As I've said, I don't have a ton of room, so I'm starting out with a 4 x 4 setup.The first layout is pretty elementary. Then I got some more track and experimented some. This one didn't quite line up perfect, and I played with it some more (and added some additional bracing for strength), but was unable to get a good photo before she who must be obeyed made me clear it out of the way. That setup was falling a piece or two short, anyway.
Hopefully more to come, and layout suggestions welcome!
Looks like a good start. Working in that small of space will be challenging. sometimes the track does not fit together perfectly and you need to trim the connectors some to help it lay flat. Also don't forget that you go "up" with more track if you want to. Multiple layers can be hard to see around, but can add distance and fun. Half the fun is trying to make a track work.
Ditto for the last post. UR 3.0 is brilliant. Circuit design and race management rolled into one and it's free. Within the circuit design section you can set your "footprint" for available space and just design circuits within that. It includes "track libraries" for all the commonly available track types and scales. Just choose your library and start slapping down track designs.....................
Layout two looks good fun with the different radii corners as San Marino said.
You can have a lot of fun in a small space. Here is the first stages of my micro track which I'm slowly building for my son. The board is even smaller than yours width wise so I've had to be inventive to get a layout on there. Cat added for scale!
Thanks for the comments, guys. I've checked out Ultimate Racer a bit, but seem to be doing better just shuffling pieces around.
I've thought about multiple levels, but will probably keep flat for now to make it lay better against a wall. I actually had a version 3 similar to 2, but had to take it down before I got a photo.
I may also have to go back to a simple layout, maybe even an oval. My kids are little, and don't always get the subtleties of adjusting speed around corners!
think about height changes more then adding layers. if you switch to 9" straight tracks you could make humps and have a little more flexibility in changing heights around the track to make it more interesting while maintaining the same layout. i just noticed you have smaller track sections as well you could rise one side and make like mo-gals where the track changes height left to right and up and down.
maybe you could add a section of flexible track as well, snake tracks are prefect from making really crazy sections of track in a small space.
Last edited by slotcardan; 07-20-2012 at 10:54 AM.
Thanks for the comments, guys. I've checked out Ultimate Racer a bit, but seem to be doing better just shuffling pieces around.
I've thought about multiple levels, but will probably keep flat for now to make it lay better against a wall. I actually had a version 3 similar to 2, but had to take it down before I got a photo.
I may also have to go back to a simple layout, maybe even an oval. My kids are little, and don't always get the subtleties of adjusting speed around corners!
Your last track picture is a good layout , you may not want to go multi-levels but you should , you could add a long straight from corner to corner diagonal would give you about 67" for straight line minus the curves either flat on the table or on one level up
That would give you more tracks for a smaller space
Last edited by MikeySlotCars; 07-20-2012 at 12:40 PM.
macsparty, take a look online at the HOSlotcarracing website. Greg Braun has a large section dedicated to race track layouts of all sizes that you can look at. Everybody starts somewhere with a layout; mine used to be temporary floor set ups, because there was no place for a permanent table layout. When I finally got basement space (yes, I have to clear things with the "boss" at times ), it was on a 4x8 sheet of plywood on sawhorses. Two lanes, with large spirals going up four levels, then across one side of the table to a "mirror image" set of spirals going down. Then I wanted four lanes, so the design changed again. Then I wanted some scenery, so I had to make room for that and change the layout again. Finally I got more room in the basement (as the kids grew up and moved out), so this is what I have now:
Currently at 61' in length, it has four Tomy "Tri-power" powerpacks to eliminate surge from deslots. It is always evolving; recently put in the banked turn between the pit & main straight (had been a "double dogleg"); replaced "criss-cross" track sections within my "split chicane" (under the Goodyear tire bridge) & just before the curve before my pit entrance for "squeeze" sections (much better drivability). I'm constantly fiddling with track structures & detail. I pick up structures & diecast cars from toy/hobby stores, garage sales, slotcarshows, or make & paint them myself. Still need to install a timing system, but pretty much where I want it to be for now. Point is, track size/design is like beauty; it's in the "eye of the beholder". Design a layout around your budget & the space available, and you can have as much fun as anybody.
Last edited by Speedhoppy; 07-22-2012 at 11:18 AM.
Reason: Updated Pictures / sentence structure
Hello
A while back someone wanted suggestions for a 4x4 layout(i think it was on this slot car forum) and someone posted three layout plans so I decieded to try out the layout first on my pingpong table and after setting up the layout and racing on it I bought a 4x8 sheet of plywood from my local home depot had it cut to 4 x 4foot three inches(I wanted the extra three inches for runoff and to make it easier to carry) and some leftover carpet and built the layout.I modified it slightly by adding some extra straights and bigger radius curves.
The layout is a blast to race on but not as much fun as my permanent 6x12 4 lane in my garage(it fits under my big layout).But much more simple to set up and go.I can easily carry it from the garage into the house turning it sideways to get it into the sliding glass patio door and I sit it on top of the kids train table or coffee table.I thought i was going to have to glue the track down but I didn't need to I can nearly turn the plywood on its side without the track even shifting.I plan on adding some retaing walls,grandstands,pit row and other simple landscaping features But improving my 4 lane is my main focus my little 4x4 is fun to pull out and race on.
E.S.
Last edited by blazingsaddles; 07-20-2012 at 03:57 PM.
First setup - 4 x 4
), it was on a 4x8 sheet of plywood on sawhorses. Two lanes, with large spirals going up four levels, then across one side of the table to a "mirror image" set of spirals going down. Then I wanted four lanes, so the design changed again. Then I wanted some scenery, so I had to make room for that and change the layout again. Finally I got more room in the basement (as the kids grew up and moved out), so this is what I have now:
Linear Mode
