Discussion
I had an idea that I want to build myself a scalextric track. I've got a room set aside for it so I didn't annoy the wife and was thinking either a large board to build the track on with hills, tunnels etc or build the track round the room and sit in the middle.
I was just looking and saw how technology has moved on since my dad built me a huge track in a vacant flat he used to have.
Should I just grow up?
I was just looking and saw how technology has moved on since my dad built me a huge track in a vacant flat he used to have.
Should I just grow up?
miniman said:
I think I've just dribbled!!!My wife would kill me though if I got that one!
marcosgt said:
Trust me, worrying about what people think of you isn't healthy...
It just leads to resentment.
If you want to do it (and can do so without going without food, holidays, heating) do so!
M.
I'm not bothered what others think, it just builds a case for when I put the business case to my wife or do what I usually do and have something turn up then say 'remember, we talked about it?'It just leads to resentment.
If you want to do it (and can do so without going without food, holidays, heating) do so!
M.
Well I broken the news to the wife to which she just rolled her eyes!!! Ive taken the next week off work so I can look into it more and hopefully have something by midweek.
I still dont understand how the 2,3,4 lane tracks work yet can have upto 6 cars running on the same lane so Im presuming the cars are controlled rather than the track - suppose Ill find out.
Off to B&Q first thing to get some MDF to make the surface.
Ill let you know.
I still dont understand how the 2,3,4 lane tracks work yet can have upto 6 cars running on the same lane so Im presuming the cars are controlled rather than the track - suppose Ill find out.
Off to B&Q first thing to get some MDF to make the surface.
Ill let you know.
theshrew said:
To do the cars all on the same track you need Scalextric Digital. Ive not used it but i belive what you have is a 2 lane track which has joining pieces in it so a car can go from on lane to the other. You press a button on your controler and the car goes to the other lane. Its only the newer cars that can be used for this but i think you can buy a conversion kit to upgrade older cars.
Get on ebay you can find some bargains - I bought loads of track when i was building mine a lot of it had hardly been used. Works out far cheaper than buying kits or new track pieces.
Depending on what you want to do with track layout. I designed my own if you go on the scalextric website they have a designer thing so you can plan exactly what track pieces you need and if it will join back together
I've found a guy in York that is on eBay. He puts circuits together then lists them with no reserve. 50ft for £100!!! Get on ebay you can find some bargains - I bought loads of track when i was building mine a lot of it had hardly been used. Works out far cheaper than buying kits or new track pieces.
Depending on what you want to do with track layout. I designed my own if you go on the scalextric website they have a designer thing so you can plan exactly what track pieces you need and if it will join back together
Great idea with the track planner, I was planning on trial and error but as I still don't fully understand the way the digital bit goes I'll have to wait and see. (is it just the car technology or is it the way the track is powered?)
I was thinking of planning a circuit within a 6x12ft board? Too big? Too small? Use as much of the board as poss and filling the space with a little bit of scenery.
Rude-boy said:
Depends on what you have room for. Also think about how, who and when it will be used. If it is mainly going to be you on your own then you will need to make sure that that tricky kink that you keep coming off on is near to you, not at the hardest to reach part of the track...
Bigger is usually better though and I would certainly be looking for a bridge or two. You might like to spend a couple of hours searching Youtube and the like for some hints and tips. Plenty out there!
The room won't have anything else in it apart from the track - maybe a few Motorsport pictures, might also wear a helmet at the time im using it. Bigger is usually better though and I would certainly be looking for a bridge or two. You might like to spend a couple of hours searching Youtube and the like for some hints and tips. Plenty out there!
I was really hoping for bridges and tunnels!!! No tunnels at the other end of the room!!
miniman said:
It's both. The track is permanently powered (so for example cars with lights have the lights on constantly rather than just when moving). The cars themselves need a decoder chip (which is essentially their unique ID) and this also provides them with a tiny LED which sticks out of the bottom of the car. You can get digital-fitted cars (i.e. ready to go), digital-ready (need a decoder fitting but have a simple socket to plug it into) and standard analogue (to which you can fit a decoder with a little light soldering).
The track has a few different sections which operate like railway points in order to let you change lane / enter the pits etc. Just ahead of the junction there is a small pickup set into the track. When you press the button on the controller, the car's decoder switches on the tiny LED which triggers the pickup to operate the junction.
There are various neat extras like a pitstop game, lap counters etc and with the top-end 6-car powerbase, you can also hook up a laptop and get huge amounts of data out of it as well as setting up specific races.
I like the idea of the pit stop!! The last one I had was almost the length of the straight and you had to flick a switch on the track. My dad wired more transformers to further round the track because it would go very slow in 3 other sections - we measured over 250ft after we'd taken the 'above the fruit and veg shop' loop out of it!!The track has a few different sections which operate like railway points in order to let you change lane / enter the pits etc. Just ahead of the junction there is a small pickup set into the track. When you press the button on the controller, the car's decoder switches on the tiny LED which triggers the pickup to operate the junction.
There are various neat extras like a pitstop game, lap counters etc and with the top-end 6-car powerbase, you can also hook up a laptop and get huge amounts of data out of it as well as setting up specific races.
Rude-boy said:
One idea I have is of a near room size board with a few hole cut in for access and so on which would either be counter weighted or on a pully system so that it can be raised up to the cealing (painted underneath to look good) when you wnat to use the room for PS3/Xbox etc and then lowered when you want to play scalextrc.
The only limit is your imagination, then fiber and quantity of your folding and space.
Great idea having the lift away circuit!!! I already have my 'study' - I say study, it's got a tv, a docking station and my ps3 in there. The only limit is your imagination, then fiber and quantity of your folding and space.
I have had the loft converted and that will be my space until the staircase goes in - I know I've got to keep it away from the wife because I made a boob earlier this year when I bought a full size snooker table when I'd had a few!!! The conversation went 'it can go in the dining room' , 'and where does the dining table go'.
I've just measured up!! If I have a 4 foot gap running the length of the room in order to reach the furthest point (with a grabber), the board can be 11ft x 8ft or if I make a hatch in two of the furthest points, to rescue crashed cars, it can be 11ft x 12ft (at its widest).
Issue is, how do I get an 11ft x 12ft board through a standard loft hatch?? It's looking like 5x2ft lengths.
Issue is, how do I get an 11ft x 12ft board through a standard loft hatch?? It's looking like 5x2ft lengths.
theshrew said:
Looks like you have plenty of scope for a nice track mate.
Have a look at this will give you some ideas. http://www.slotforum.com/forums/index.php?showforu...
Really great site + people will help you if you need it.
I wish i hadnt seen this thread now its tempted me to do more with mine but the loft is just to cold this time of the year lol.
Thanks Ric, I have registered on there. I think it was stumbling onto that forum that gave me the idea. I was looking at the track designs on there!!! I've seen some tracks that don't even use track, they cut slots in MDF and lay down the copper either side!! Have a look at this will give you some ideas. http://www.slotforum.com/forums/index.php?showforu...
Really great site + people will help you if you need it.
I wish i hadnt seen this thread now its tempted me to do more with mine but the loft is just to cold this time of the year lol.
I know what you're saying about being cold but I ended up taking my jumper off up there last night and opening a window.
I'm going to see a guy in York tomorrow, I've bought a 50ft digital track set up from him. I'm going to see what else he has and tap into his knowledge.
theshrew said:
Nicely mate.
Is that the whole kit or just track ? How much did you pay if you dont mind me asking.
It's a complete set up, good for a base. The guy does no reserve auctions, he's a trader and he must just make up sets and draw plans so you can build them when you get them home. I paid £135 for the set up and also got the digital lap timer for £12 too. He sounds like a really nice guy, he told me he's going to put some time aside to explain the workings of the digital bits and said he'll sell me some more morsels when I get there. Definately want two pits and a couple of sections of 4 lanes. Is that the whole kit or just track ? How much did you pay if you dont mind me asking.
The frame is almost finished anyway but just broke my jigsaw blade!!! Mint!
theshrew said:
Send me his details please mate that sounds like a very good deal
From this item number you can see other sellers items.320792589928
It's an awesome deal when you think a similar set, granted brand new, with same amount of cars, controllers etc but not even half the amount of track are £300.
theshrew said:
How did you get on then mate ?
It was late by the time I'd finished. Had a full busy day yesterday. Had 4 new tyres put on my ML by two trainees so took about 90mins.
I got to the guys house in York for 1pm, turns out he runs his empire from above his garage with all his setups in the garage on about 4 different boards he just lifts out of the way. Brilliant!!
I felt a bit childish talking to him so enthusiastically but he is such a nice guy, he's been involved in slot racing for the last 45 years.
He told me to chuck my design in the bin, he pulled out another design of his which uses up a lot of surface space then he suggested a few adjustments to encorporate the L part of my board.
After 2 hours and a bored wife, we left £250 lighter but he is going to design the track properly, get me all the track, digital power, barriers, 4x straight over taking sections, 4 corner over taking sections and cars together so I can go back next week to pick it up - 85ft long!!!
He says he'll design it so I can easily add things such as pit stops and a 4 lane section - those on their own would add another £180 but I'm sure eBay would be better for a second hand one.
As for the board, I finished the frame and covered it with 6mm MDF last night. I'm so glad I made the frame right, I only had to cut 5 pieces.
I need to find some poker cloth because, apparently, that's what 'they' use to cover the board then between scenery there isnt any board showing plus I can then make additions when I want rather than all right now.
theshrew said:
Sounds and looks good mate. Is it brand new track etc or 2nd had stuff the guy sells ?
Your a brave man taking your wife with you lol When i was buying my stuff i used to get some of it sent to my Grans house and take it home when the Mrs was at work lol
Im very tempted to get up in the loft again and have a bash.
It's a mix of new and second hand. I think she's happier coming with me because if I go out alone, especially if a mate picks me up, she expects me to come back with a new car!! £250 isn't as bad as coming back with a grin and a trailer with my 968 on it!! She went bonkers! Your a brave man taking your wife with you lol When i was buying my stuff i used to get some of it sent to my Grans house and take it home when the Mrs was at work lol
Im very tempted to get up in the loft again and have a bash.
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