Review: 3DBotMaker 4-Lane Electronic Finish Line
Anyone on here that is looking for a REALLY GOOD, simple finish line, these are GREAT! I have the 4-lane version and I never question the finish!
Started a new thread for the 2-Lane line
http://www.redlinederby.com/topic/2-lane-electronic-finish-retail/2531
We bought one for our 4 lane track for the LJLRC. It definitely is more accurate than the old 6 lane finish we were using although that served it's purpose for over a year.
The only thing that would make it better is if the spacing for the tracks was a little wider. The fit is tight with the 4 lanes going into it with the 2 outside lanes having a very slight angle the last 12" or so. For the safety of our member's cars our catch box has lane dividers of thin plexiglas, with the cars hitting 2" foam at the end of the box. Because of the tight fit of the track I had to run the two outside lanes coming out of the finish off on an angle so each car ends up in its own bay. I didn't think the run off angle was to severe but we had issues with the cars jumping the track and hitting the leading edge of the plexiglass divider hard enough to crack and chip it. So we only left the center divider and went to racing only two cars at a time.
So I'll have to work the bugs out so we can eventually run four cars.
Yes, the connectors going into the finish put track butt up next to each other, not a lot of wiggle room at all. The 3D Bot starting gate is the same way, but I guess that makes sense so the two line up well. I haven't had any issues with the track being tight but I don't have lanes in my catch box either, so I can see where that could create some kinks.
Overall though, I don't consider that a major flaw. If you're adding the 4-lane to an existing setup it might take some tweaking but if you're building a new track from scratch, you can account for it and have a nice configuration.
How about adding turns for the outside lanes? Might need stand alone catch boxes and it'll take up more room but might work.
In the Cops n Robbers race, I didn't really like the way the cars were 'pinching in' at the finish...I'm running about a foot of orange track from my drag track (using a Smitty adaptor), going into the finish. So, I thought I'd see how well the drag track lines up to the finish line. And, believe it or not, the tabs for the outer lanes hold the drag track in place! And, since I don't care about the outer lanes, I just ground the outer lane dividers off of the finish line, and it seems to work just fine. It moves the sensors to the inside of the lanes, but it still seems to work fine. I'll try to remember to take some pics.:)
Here's the pic...
http://i1074.photobucket.com/albums/w407/critterwerks/20160115_191749_zps0zcwjztu.jpg
I might add the center section and outer rail from a scrap piece of drag track, just to make it consistent through the finish. But, I've been running cars through it like this and it works fine.
I've got your Stopper right after the finish line, Smitty. Let me see what I can come up with to hold it all together...that's a good idea, Smitty! :)
Wow!!! So glad I saw this review!!!
I just bought the whole works. 2 Lane Finish Line, 2 Lane Starting Gate and this awesome sounding lane merging piece (I love crashing the slower cars...). All for $70. That's a steal!!!! I'm not sure i'll end up using the gate (I'm quite fond of my current one) but it was cheap enough to be worth the investment.
I'm excited for it all the show up!!
2 Lane Electronic Finish Line is now available. I've had a lot of requests for this. Its based on the same design as the 4 lane electronic finish line.