Finish Line

WorpeX Friday, 10/14/2011

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Hey All! I'm doing my best to get my track Redline Derby Ready so that when 2012 comes, I'll have a better chance at being selected as an official track! However, I badly need a finish line. I have no clue what sets come with a good one included though. I don't mind purchasing one, but if someone knows how to make a very good one, I wouldn't mind making one either!

Thanks!


Discussion

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GspeedR 10/14/11

The Rhode Island HW club uses a really nice one...

http://youtu.be/LgX1mWJM_74

Maybe someone there can provide you with the resources to build something similar?

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redlinederby 10/14/11
Site manager

It depends how many lanes you're going to have. The 2-lane finish line I use is from the V-Drop playset, but I know guys like JDC have a 4-lane finish line from another playset.

Hot Wheels playsets seem to go in and out of production pretty quickly so just keep your eye out in the stores and maybe look around eBay for some used sets.

Some of the bigger tracks will have electronic setups, like Jason in Texas and the Rhode Island club. If you have the means to get one, they're probably pretty good and far more accurate in some cases.

The nice thing about playset lines is that they attach directly to your orange track and you're pretty much done. Non-HW lines may require altering the track you already have, which can mean extra cost.

However, if you can design and figure out a DIY mechanical finish line, that's the holy grail if you ask me...something you can make that is reliable like a playset but made with simple parts from Home Depot.

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iowastockcars 10/14/11

Ran across this last night in how to build your own electronic scoring system.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Arduino-Controlled-Finish-Line/

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redlinederby 10/14/11
Site manager

I got an Arduino board last year with intent to build my electronic finish line and got pretty far but I'm not good enough with soldering nor electronics to turn it into a completed project. I was using light sensors as my detector like they do. I'm a programmer so coding the logic was the easy part for me, the actual wires and LEDs and stuff was the hard part. Circuits confuse me and I can't read a schematic to save my life.

The Arduino is a fun little toy and pretty cheap too even if you just want to play around with electronics. I learned a lot by fiddling but didn't really follow through with it. One really cool part about the Arduino board is you can get with a USB or network cable so it can plug right into a laptop which means you could build an near-automated tracking system for your races.

I have some electronic kits fully assembled and ready to go.

You'll have to build a housing to fit your track but all of the hard stuff is done. They come fully complete with finish line electronics, Start line switch w/ cable and power adapter.

The finish lines use infra-red light sensors, so there is no damage from actuating a mechanical arm, and there are two styles available. There is the led light indicator and the digital scoreboard.

I have setups for two and four lane tracks in each version.

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WorpeX 10/15/11

I have some electronic kits fully assembled and ready to go.

You'll have to build a housing to fit your track but all of the hard stuff is done. They come fully complete with finish line electronics, Start line switch w/ cable and power adapter.

The finish lines use infra-red light sensors, so there is no damage from actuating a mechanical arm, and there are two styles available. There is the led light indicator and the digital scoreboard.

I have setups for two and four lane tracks in each version.

This sounds amazing. Can I buy one? haha. I'm not too sure what you mean by building a housing to fit the track though. Also, does it calculate track time? Cause that would be sweet if it did.

I might just go with the V-Drop playset though. It's on Amazon for 45$, which is kind of pricey, but it comes with a starting gate too which might be handy.

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redlinederby 10/15/11
Site manager

The V-Drop starting gate won't really work on its own, it's kind of designed to work with their setup. Damn, $45 is quite pricey for that if all you need is the finish line...although it would come with track too. I wish Hot Wheels would re-release some of their playsets.

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iowastockcars 10/15/11

I have some electronic kits fully assembled and ready to go.

You'll have to build a housing to fit your track but all of the hard stuff is done. They come fully complete with finish line electronics, Start line switch w/ cable and power adapter.

The finish lines use infra-red light sensors, so there is no damage from actuating a mechanical arm, and there are two styles available. There is the led light indicator and the digital scoreboard.

I have setups for two and four lane tracks in each version.

Ohhh..tell me more. Drop me a PM if you are willing to sell anything there. Might make a good Xmas presents for the boys.

Finish line details posted on Texasdiecastracing.com

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JDC442 10/16/11

I have a two lane start gate I made when I first built my RDR designed track. I'm no longer using it, so if you're interested, I might be willing to part with it.
Diecast Cars, Hot Wheels, Matchbox

I have a two lane start gate I made when I first built my RDR designed track. I'm no longer using it, so if you're interested, I might be willing to part with it.
Diecast Cars, Hot Wheels, Matchbox


That is such a good looking start gate.

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JDC442 10/16/11

Thanks Jason.