Linear Motor Experiments - 1:300 and 1:220 Scale Slot Cars

This is the final result of my short venture into (slotless) slot cars using the linear linear motor track system. The track is a 4m circuit using standard road pieces, and the electronics are based on the new controller design for Penzance. The technology is very similar to what Miniatur Wunderland is using for their Monaco F1 track, but much simpler, and obviously much less capable.
The system races human-vs-human, human-vs-computer or (as shown here) computer-vs-computer. Races are between two groups of 1 or more cars. The whole thing is functionally equivalent to a traditional 2-lane slot car system, but on a much smaller scale.
The 2020 F1 car 3D print designs are by TuringComplete on Thingiverse, scaled down to 1:300. The 1:220 1950s F1 cars are my own 3D prints. The train sounds are from the BBC Sound Effects Library. The other sounds, strange as it may seem, are the actual noises the cars make - the system is, after all, just an electric motor with a lot of loose, rattling parts.
More details are available on my website: modelrailmusin...

[@mandarhaval7880]

Great work

[@daveb.trains7019]

Totally amazing! Good job, very realistic!

[@treehousejackal]

How easily could a linear motor road setup be scaled up to, say, HO scale? The club layout I used to involve myself with used the Faller car system, where vehicles were steered magnetically but powered by an onboard motor. I’m inexperienced with the subject since I’ve never built a layout of my own, but it seems to me that propelling the cars magnetically would be more ideal, since there are fewer moving parts and therefore fewer points of failure. Do you have any personal insights on the matter?

[@modelrailmusings5981]

Alas, the concept does not scale up well, since the vehicle weight and speed increase faster than you can add magnets for traction. The coil size and current can be increased to compensate, but then the track gets hot and high power consumption means a shorter track. The larger scale makes the effective distance even smaller, and it is too obvious that the wheels don't actually turn. So, perfect for Z, good for T and (cars only) N.

[@Demun1649]

I want one of these in T, running 1968-1970 Formula One, 1966-1970 Can Am cars, and Anything pre-1968 classic cars. That would be smart, very smart. Just one question:- Why is there a giant, YELLOW alligator in the middle of the track? I didn't know they were yellow!

[@modelrailmusings5981]

I cannot quite get this down to T scale. In order to manage the high speeds and cornering, the cars need a full complement of 4x3mm magnets, so have a minimum length of 12mm. As for the yellow alligator, why, what color is yours?

[@Demun1649]

@@modelrailmusings5981 Before we ate him for Christmas dinner, (times are a bit tight in stupid post-Brexshite Britain), he was a very dull grey. A boring alligator.

[@thegreatrailroadstudios9096]

can you make big boy 4014 in t gauge

[@modelrailmusings5981]

There is a 3D print model of this up on Shapeways, designed to be runnable in conventional T gauge. I could do one too, but it would be a few days work, and my main focus is UK and Australian prototypes.