Going Blu Track
I know you are trying to avoid seams, but have you tried using a piece of the HW section track from the ramp to the blue track using the existing connector tabs. Not sure how they line up as to the vertical walls, but I would see putting them as close to the inside of the blue track and taping them in place - instead of having the drop off from the HW track as shown above.
Or tape them in place to each of the middle of the blue track lanes - maybe?
I know you are trying to avoid seams, but have you tried using a piece of the HW section track from the ramp to the blue track using the existing connector tabs. Not sure how they line up as to the vertical walls, but I would see putting them as close to the inside of the blue track and taping them in place - instead of having the drop off from the HW track as shown above.Or tape them in place to each of the middle of the blue track lanes - maybe?
The trouble with that is the blu track is about twice as thick as the arrow track so utilizing the connectors will not work as far as I can figure it out.......
keep us posted on how this track works out. I was thinking of going with a 50ft Blu Track Pro (Grey Track Color) but wasn't sure about getting it to lay flat. I know I could use Velcro to hold it down...but not sure if the cars would be faster on Blu Track vs. Hot Wheels seamless. Maybe you could do a comparo for us with some Hot Wheels Track.Preacher
Well I couldn't wait I ran some test heats using the 6 lane starter track for both types of track and ran cars head to head. There is no mind numbing difference in either track speed. The B T may have been the tiniest bit faster but I'm not sure. Cars ran smoother on the B T and significantly quieter. The HW kept pulling apart and sliding out of alignment.
Tomorrow I will run tests at a much steeper angle....
Cool...I really like this idea. The problem I was having, was trying to figure out how to unroll the track and keep it flat. We only have a limited amount of time to do our race, and the Hot Wheels track with the aluminum dividers work really well. But there is always this itching desire to stretch it out longer, 50ft. This is where the Blu Track would really shine. I'm thinking...using some Velcro you could easily unroll this track and keep it in place without any twisting and bumps in the track to cause wrecks. I just wonder if the extra lane width would cause some cars to have instability issues, and maybe even jump the center divider, and cause wrecks? Hey...I guess anything can happen. Keep us posted...I'm interested in this.
Preacher
is there a special reason you are using the 6 lane ramp ?...
you could anchor the blue track to your RLD incline board and make your own starter [preacher's spatula]/ [sloppy's macgiver] with the 6 lane finish.... much smoother transition...
i will fab up a steel, remote "string launched", "stroller" starter, or a finish line support if needed...
Cool...I really like this idea. The problem I was having, was trying to figure out how to unroll the track and keep it flat. We only have a limited amount of time to do our race, and the Hot Wheels track with the aluminum dividers work really well. But there is always this itching desire to stretch it out longer, 50ft. This is where the Blu Track would really shine. I'm thinking...using some Velcro you could easily unroll this track and keep it in place without any twisting and bumps in the track to cause wrecks. I just wonder if the extra lane width would cause some cars to have instability issues, and maybe even jump the center divider, and cause wrecks? Hey...I guess anything can happen. Keep us posted...I'm interested in this.Preacher, I run the BT 50 foot roll as my home track. If the temperature is at least 70 degrees where you roll it out you should not have any problems with it laying flat. I have my starting gate at about 6ft high so I have to make sure my track is pretty level, because they WILL become airborne if there are any noticeable bumps, like a transition from carpet to tile. All I had to do to fix that was put an unopened piece of junk mail under the track at the transition and it was cured.
Preacher
Looked for track on Wal Mart website. Sale must be over. But.....Amazon $33.99 from 21 sources. I too are being tempted.
It looks like the bottom is flat. Will you be attaching it to wood or anything? Is the lane wider than the HW track? Some questions from the curious as I might consider buying this and getting away from the segmented track.
The lanes are wider. I have a few Hot Wheels that would not run on Hot Wheels track ( 41 Willys pro Stock). I can run it all on there now.
I did a side by side comparison fast track run between HW track and Blu Track. I saw no comparable difference in speed. The ramp was a 6 ft long 1x8 at better than a 45 degree angle. The Blu Track was fastened by one screw thru the built in wall hanger plate. The HW track had to have screws in each piece to keep it from coming apart. Both tracks were laid over carpet with no boards beneath them. I ran 6 races switching lanes and trying different cars. The speed seemed about the same on each track. Let's face it gravity is gravity. The HW track did start to disconnect in places but it was just as fast as far as I can see. Blu Tracks advantage is ease of set up, No connection points to hit, adjustability and less frustration.
..............time will tell. Wish I had gotten the 50 ft track......
Let us know if there is any problems with cars jumping the lane divider, or bumping into each other while going down the track. Great Review & comparison.Preacher
No problems so far......except like I said when I made a jump. Oh tried to do a complete 180degree turn only the outside lane did it okay. The inside track car crashed nicely..I also made a loop and the cars whizzed thru that.....but of course those were only for fun.....drag racing is really my thing.....
Okay that sounds interesting. I will do that tomorrow. All I have is arrow track for comparison......