Am I too old?

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Discussion

falkster

Original Poster:

4,258 posts

202 months

Monday 28th November 2011
quotequote all
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!!

Eric Mc

121,783 posts

264 months

Monday 28th November 2011
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Bebee said:
Eric Mc said:
falkster said:
Eric Mc said:
It's thne internet. Most of us don't know who you are. For all we knew, you might have been 12.
Suppose you're right, although I did mention my wife in my initial post. Im pretty sure it's still against the law to get married at 12. :lol:
Maybe you forged the marriage certificate? I mean, a man capable of using Scalextric is capable of anything.
Very true, murder, extortion, fraud, terrorism, etc
I'd hate to see you with your hand on the "Blow Out" button.

theshrew

6,008 posts

183 months

Monday 28th November 2011
quotequote all
For the track size it really depends on what your going to do.

For eg mine is in my loft what i wanted was

  • As big as i could get
  • Be able to reach cars if they came off (i also got one of those grabber things)
  • Be able to build another level to extend it if i wanted
  • Be able to change track design if i wanted
Size was great but my downfall was the loft is either freezing or really hot so not very practical.

For in a bedroom you need to decide if it will be a fold away thing or just have the room for your track. There are loads of diff way to do it. The best thing to do is look on youtube or on a slot forum ( cant remember the name of the one i went on ) You will find loads of great ideas then work out what will be best for you. Thats what i did.

Rude-boy

22,227 posts

232 months

Monday 28th November 2011
quotequote all
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.

CRA1G

6,501 posts

194 months

Monday 28th November 2011
quotequote all
I am really pleased to see this topic,I have been thinking for a while about setting up a track,I have a several Scalextric sets and lots of track/cars in the loft,some of my original one's and some that my two son's have had over the years,Fortunately we have a empty room above the garages which would be perfect to build a permanent layout,But I also have thought "Am I too old?" Now having seen this Tpoic I will start emptying the loft at the weekend.!yes

falkster

Original Poster:

4,258 posts

202 months

Monday 28th November 2011
quotequote all
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.

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'.

falkster

Original Poster:

4,258 posts

202 months

Monday 28th November 2011
quotequote all
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.

theshrew

6,008 posts

183 months

Monday 28th November 2011
quotequote all
I made mine with the MDF from B&Q cant remember the size but its about 5-6ft long maybe 3ft wide. If i remember correctly they just fit in my hatch.

falkster

Original Poster:

4,258 posts

202 months

Monday 28th November 2011
quotequote all
Well that's the outside frame built. Just need to get more wood tomorrow to make cross beams and legs to support.

Even if I do say, being a total retard, it's pretty even and well built. The rest should be pretty easy.

Does 104 sq ft sound a lot?

theshrew

6,008 posts

183 months

Monday 28th November 2011
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I dunno mate to be totally honest. Get some photos up be nice to see work in progress

falkster

Original Poster:

4,258 posts

202 months

Monday 28th November 2011
quotequote all
theshrew said:
I dunno mate to be totally honest. Get some photos up be nice to see work in progress
I took a photo but the iPhone has a rubbish camera.



The long piece is 11ft long and I decided to put the L shape section in which is just over 4ft.

theshrew

6,008 posts

183 months

Tuesday 29th November 2011
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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.


falkster

Original Poster:

4,258 posts

202 months

Tuesday 29th November 2011
quotequote all
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!!

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

6,008 posts

183 months

Tuesday 29th November 2011
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Nicely mate.

Is that the whole kit or just track ? How much did you pay if you dont mind me asking.

falkster

Original Poster:

4,258 posts

202 months

Tuesday 29th November 2011
quotequote all
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.
The frame is almost finished anyway but just broke my jigsaw blade!!! Mint!

theshrew

6,008 posts

183 months

Tuesday 29th November 2011
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Send me his details please mate that sounds like a very good deal

falkster

Original Poster:

4,258 posts

202 months

Tuesday 29th November 2011
quotequote all
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

6,008 posts

183 months

Thursday 1st December 2011
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How did you get on then mate ?

falkster

Original Poster:

4,258 posts

202 months

Thursday 1st December 2011
quotequote all
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.

falkster

Original Poster:

4,258 posts

202 months

Thursday 1st December 2011
quotequote all
Progress with the framework










Not bad for a shelf stacker - my mate is very impressed as I can just about wire a plug!!