Combining track systems
Alan Winston
system, but I find that most of my running is Rally style, and now the
Ninco Rally Loops and the SCX "Super Sliding Curve" are calling to me.
:)
So I started thinking (dangerous activity), and decided that the "do not
mix track systems" really shouldn't apply to Rally, since the different
surfaces and magnet forces should nicely simulate different road
surfaces.
Ninco is kind enough to provide a Ninco/SCX adapter, so mixing these two
tracks (and Scalextric Sport & Classic, if it comes to that) shouldn't
be a problem.
I've thought of three different options for a Carrera to Ninco adapter
track so far:
- Cut Carrera and Ninco straights lengthwise, and cut "comb" slots them
crosswise (approaching, but not through, the contact rails) from either
side, until they can be warped to mate. Fill the comb slots.
- Cut a Carrera chicane piece at the point where the slots match the
Ninco separation, splice the two pieces to two halves from a cut Ninco
track
- Cut Carrera and Ninco lane-change crossovers in half at the crossover
point, file and fill the slots at the cut until the slot car guides will
pass through reliably and smoothly, splice.
I consider those to be in increasing order of appeal, as far as my
fabrication skills and motivations go. It sort of depends on how the
electrical contact is handled through the crossovers -- if it is jumper
wires, great.
Whatever, I'll make it work somehow, eventually.
But a last big question hangs ominously over my head:
** Am I going to be able to design track plans on the computer? **
Is there planning software that even lets one mix Ninco & SCX/Scalextric
using the commercial adapter track?
Is there planning software that will let me define a home-made
Carrera/Ninco adapter and combine the two track systems (plus SCX!) in
the same layout?
For that matter, is there even software that lets me plan with the
single-lane Ninco Rally sections?
--
Alan Winston
Seattle
Kai Andersen
> Ninco separation, splice the two pieces to two halves from a cut Ninco
> track
Sounds like a good idea.
>
> - Cut Carrera and Ninco lane-change crossovers in half at the crossover
> point, file and fill the slots at the cut until the slot car guides will
> pass through reliably and smoothly, splice.
Sounds like a brilliant idea, easy to do !
>
> But a last big question hangs ominously over my head:
>
> ** Am I going to be able to design track plans on the computer? **
>
> Is there planning software that even lets one mix Ninco & SCX/Scalextric
> using the commercial adapter track?
>
> Is there planning software that will let me define a home-made
> Carrera/Ninco adapter and combine the two track systems (plus SCX!) in
> the same layout?
>
> For that matter, is there even software that lets me plan with the
> single-lane Ninco Rally sections?
Tracker2000 can easily do what descriped. Download at www.slotrace.com and
register for only $40.
Sincerely,
Kai Bach Andersen
Alan Winston
>> crossover point, file and fill the slots at the cut until the slot
>> car guides will pass through reliably and smoothly, splice.
>
> Sounds like a brilliant idea, easy to do !
It would be much better if the two crossing angles were the same, but
they aren't, though they don't look too far out.
At least all the power jumpers are indeed wires, so the only soldering
will be wire to wire, and all the cutting and forming will be plastic.
I did pick up the needed parts today, so I'll be trying it soon, and
will report.
> Tracker2000 can easily do what descriped. Download at
> www.slotrace.com and register for only $40.
Hmmm.
I'll have to explore it further then. From my cursory look this morning,
it didn't look like it would do it.
Thanks,
Alan
MaFt
> > www.slotrace.com and register for only $40.
>
> Hmmm.
>
> I'll have to explore it further then. From my cursory look this morning,
> it didn't look like it would do it.
i have this program - you can design your own 'parts' with measurements, no.
of lanes, angles etc etc.
try the shareware version!
MaFt
Alan Winston
> measurements, no. of lanes, angles etc etc.
>
> try the shareware version!
I tried the Tracker 2000 shareware version a while ago, and decided in
favor of SlotMan ( http://www.slotcarmanager.de/ ) based on it meeting
my needs at the time, and being free versus $40 for Tracker 2000.
I looked at Tracker 2000 again prior to posting, but did not manage to
dig deep enough to figure out how to do what I needed before being
discouraged by what seemed to be a tendency towards bugginess and poor
user interface.
Based on an earlier reply in this thread, I went back and tried Tracker
some more, finding some even worse bugs (when you select a track
definition type and click "delete," it deletes the last definition in
the list, not the one selected -- i.e. deleting the one you just created
and worked on and are happy with, not its unsuccessful "temporary"
predecessor; saving definitions between certain steps is required to
avoid a screwed up definition) but ultimately satisfying myself that it
will do what I want in a manner that SlotMan will not.
I've now gotten my registration code and have used Tracker 2000 quite a
bit, but I find I am continuing to use SlotMan most of the time for
things that don't run up against its limitations. I remain unconvinced
that I will ever stop using it completely. There are too many things
that SlotMan does better. There are certainly other things that SlotMan
doesn't do as well, and it has its own user interface problems, but I
still expect it to remain a valued part of my toolkit.
Slotman will allow you to use a limited selection of track from up to
three different systems, or an extended selection of track from one
system and a limited selection from another, it will allow you to define
your own track sections within limits (they have to be variations of
existing sections. If I could have worked entirely within those
limitations, I would not have been willing to spend $40 for Tracker
2000. If both programs were $20, I would consider it a tougher call --
but I haven't even considered SlotMan's race management features.
Carrera ( http://www.carrera-toys.de ) provides a customized version of
Slotman's track planning modules on their downloads page. Carrera fans
may find this of particular interest.
--
Alan Winston
Seattle