56 replies to this topic

[charlesx]

Hi all.

Munter and others will have noticed gradual progress with Le Breton Bros racing activities in New Plymouth over the last 12 months in particular.

Always in my brother's (Paul) mind has been a 3 lane routed wooden track but I would have to say at this stage it is no further advanced than 6 months ago.

That said however I have worked up some potemtial designs using Ultimate Racer 3 and the 4 lane Scalextric Sport templates. The criteria behind this approach being that this equates to about the width of a 3 lane wooden track.

Size needs to be about 5.6m x 1.8m but can be a little wider if necessary. A flowing but technical track is required with close to equal lane lengths/lap times. It is hoped to have it routed via CNC process and almost certainly will use braid inset into the surface.

We are not particularly interested in scenic effects but are keen to have a variety of curves, graduated corners where appropriate and a couple of decent straights. Equal length/laptime requirement probably dictates a cross over is required but we would be keen to keep all on one level if any ideas spring to mind. We however are not interested in squeezes. In other words a good all round track. Surface will probably be smooth and glossy similar to Chris Wong's and Munter's tracks at Napier.

Here are some ideas for your comments.







Look forward to your input.

Regards

Chas Le Breton
New Plymouth, NZ

[drewdownunder]

charlesx, on Jun 11 2010, 05:58 PM, said:

Hi all.

Munter and others will have noticed gradual progress with Le Breton Bros racing activities in New Plymouth over the last 12 months in particular.

Always in my brother's (Paul) mind has been a 3 lane routed wooden track but I would have to say at this stage it is no further advanced than 6 months ago.

That said however I have worked up some potemtial designs using Ultimate Racer 3 and the 4 lane Scalextric Sport templates. The criteria behind this approach being that this equates to about the width of a 3 lane wooden track.

Size needs to be about 5.6m x 1.8m but can be a little wider if necessary. A flowing but technical track is required with close to equal lane lengths/lap times. It is hoped to have it routed via CNC process and almost certainly will use braid inset into the surface.

We are not particularly interested in scenic effects but are keen to have a variety of curves, graduated corners where appropriate and a couple of decent straights. Equal length/laptime requirement probably dictates a cross over is required but we would be keen to keep all on one level if any ideas spring to mind. We however are not interested in squeezes. In other words a good all round track. Surface will probably be smooth and glossy similar to Chris Wong's and Munter's tracks at Napier.

Here are some ideas for your comments.







Look forward to your input.

Regards

Chas Le Breton
New Plymouth, NZ

Chas,

From this humble greenhorn's vantage, the top two designs appear to be quite involved, whereas the bottom design seems to flow a lot better, and for me, the latter would be pick of the bunch.

Drew

[Johnnyfly41]

I like the bottom one best. Flow, position of overpass for visibility and technical section at the left.

Using a flexible strip to route it yourself you can flare entry exit at your whim and make for a very realistic flowing design. elevation changes are cool, I was a little shy about them on my layout, wish I had added more.

You can use the flexible strip to help you lay it out directly on the MDF.

Wood gives you flexibility and will allow you to build a more flowing and realistic appearing track.

If you have not been there, www.oldslotracer.com has hundreds of home routed tracks to view.

Best of luck,

John

www.pretzelcityspeedway.com

[nvmyre]

Hi Chas

You're scalextric layout is actually very good. Might I suggest you have a go at drawing that up as a 3 lane routed track, and maybe change the hairpins to be slight different radii, and in general make the layout a little larger. I think it could work out very well, although you may of course be bored of that layout.

Regards
Craig

[gzminiz]

i like the bottom one best as well

[charlesx]

Thanks for all the helpful comments everybody.

Think below is final track design or very close. Quite like the long sweeping curves and variety of corners. May look a bit different to previous reccomended design but tried to keep to 1.8m wide. Also 350mm wide track to faciliate 100mm track centres and 100mm on outside of curves/500mm on inside.

See what you think. Further comments most welcome. Drivers positions would be at bottom.



Regards

Chas Le Breton

[munter]

Chas, 100mm on the outside of curves isn't really enough....go for 120 or even more.
regards

[SlotsNZ]

I like it!

[kalbfellp]

Great use of the available space, I have to like it it is a narrow version of one of the designs I looked at when I designed Shelmore.

[charlesx]

Ta for the comments re track. My late mother always said "waste not, want not" or something like that.

Re gutter I have since measured my own track (Scaly type with infils). Gutters are mainly 110-120mm where there is a restriction. Will certainly look at making a little wider.

As I have said to you Munter I must check my Nascar as it is probably longest. I can certainly make my Slot-it Audi R8 knock barriers but I doubt that is the fastest way around.

Just received a call from little brother Paul so I am off racing.

Regards

Chas Le Breton

[charlesx]

I am over in WA at present and had a great visit to Syd's track in Freemantle. Saw and tried all sorts of cars I have only seen on internet before. Nice track with Ferro paint surface. Not as course as I had thought. Syd is agent for MJK tyres so they were on many of the cars. Certainly no problem with grip. Got some good ideas for construction of track in New Plymouth when it happens.

Regards

Chas Le Breton
now in Karratha

[SlotsNZ]

charlesx, on Jul 6 2010, 12:46 PM, said:

I am over in WA at present ........

Regards

Chas Le Breton
now in Karratha

Well that's a sudden surprise - - - - So, do we call you "shifty" now? "shifty le Breton" . . . . yeah, . . . that has a certain ring to it...

Syd, now don't you go corrupting this young fella with all your australian talk of sand-paper tracks

[gzminiz]

make excessive gutters, I failed and have cars smacking the fence a fair bit. What is worse is I use chain link style fence in areas and if a car smacks a nail (post) it makes a lovely ting and the cars goes tumbling. Cars even hit smack the wall halfway down the front straight on mine (~2m long) Only thing i wish was better was my gutters in the turns.

[Syd]

munter, on Jun 17 2010, 03:40 PM, said:

Chas, 100mm on the outside of curves isn't really enough....go for 120 or even more.
regards

Hi John I think Chas has seen the light after racing on my track ,most of my corners have between 120 and 130 on the outside with 105 centres between the lanes.I think he is even considering eliptical routing.

[munter]

Syd, on Jul 6 2010, 06:31 PM, said:

munter, on Jun 17 2010, 03:40 PM, said:

Chas, 100mm on the outside of curves isn't really enough....go for 120 or even more.
regards

Hi John I think Chas has seen the light after racing on my track ,most of my corners have between 120 and 130 on the outside with 105 centres between the lanes.I think he is even considering eliptical routing.

Great stuff Syd....it often helps to see rather than be told.
thanks and regards

[Syd]

munter, on Jul 6 2010, 03:40 PM, said:

Syd, on Jul 6 2010, 06:31 PM, said:

munter, on Jun 17 2010, 03:40 PM, said:

Chas, 100mm on the outside of curves isn't really enough....go for 120 or even more.
regards

Hi John I think Chas has seen the light after racing on my track ,most of my corners have between 120 and 130 on the outside with 105 centres between the lanes.I think he is even considering eliptical routing.

Great stuff Syd....it often helps to see rather than be told.
thanks and regards

I don't think it took much convincing after having a run on the track!

[charlesx]

Hi all.

The building begins.

Old track was removed Saturday but has been sold to local so we still be able to use when set again and get an extra member for our local group as a bonus.

I am about to start cutting out timber for base and legs following Mark Burgess's template (see TheSlotRaceShop website).

Looks like CNC cut grooves are the order of the day.

Fingers crossed.

Regards

Chas Le Breton

[charlesx]

Hi again.

Things are moving fast (particularly for us). Three days in and baseboard frame is all pre-cut ready for assembly.

Will provide some progress photos shortly.

Regards

Chas Le Breton

[charlesx]

Hi all.

Construction is underway at last. Here are the first two progress shots:

1. Cutting phase.


2. All precut ready for transport to Paul's and assembly.


Regards

Chas Le Breton

[charlesx]

Hi again all.

Stage 3 Framework assembly all but complete Sunday 26/9/2010


Stage 4 CNC cutting complete Tuesday 28/9/2010


Getting to the exciting part now.

Regards

Chas Le Breton