tossedman Posted March 26, 2009 Report Share Posted March 26, 2009 (edited) Well, after looking for a long while at what others are building for tracks I've decided to give it a go myself. I've always liked the Suzuka Circuit in Mie, Japan (especially after going there in 1989) and have styled it after that track. It's based on one of the multitude of track outlines one finds using Google's image search. I spent the last three weeks trying to figure out Adobe Illustrator and tonight it all seems to have come together. :clap: I've created a track to fit into the space in my basement and still allow some room for movement and other activities. It'll be a 6.7 metres by 2.1 metres with a few metres of space on each end and side as well. The lane spacing is 110 mm and there's 140 mm of space on either side. The track width is 390 mm. It's quite wide but that's mostly because I have no idea as to what I'm doing most of the time in Illustrator. All measurements are metric so I can easily upscale the pictures later. I'd like to make it Scorpius digital when it comes out and if I can figure out how to do it I'll try having it CNC routed. The green line is the lane changes, sort of a racing line approach. Let me know if I'm right out to lunch with this design. Is it too wide? I want to be able to run both 1/24 and 1/32 scale cars on it. Took some inspiration from Slotfire. Thanks in advance for any feedback. Todd Edited March 28, 2009 by tossedman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dangermouse Posted March 26, 2009 Report Share Posted March 26, 2009 (edited) track looks good - I will have to try Illustrator - for my remodelling plans Does Illustrator do it to scale? can you work out the track length? I used google sketchup and it works to scale but I am always keen to try something different 390mm is good I went to 400mm on most turns and 350mm on the straigths - you don't need 140mm on the inside - I would think go 180mm on the outside and 100mm on the inside (my inside is 65-75mm) cheers DM Edited March 26, 2009 by dangermouse Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kalbfellp Posted March 26, 2009 Report Share Posted March 26, 2009 DM check your link? Quote Phil https://www.hobartminiaturecarclub.com/ Email Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KarKraft Posted March 26, 2009 Report Share Posted March 26, 2009 What do you think about removing the wiggle before/after the overpass? Keeps some high speed stuff flowing across the top. Quote Fairmont Park Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ember Posted March 26, 2009 Report Share Posted March 26, 2009 Does Illustrator do it to scale? can you work out the track length?I used google sketchup and it works to scale but I am always keen to try something different 390mm is good I went to 400mm on most turns and 350mm on the straigths - you don't need 140mm on the inside - I would think go 180mm on the outside and 100mm on the inside (my inside is 65-75mm) cheers DM With Illustrator you can actually work at full scale. It's one of the benefits of vector graphics.( Now you're talking in my native territory. Signmaker by current occupation, glass blower by trainging.) Given that most of your layout will be simple line drawing, you should be right for anything up to 5m sq. Cheers Embs Quote Computers. They'll never catch on. Tiny Tyers Targa - The build saga continues - Aging wood - A recipe for staining wood - Don't take a fence - Step by step paling fence - An old shed for my new cars - Wooden garage under construction Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tossedman Posted March 26, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 26, 2009 track looks good - I will have to try Illustrator - for my remodelling plans Does Illustrator do it to scale? can you work out the track length? I used google sketchup and it works to scale but I am always keen to try something different 390mm is good I went to 400mm on most turns and 350mm on the straigths - you don't need 140mm on the inside - I would think go 180mm on the outside and 100mm on the inside (my inside is 65-75mm) cheers DM Thanks DM, yes as Ember says Illustrator works to scale. I'll try to work out the track length. I'd thought about changing the inside widths but this was easiest. What do you think about removing the wiggle before/after the overpass? Keeps some high speed stuff flowing across the top. KarKraft, That's the idea behind the green lane that you'll be able to switch to. I just need to make sure that both the red and blue lanes have equal opportunity to switch to it. Thanks for the input mate. Todd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul NZ Posted March 26, 2009 Report Share Posted March 26, 2009 Is it just me, I can't see the pic of the track??? Quote Paul NZ - Scale with Detail! Narangba Club Local Gold Coast Raceway 09 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tossedman Posted March 26, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 26, 2009 Is it just me, I can't see the pic of the track??? Nah mate, it's not just you. Here's another (and hopefully more reliable link to the pic). Let me know if this one works. Todd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
numbers Posted March 27, 2009 Report Share Posted March 27, 2009 Oh yeah!!! That looks like an awesome track. Can't wait to see the pics of the build!!!!! Numbers Quote Not much point reading this bit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ember Posted March 27, 2009 Report Share Posted March 27, 2009 Amazing looking circuit. Looking forward to progress reports. Which digital system are you planning on? Or does it have to be Scorpius cos its routed? Quote Computers. They'll never catch on. Tiny Tyers Targa - The build saga continues - Aging wood - A recipe for staining wood - Don't take a fence - Step by step paling fence - An old shed for my new cars - Wooden garage under construction Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tossedman Posted March 27, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 27, 2009 Amazing looking circuit. Looking forward to progress reports.Which digital system are you planning on? Or does it have to be Scorpius cos its routed? Thanks Ember, I'm going to try Scorpius since I'm starting from scratch with regards to digital. I've read of other routed tracks that have cannibalized the lane changers from Ninco and SCX but I'm going Scorpius all the way. Todd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul NZ Posted March 27, 2009 Report Share Posted March 27, 2009 Amazing looking circuit. Looking forward to progress reports.Which digital system are you planning on? Or does it have to be Scorpius cos its routed? Thanks Ember, I'm going to try Scorpius since I'm starting from scratch with regards to digital. I've read of other routed tracks that have cannibalized the lane changers from Ninco and SCX but I'm going Scorpius all the way. Todd Use scorpius, its far better and will cost you less in the long run. My routed digital track uses SSD but I will soon change over, I built mine @ a year ago before scorpius was born. Although in saying that I "cannibalised" the system to use it is not quite correct, I have built all my own flippers and used Peco switchs to operate them, you will have to do all of this also. What I did was to simply take the opto board from the LC tyrack piece and fit under the track and wire it to the peco switch. This is what you will be doing with the scorpius LB, so really my track will take @ 5Hrs to convert to Scorpius and then I will finially be happy. Good luck with the track build, Suzuka is a great track for a routed circuit, especially digital....should be nice, I will have to visit with my scorpius cars one day when you are up n running. Digital wood is great, you will love it! :( Quote Paul NZ - Scale with Detail! Narangba Club Local Gold Coast Raceway 09 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tossedman Posted March 27, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 27, 2009 Use scorpius, its far better and will cost you less in the long run. My routed digital track uses SSD but I will soon change over, I built mine @ a year ago before scorpius was born. Although in saying that I "cannibalised" the system to use it is not quite correct, I have built all my own flippers and used Peco switchs to operate them, you will have to do all of this also. What I did was to simply take the opto board from the LC tyrack piece and fit under the track and wire it to the peco switch. This is what you will be doing with the scorpius LB, so really my track will take @ 5Hrs to convert to Scorpius and then I will finially be happy. Good luck with the track build, Suzuka is a great track for a routed circuit, especially digital....should be nice, I will have to visit with my scorpius cars one day when you are up n running. Digital wood is great, you will love it! My thoughts exactly Paul. Did you make your own flippers from aluminium? Any problems with them? If you make it to this half of the world you're more than welcome to stop off for a lap or three. As long as I can return the favour. Cheers, Todd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tossedman Posted March 27, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 27, 2009 So I've been playing a little more in Illustrator and took out one of the cross over lanes and added a squeeze section. Here are the two drafts so far. Modified to add a squeeze section The original Thoughts, criticism, let's have it. One thing I think it still needs is a crossover from the red to blue lane in the top right straight, but would it be better at the beginning or the end of the straight? By the way the original Suzuka circuit runs clockwise and this was drawn with that initially in mind. The start/finish line is at the beginning of that straight on the real track. Todd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kalbfellp Posted March 28, 2009 Report Share Posted March 28, 2009 I think this design would make a good 3 lane analogue circuit for someone with narrow space, I like it. Quote Phil https://www.hobartminiaturecarclub.com/ Email Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tossedman Posted March 28, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 28, 2009 I think this design would make a good 3 lane analogue circuit for someone with narrow space, I like it. That wouldn't be too hard to draw. I'll give it a go. Glad you like it. Todd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tossedman Posted March 28, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 28, 2009 I think this design would make a good 3 lane analogue circuit for someone with narrow space, I like it. You mean like this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul NZ Posted March 28, 2009 Report Share Posted March 28, 2009 Todd Don't try and turn an anolog track into a digital one, just plan and build a digital one. I made this mistake with my track and it has seen some major changes because of this, you will also find that where you have three lanes for example, one will never get used because it is just not in the right place or is not smooth enough. I like the changes that you have made, there is nothing wrong with having a section where to cars can be side by side for a bit before they have to choose their line into a corner. As for visiting, I just realised where you are but if I get to Canada I will look you up for sure and same goes if you get down to the gold coast of Aus, look me up, you can run a few laps with my scorpius powered V8 super cars . I will be watching your build closely as I am starting to plan my next track now...another routed digital track but more like yours, an F1/ Group C type of track. Quote Paul NZ - Scale with Detail! Narangba Club Local Gold Coast Raceway 09 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tossedman Posted March 28, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 28, 2009 Todd Don't try and turn an anolog track into a digital one, just plan and build a digital one. I made this mistake with my track and it has seen some major changes because of this, you will also find that where you have three lanes for example, one will never get used because it is just not in the right place or is not smooth enough. I like the changes that you have made, there is nothing wrong with having a section where to cars can be side by side for a bit before they have to choose their line into a corner. As for visiting, I just realised where you are but if I get to Canada I will look you up for sure and same goes if you get down to the gold coast of Aus, look me up, you can run a few laps with my scorpius powered V8 super cars . I will be watching your build closely as I am starting to plan my next track now...another routed digital track but more like yours, an F1/ Group C type of track. Hey Paul, No plans to turn it into analog or three lanes for that matter. Now that I've figured out Illustrator I can whip up a track outline in about 20 minutes or so. Just threw that last one up to see what it would look like. I'll work on refining the 2 lane version with a squeeze through the esses. I've thought of having three lanes along a straight away but this one's too short for that and like you said, that extra lane may never get used. Would make for some interesting starts and dashes for the first corner though. I lived in Oz for a year back in 2001. Did a teacher exchange to Blacktown (Sydney). Traded jobs and houses with an Aussie teacher for the year. Best time I've had in yonks. We're looking at another one someday so maybe I'll take you up on that super car offer. Cheers, Todd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tossedman Posted March 28, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 28, 2009 Ok here's the next one. Opened up the really tight blue lane through the hairpin. Should speed things up a bit through there. Todd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul NZ Posted March 28, 2009 Report Share Posted March 28, 2009 looking good, keep drawing! you will get the perfect line eventually. Quote Paul NZ - Scale with Detail! Narangba Club Local Gold Coast Raceway 09 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tossedman Posted March 28, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 28, 2009 Just changed the outline a bit on the inside of the hairpin here. Funny how a 5.8 km long track can look so short and stubby when it becomes a slot car track that has to fit in one's house. Here's a map of it from Google maps. Looks much longer doesn't it? Looking at this map again makes me think it needs some more tweaks, like squaring up the Degner curve... but that's for tomorrow, it's bed time. Here's the names of all the corners Doing some research about the track I found that it was designed by Europe's most prominent circuit designer, Dutchman John Hugenholtz in 1962. He too went through a number of variations before settling on what we now know as Suzuka (and even that has been updated a number of times, just this year in fact as the 2009 F1 stops at Suzuka again.) Here are some initial plans. How Suzuka could have looked if the original plans had been developed instead. and then Circuit evolution, from top: 1. 26 August 1960. First design. 2. 16 January 1961. Modified plan after an inspection tour of Europe. 3. 29 January 1961. John Hugenholtz designed plan. 4. 29 May 1961. Survey map. 5. 15 January 1962. Final design. This information and much more can be found at eTracks: Features - Evolution of Japan's finest. Who knew? Todd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Posted March 28, 2009 Report Share Posted March 28, 2009 Its looking great Todd, keep the ideas flowing, I do like the idea of this in a 3 or 4 lane analog track too. Quote Regards Rob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tossedman Posted March 28, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 28, 2009 (edited) In between shoveling snow from the sidewalks and chasing my three year old around the house and neighbourhood I managed to get some more time sitting in front of the computer. I first adjusted the esses a bit and narrowed the inside of the corners to come up with this, draft #6 And then I got to thinking that I should try to maximize the amount of track I can get into the space I have and widened a couple of the corners to come up with this version. Not convinced that I like it as much as the previous one. Draft #7 Whad'ya think? Todd Edited March 29, 2009 by tossedman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul NZ Posted March 28, 2009 Report Share Posted March 28, 2009 (edited) Just my opinion but I think you would be better with Draft #6 with a large sweeping bend, you will enjoy this more as it will make the racing smoother through this part of the track and after the hairpin you will want a bit of speed for a while. (what direction is Suzuka?, I think its anticlockwise??? Keep drawing, you are getting closer Edited March 28, 2009 by Paul NZ Quote Paul NZ - Scale with Detail! Narangba Club Local Gold Coast Raceway 09 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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