[Bbdave]

I'm a slot car newby and planning a single lane track 1/32 for my model room i have drawn out a  base board to the dimensions I have available i can maybe add a small tweak here or there. Then a very rough track in red but here's where im struggling my lack of imagination scuppers me im looking for a track I can compete with myself lap time wise nice flowing bends etc. I have anyrail but I'd like to route the track so the curves are different and not even having a car yet im struggling with scale. Can anyone help with ideas etc.

   

Dave

[rallyhub]

Hi Dave,

For the distance between the slot and the outside of the bends I would use about 4 inches. In this way it is possible sliding your cars without the back bumping into a wall or other obstacles. For rally cars it is recommended to keep the distance between the inside of the bend (at the apex) and the slot about 2 inches. Maybe you'll need more distance for wider racing cars.
Some elevation changes on your course will really increase the challenge.
My Swedish Rally Track was also built this way.
https://slotracer.online/community/showt...246&page=3

Good luck with your own routed track.

Hub

[JasonB]

All of Hub's tracks are worth a good look, they are fantastic scenic tracks, and very well done.

In fact, you may want to check out our Members' Tracks section, if you haven't already done that. There are a wide variety of tracks on show, but it might just give you some ideas.

As for scale, the two major track manufacturers differ on the important matter of lane width, with Scalextric opting for 7.8cm or 3", and Carrera going for 10cm which is closer to to 4". Other manufactrurers go for something in between. All of them also have outside corner borders, because slot cars will wiggle their bums and stick their tails out around the corners when pushed. You'll need an extra 2-4" on the outside of most corners to allow for that. Obviously you are not tied to any of that, since you are building a routed track, but those are your tried and trusted measurements.

It might also be worth looking into the Routed Track Plans section. There are a wide variety of track plans, which might give you an idea of scale, or perhaps some ideas.

Perhaps this track might be of interest? It's an 'out and back' track with rally loops, which saves on space, but provides a different challenge at every corner, and allows for elevation changes, which are always good. 

I actually think your track design looks quite good, albeit with the caveat that you'll probably need more borders. You've got a decent length straight, followed by a compound curve, and another shorter straight, then a series of corners leading you round the back of track. I would change the radius of one of the two end corners if you want more variation, but your basic idea is good.

If you want a track planner that can handle routed tracks , then Ultimate Racer is probably your only choice.

[Bbdave]

Thanks, I'm intending the back curves to be elevated I'll take on the advice and measurements.

Dave

[JasonB]

I had a go at drawing a rough approximation of your track in Ultimate Racer. It has a 9cm track width with 7cm borders and it looks like this...

   


I coudn't resist trying out a couple of alternatives.

A figure of eight...

   


And a rally loops style track which bumps the track length up from 9m to 17m.

   

[Bbdave]

Double post.

[Bbdave]

I had a go at drawing a rough approximation of your track in Ultimate Racer. It has a 9cm track width with 7cm borders and it looks like this...




I coudn't resist trying out a couple of alternatives.

A figure of eight...




And a rally loops style track which bumps the track length up from 9m to 17m.

They are great the last one I really like particularly the sinuous lanes at the back. Do you print the plans off from the Ultimate racer or just use it as a guide and hand draw it?

[JasonB]

Personally I would just use it as a guide to hand draw it.

It 's not easy to print it off in exactly the right scale, and there will inevitably be parts that you want to change a bit when you get it up to full size.

[Bbdave]

Personally I would just use it as a guide to hand draw it.

It 's not easy to print it off in exactly the right scale, and there will inevitably be parts that you want to change a bit when you get it up to full size.

I know when I used anyrail for my railway I spent months tweaking and refining my plan then totally ignored it when I layed the track   it became more obvious the track flow and viewing angles.


Dave

[rallyhub]

It might be helpful to draw a grid on the printout and a scaled grid from that on the table.

Hub