Reposting (lost in a long thread)
Okay, so the first layout is complete. Testing with 1 and 2 cars went well, but 4 cars has proven a little chaotic, often 1 or 2 cars getting to the finish, with another two stuck on a bend after a collision sidelined them.
I am thinking the best way of helping more cars to finish is to maintain a sharper angle of descent, so have managed to increase the slope running into turn 4. My questions:
- I have kept my turns flat, i.e. the track is sloped to the curve, which sits on a 'shelf' and is flat. Is it ever a good idea to make the exit sit at a lower height than the entrance? Would this not make the cars more likely to clear the turns? Or does it create too much instability.
- Does the stability of the track matter, i.e. does securing it to the shelf make much practical difference? As I am testing, I wish to avoid attaching the track to the shelf for the moment. But I cannot help conclude that the better performance of the Spool Heads curves to those of the crash racers set reflects their relative stability.
Thanks for any feedback. I hope to have some videos of testing ready once my lighting situation resolves itself =)
Discussion
What I have found is loose turns and unsupported track sucks the energy out of the cars and the track itself requires constant readjusting. I had a real hard time getting any consistency until I started securing the track/turns to some kind of support. It made a huge difference. As the track got faster I then had to start adjusting the angle of the lanes to keep cars from flying off.
I tried really hard not modify any of the turns, starter or cross over until I had a working track. I didn't want to have to replace a $50 turn that I messed up. That didn't work out too good. Every time I set it up I got a different result. I ended up using very small wood screws to hold the turns and track connectors in place. (Be sure to pre drill any parts you plan to use a screw.) Once I got the track secured it became much easier to work with.
Whether its one lane of orange track or 2 lanes or open track --- you need to secure some way. When I'm testing things I will often use small blocks of wood scrap (something like 1/2 inch square) and then just use a drop of super glue or some E6000 and put a few blocks on the inside of the curve and a few on the outside of the curve. Basically pinning the track between the blocks of wood. If you need to move or change something just pop the blocks off and then reglue. Once all is working you can screw down as needed.
Thanks for the advice. I will defintely be careful when attaching these curves. I may have found a useful solution. On Amazon I found a supplier of cheaper velcro tape. It seems to work really well thus far.
From what you all said, a unsecured track is just slowing things down, if not sucking the energy from the cars. That matches what I saw too. OK I will fix them down now and see what else I can improve.
Yes, secure the track, secure the turns. To make a 180 turn flex takes energy, energy that is being sapped from a little car that's trying to cross the finish line. The plastic is often brittle so be gentle with screws. Hot glue gun is an option, get creative.
Food for thought, good luck.