my deadline to finish the bridges, infills and barriers is today!
No more working on it after today - busy run through to Xmas, I'll either be asleep or at work.
theshrew said:
As above it will be your connections. Easy sorted once you have found them. Well worth putting power taps in (if you can with digital) Also wont do any harm to clean the track even if it looks clean. Think the stuff is called plebbys or something like that.
Its looking good mate once you give it a few tweeks it will run great.
Im having a thought that I might dismantle the track and build it back up in the kitchen which will allow me to sort any poor connections plus I'll be able to measure and cut the holes for the raised section. Its looking good mate once you give it a few tweeks it will run great.
Good idea?
While its out I'm going to cut a hatch in the board, it's not as simple as using a grabber to retrieve a crashed car. I might even extend the track toward the back by 1x straight so the hatch will be between lanes.
Mark. said:
It's a bit rudimentary but when I was setting up tracks as a kid I'd often get dead areas of track.
As a teenager my cunning plan was to nick a bulb from a mini that is in a holder with 2 spade type connectors that are exactly the width of the rails on the track, it also has a plastic lug between them which handily fits between the rails and acts as a guide.
Press it on to the circuit, hold the controller down and the bulb lights - drag it round the circuit til it goes out and there is your problem joint.
Still got the bulb and still use it sometimes.
The last time I had a track like this I was about 10 so my dad did most of the building. I did actually phone him yesterday and he told me exactly what you say Mark. Apparently we had a light bulb in a holder with two wires to press on the track. As a teenager my cunning plan was to nick a bulb from a mini that is in a holder with 2 spade type connectors that are exactly the width of the rails on the track, it also has a plastic lug between them which handily fits between the rails and acts as a guide.
Press it on to the circuit, hold the controller down and the bulb lights - drag it round the circuit til it goes out and there is your problem joint.
Still got the bulb and still use it sometimes.
I do have a shocking memory!
bristolracer said:
Not sure if the bulb idea will work with digital the digital feed is not a 12v dc supply, a decoder is fitted into the cars which processes power and command codes. I guess as you cannot run an anologue car on a digi track....
Just use a car,drive it slowly you will see at which join it stops, or use a car with built in lights.
as others have mentioned a small flatbladed screwdriver can be used to tweak joins or a pair of long nose pliers is also handy. Some also use tin foil between the joins. Do it in situ, as even if you cure the problem in the kitchen the dismantle/reassemble will likley cause you grief again.
If you have not done so allready then sign up to slot forum its the pistonheads of the slot car world, plenty of advice and tips and soe stunning tracks
http://www.slotforum.com/forums/index.php?s=37e06a...
Some great advice from everyone thanks. Just use a car,drive it slowly you will see at which join it stops, or use a car with built in lights.
as others have mentioned a small flatbladed screwdriver can be used to tweak joins or a pair of long nose pliers is also handy. Some also use tin foil between the joins. Do it in situ, as even if you cure the problem in the kitchen the dismantle/reassemble will likley cause you grief again.
If you have not done so allready then sign up to slot forum its the pistonheads of the slot car world, plenty of advice and tips and soe stunning tracks
http://www.slotforum.com/forums/index.php?s=37e06a...
My reasoning behind the dismantle was to, as well as cure the joint issue, sort the measuring/cutting and mock up of the bridge sections?
The table is pretty solid but it's not idea for me to be climbing up and down every two minutes.
Love the foil idea though!!! Might do that aswell!!
I was sent a link to the slotforum by a friend and it's that forum and some of the amazing tracks both digital and analogue that made me want to do this.
I've decided it's going to be more of a marathon than a sprint now as I want it to be right.
Right, managed to spend an hour on it at this busy time of year.
I've now got a fully working track, both cars, both sides and all possible options.
Only issue I've got is, one side of the track, on the back 50% it seems a bit slower than the other side. Doesn't matter which car I use it's still a bit slower?
As I extended it from the original design the track is over 70ft. If it was lack of power it world affect both sides of the track over the same sections right?
Could it just be more tweaking?
I've now got a fully working track, both cars, both sides and all possible options.
Only issue I've got is, one side of the track, on the back 50% it seems a bit slower than the other side. Doesn't matter which car I use it's still a bit slower?
As I extended it from the original design the track is over 70ft. If it was lack of power it world affect both sides of the track over the same sections right?
Could it just be more tweaking?
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