Monacoesque New Rally Loops, wood to plastic track adaptors Options

[Holty]

I've just built some loops out of plywood to turn my Monaco plastic track into the Monte Carlo rally.
Here's a link to the Google video (12MB) and a smaller video (1MB)
Or try the Yahoo version if Google video is too slow.

There is one rough turn and one smooth/ice turn.
I'll put the construction photos up later this week.

Holty

This post has been edited by Holty: Oct 3 2007, 10:21 AM

[Tazracer]

Looks Great!! Can't wait to see your construction photo's, especially how you joined the wood to the plastic.

What timing are you using?

Cheers

[gazza]

how you joined the wood to the plastic.

You can try this method

http://slotcars.carlsoncomputers.com/Artic...arreraToMDF.asp

[Holty]

What timing are you using?

I built an LED/ light dependant resistor/ transistor circuit in a gantry (LDRs in under the slot). Across the C-E of the transistor the leads connect to and intercept a stop watch start stop button. Car automatically starts and stops the watch. To do more than one lap I need someone to turn off the gantry for the middle laps and turn it back on before the finish. I am thinking of a foot activated switch so I can do that myself.

Holty

[Holty]

Finally the photos:

The finished loops attached to the rest of the track. Note the copper tape goes over the timber and the adaptor track for conductivity. The orange/pink loop has a rough surface and will have more bumps landscaped later.


The other loop has a laminated surface that is slippery. It is a small loop/hairpin to fit in tight spaces.
Various configurations are possible allowing for many stages to a rally event.
The home built white space-age styled LED timing gantry can be seen just after the tunnel exit.

The Construction of the loops.

The slot is cut with two passes of a jigsaw to make it wide enough. The ends are not cut completely to the timber edge. This keeps it all together during assembly


Underneath thin ply is glued to secure everything. Then the end is then cut off to expose the slots at the adaptor point.


Cut a straight track in half and clean cut ends. Measure positions of reinforcing ribs and rail housing.


With the rib and rail measurements, the wooden ends are cut in about 3 cm, where the ribs and rail housing will overlap.


From the top surface timber is chiselled away to make a recess for the plastic track to sit on. Enough timber is removed to make the top surfaces butt evenly. Then the plastic track is screwed down and copper tape stuck down.


Under the join after screwing down the plastic track. Note the copper tape wrapping around the rail ends.

Additional information.
My track has direction switches for each lane. These need to be set in opposite directions for single lane mode. Also a jumper lead connects the Black (track) connection pin from one controller station to the other. This means the one controller provides current to both lanes.

Holty

[Sports Racer]

That's a neat idea. How big is the board it's on?

[Holty]

How big is the board it's on?

The chipboard table is about 1.5 x 3 m.
The larger loop was cut from a ply scrap of about 60 x 50cm.

Holty

[numbers]

The chipboard table is about 1.5 x 3 m.
The larger loop was cut from a ply scrap of about 60 x 50cm.

Holty

That's a top mix of racing action AND (potential) scenery in not a lot of space!
The possible variations will keep it interesting too!!!
Awesome job Holty.

[Holty]

An update.

A view from the north end with the Monaco hairpin replaced with a laminated timber hillclimb.
This was the layout used for the Victorian round of the 07/08 Rally of Oz Proxy.
The wood track joins with screws through the lugs of the scaley track (untidy but effective).
The white wooden section has its own power tap so the joins with the plastic track are only physical not electrical.
The plastic section at the south end can be reconverted to a 2 lane race track after removing the rally loops.

Holty