[connal]

I read with interest, the post from a couple of years back about the routed J-Trak solution being discussed (https://slotracer.online/community/showt...p?tid=1709) but couldn't find any more information on it. 

I am using a variation of the 'standard' J-Trak as the basis of a Scalextric hiring business (as yet, without any business...) but I'm already thinking about v2.0 of the modules. My thoughts turned to routed modules and instead, of reinventing the slotcar wheel, wondered if it had already been done. It looks like Jason got fairly down the routed track but I wondered if there were any further advances with it.

If I use routed modules, i would make the modules smaller, so that they are lighter, more manageable and fit in a car, rather than a van. Then I saw the post referenced above and LOVE the modules being the shape of the track. This is so much more elegant, I think, are much more manageable, less wastage in terms of mdf/whatever and scenery requirements. 

Has anyone had a go at making something like this and what are the experiences, good or bad?

Thanks,

Connal

[JasonB]

As far as I know nobody has made one yet.

But the techniques are much the same as building a routed club track, which by necessity involves building the track in sections, and the techniques are tried and tested.

The main differences are just that the modules in a club track wouldn't necessarily be designed to be rearranged, and also a J-Trak would normally include the out and return directions in each module.

[Kevan]

Does anyone know a good cnc routing company that can manage .dxf files, or someone with a small garage business with a CNC router that can machine 800x600 boards.

   

[JasonB]

I'm certainly no expert when it comes to CNC routing, but from my limited investigations I'd expect most of them to be able to deal with .dxf files, and routing a slot into a board is fairly simple work.

But you'd probably want somebody local, otherwise the delivery costs could be substantial.

[connal]

Would you be able to share you routed modules?

[tatter06]

George turner has posted something on Facebook about routed tracks, although more along the lines of actual track pieces rather than boards.

I used Booker Timber in elsemere port for my routed track, but as mentioned above I'd find somewhere local as delivery is probably more than the routing for something like a ot car track.

[autoavia]

More about George Turner's routed slot car track sections here

George Turner Models

RS Slot Racing had some prototype pieces at Gaydon.

[JasonB]

Would you be able to share you routed modules?

Unfortunately not.

Firstly, because they're all on my computer at home, and I haven't been back home in over a year. Secondly because they are presentation, or proof of concept drawings, and wouldn't be much use as a means to actually making a track, and finally because they're all produced in 3d Max, which very few people have.

If you're serious about having a go at a routed J-Trak, I could have a go at some more useful drawings, but we'd need to decide on some basic specifications, such as lane width, border width, barrier material and width, and so on.

[JasonB]

George turner has posted something on Facebook about routed tracks, although more along the lines of actual track pieces rather than boards.

I used Booker Timber in elsemere port for my routed track, but as mentioned above I'd find somewhere local as delivery is probably more than the routing for something like a ot car track.

More about George Turner's routed slot car track sections here

George Turner Models

RS Slot Racing had some prototype pieces at Gaydon.

I've been following this with interest, and David Caille has also come up with a modular system.

Both have potential, but both have a significant problem, in that unless you are very careful with the track design there may be issues with making the track join up. Just like any plastic track, a layout won't always meet up perfectly when you get to the end.

One of the big advantages of the J-Trak system, which I helped to develop with Duncan Kirby, is that no matter how complex you make the layout it's always guaranteed to join up perfectly. There are no ifs and buts about whether a J-Trak will join up at the ends, because the nature of the design and the specifications guarantee it.

Funnily enough I'm currently working on getting the Scalextric version of J-Trak reinstated on the site, but perhaps it's time to investigate a routed version as well? I still think it's a very sound concept.

[ConnalM]

The system I have adopted is to use the R1 radius as the entry exit spacing. It works fine for me, as I can connect pretty much any module to any other module; and I am quite happy to adopt that system for a routed track system. Similarly, I am happy to adopt the rest of the Scalextric dimensions, as this gives me a simple segue from the modules I have.

Not sure what you meant by 'border material'.

I can see the advantages of having the modules the same dimensions (as mine are currently) but I can see that there is a big saving in having them just a little bit bigger then the routed track itself.