Another Track in the Making

Steve · #1 11-06-2002, 09:52 PM

Have been doing some test runs and the pit lane is definitely moving this weekend...it's hideous.

Steve · #2 11-06-2002, 09:52 PM

more

Steve · #3 11-06-2002, 09:53 PM

still more

Steve · #4 11-06-2002, 09:54 PM

and more

ripper7777777 · #5 11-06-2002, 09:57 PM

Nice I Like it, why are u moving the pit lane is it in the way, mine gets in the way in my test runs it caused alot of accidents, but it stays I just have to learn to avoid it and not to keep parked cars there.

Steve · #6 11-06-2002, 10:02 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ripper7777777
Nice I Like it, why are u moving the pit lane is it in the way, mine gets in the way in my test runs it caused alot of accidents, but it stays I just have to learn to avoid it and not to keep parked cars there.

It's just plain ugly, and I wanted that big sweeping turn that leads into the back stretch to be a fast, problem is, cars that drift to the outside in that turn end up in the pit lane hahaha...

DesertJedi · #7 11-06-2002, 11:25 PM

Nice work Steve. How 'bout a pic of the antennas on your cars...geeeeez, they look long, but much neater than my floppy a**ed ZZ antenna. Thanks for sharing.

Steve · #8 11-07-2002, 07:53 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by DesertJedi
Nice work Steve. How 'bout a pic of the antennas on your cars...geeeeez, they look long, but much neater than my floppy a**ed ZZ antenna. Thanks for sharing.

the antennas are CAT5. I live in a third floor loft in the city and get just about every stray radio signal out there, so with the CAT5 I can actually get about 10', where as without it I get 5'...sheesh. At work I get over 100'.

Some of the cars there are top secret prototypes, including one that has a half-height Zip chassis, Inverted Moto-Works PCB, Moto-Works 2 wire steering, Moto-Works gears and motor, and Johnny Lightening Die-Cast model Kit hubs and tires. Better pics soon once I decide to replace the light bulbs in my apartment.

john · #9 11-07-2002, 08:19 AM

I like it! And I'd leave the pit. I'd also leave things in the pit so there is a bigger incentive not to drift into it. An experienced racer will control the drift to keep to the inside, which is the more direct route anyway!

Great job on the track!

chp · #10 11-07-2002, 11:36 AM

Very very cool, Steve! How long did it take you?

Steve · #11 11-07-2002, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by chp
Very very cool, Steve! How long did it take you?

I'm still building, need grandstand to cover lap timer, ect, but I've been picking away, a little here, a little there for a few weeks. The hardest part is patience. The track was just pencil on painted wood for quite a while, and I ran on that over and over making little changes in corner radius, track widths, barrier placements...only when I was satisfied did I lay the grass and nail on the barriers. That's the problem with the pits, it wasn't in the plan, and was added on after the fact...it shows, and it just doesn't do anything for me. I think maybe I'll add another small module to the outside of the back stretch where it should be. What's nice is that it's two pieces now so pulling it apart and shoving it under a couch or bed is no big deal.

tylude · #12 11-07-2002, 06:34 PM

What material are yo using as the base of the track? Also how are your higher speed zips and bits running on those tight turns?
Awesome track !!!!!!

Steve · #13 11-07-2002, 07:24 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by tylude
What material are yo using as the base of the track? Also how are your higher speed zips and bits running on those tight turns?
Awesome track !!!!!!

Thanks Tylude. The base of the track is two foam core doors. There's a thin wood on the outside, and the inside is filled with foam, which actually makes for a pretty strong, solid, but lightweight foundation. I had to carry these things up three flights of stairs so I wanted them light, but I also wanted them strong enough to put on a couple saw horses if need be. I was able to find them in all sorts of different widths, and these particular ones were at a building supply surplus outlet. They were damaged on one side so at $15 a piece a couldn't pass it up. I sanded and rolled on a few coats of flat black acrylic paint, and it makes for a great surface...nice traction, but I can still push the front tires with the right setup. The wood also gave me something to glue and nail the balsa and plastic rails to.

Steve · #14 11-07-2002, 07:31 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by tylude
... Also how are your higher speed zips and bits running on those tight turns?...

oh, and the turns look worse than they are. The only really tight one is the last one before the start/finish line. The track is wide enough so if you get off line, you'll still be ok. With some fine tuning, I can get a dual cell clone around clean pretty consistently, but the track is really designed for mid-speed (red-turbo) gearing. Super modified cars definitely need not apply, the rumple crubs would launch you over the walls!