Scalextric track compatibility

[nickliv]

Very true steve.

And a spare aircraft hangar eh Paddy?

[Jay (Team Cannonball)]

When I move into my new permanent house in about 6 months to a year I am seriously considering building a permanent track, either a wooden routed track or a scalextric sport digital track. Check out slotforum.com for inspiration some of the permanent layouts done by the members are unbelievable. I am definetly going to have to brush up on my woodwork and modelling skills if I want to achieve anything really good though.

Slotforum has loads of good advice about powerbases and modifying the digital lane changers to prevent the powerbase from becoming overloaded - if you are serious about your slot cars.

Le Mans as a permanent track has one fatal flaw that rarely sees it used is that as it is effectively a large loop people with limited space i.e. a garage, shed, loft, slotcar den, see it as a very inefficient use of the space available. This is the problem with most modern circuits although their are exceptions such as Catalunya.

PS Nick I'm glad it worked. 

[termietermite]

We've considered doing the Bugatti but it's a nightmare scale-wise.  Currently some obscure part of the US Railroad system has triumphed in taking over one of the barns but maybe once I've got all our junk out of the other one....

[Jay (Team Cannonball)]

Most Scalextric permanent layouts don't strictly fit scale the way model railways do. Their are some interesting discussions on this topic on the above mentioned forum.

[nopanic - neil]

Did not have scalextrix as a kid, but Triang minic -

who else knows this system?

[Lorry]

Minic Motorways.  Most of my mates had this.  There was a Mk2 Jag, and a doubledecker bus.  Its worth a fortune now apparently.

[Snoring Rhino]

I built brad a great layout (Still hinged up on his bedroom wall) but always had  alot of problems with thermal expansion and contraction of the track disorting it - are there any recognised solutions to this?

[Jay (Team Cannonball)]

Not really for the classic track, the new sport track is supposed to be a lot better for that. Most rail distortions can be fixed quite easily with a lollipop stick or a small swiss army knife, just pop it in the slot and give it a sharp twist.

I had a look to see if anyone else had this problem and a few people in warmer climates than ours have had the thermal expansion problem on their permanent tracks, their solution after several warpangs and cracks was to remove one section of track when the circuit is not in use. This allows the track to expand and contract without any actual stress being placed on the rails.

[nickliv]

Le Mans as a permanent track has one fatal flaw that rarely sees it used is that as it is effectively a large loop people with limited space i.e. a garage, shed, loft, slotcar den, see it as a very inefficient use of the space available. This is the problem with most modern circuits although their are exceptions such as Catalunya.

[/quote]

I can see what you mean, I'm quite tempted my the Brands GP circuit as there's not a huge amount of wasted space. It'd have to be properly done though, with the gradients etc. (And maybe that bit of the M 20 past the back of the loop as well.)

I suspect Google Earth may be my friend in the next 2 to 3 years.

[nickliv]

Further to a permenent layout idea. I intend building a 7 by 11 M garage and workshop with 'storage' above. Probably usable space of 4 X 11 m. Storage can go down the edges under the eaves. I will have a Scalextric loft even if Mrs Liv kills me.

But I need to build the house to go with it first. Otherwise she really will kill me.

[Jay (Team Cannonball)]

To celebrate becoming a doctor I invested in a Digital scalextric set. It is really good fun, I just need to get some more lane changers and I'll be sorted. Only problem is I have 200+ non-digital cars and at 10 quid a chip I don't think I will be converting them all. I think I will need two permanent layouts. God I need to buy a big house.

[mike(liverpool boys)]

I had a mighty metro set when i was a wee fella that was mighty fun untill i wrecked the cars trying to make them do burnouts  but reading this has made me want a set again. any suggestions for a basic set for arsing about with and can the modern cars do burnouts yet??? 

[nickliv]

You used to be able to get a piece of track which looked a bit like a rolling road, the rear wheels of the cars would sit on the rollers, and you could rev the nuts off them, smoke oil would then give you a burnout effect, moving a switch would release both cars at the same time, for a 'fair' race start. I never had one, but I do remember seeing them in the dim and distant past.

[mike(liverpool boys)]

Now that would be cool  i would end up smoking the whole house out though i used to just put a book or somethig heavy in front of the car and rev it up,end result being 2 burned out motors and a very upset 10 year old.

[nickliv]

http://tinyurl.com/2gwwkw