My slot car journey so far, Carrera Digital 2024

[@LOBmcguire]

Great layout. I am new to Carrera as well.

[@tomsidener]

Welcome aboard, If you ever have any questions please feel free to reach out.

[@voivode2591]

Hi Tom, Thanks for your videos. I just recently got back into slot cars. 1:32/1:24 this time around. I am currently planning a modular layout that I can move. It will be in the 50-75’ track length range. I really like the Slotmods Lemay’s museum layout and plan on building a modified version of that. I am going to use about a 2’ elevation change front to back and will be stretching it out to create a space to access all of the layout from one side. I was looking for information where people were combining different radius, bank, and the curved overpass track sections. I want to build a course that flows well and has some technical sections.

[@tomsidener]

Yeah I tried a multi level setup at first but ended up liking the flat track better. The flat track does however limit the size.

[@voivode2591]

I had a very large AFX track back in the 90’s. I gave that set to my grand son. I did find mixing banked and flat turn pieces had some interesting results. Like using a portion of a banked turn to start an incline. I don’t like over and under layouts because of the blind spots. I want to build one that glows like most wood tracks. After purchasing and experimenting with the 4 15 banked curve and the curved overpass sections I think it is possible. Watch the way the cars flow on the Slotmods video of that track. The supering of the corners and inclines is fantastic. The go footage reminds me of some of the onboard camera footage from the 1970 can-am race series. I am enjoying the adventure.

[@kevinclayton3179]

Hello Tom I saw your videos on the analog timer and now am also learning about arduinos, man thats a deep rabbit hole. I've had a Carrera digital for a little over a year and got a Axle box for analog. I thought I saw somewhere in your videos that you live in Texas by Canyon Lake, Im in New Braunfels an looking forward to your channel.

[@tomsidener]

My A/D box is very similar to the axel box although I designed it myself (same principle). Unfortunately I live in Illinois. (wish I lived in Texas)

[@twolinesslotcars]

Looks great Tom! Really enjoy your progression!

[@tomsidener]

Thanks Marty, Some of it is definitely thanks to you! Thanks for all the great info and help.

[@joetrinks2570]

Hi Tom, are you planning on making a video on your A/D box?

[@tomsidener]

Yes I am planning on doing that. I am going to have to put together some graphics because the inside of the box is pretty much a mess of wires and it would be really hard to see on a video what is going on. I will dig up my schematics and some pictures I took while making it, and try to put together something that is clear and understandable.

[@tombackes9557]

Good morning Tom. I subscribed to your channel because Marty Ford highly recommended you. He has a KZbin video on using a web camera with Race Coordinator. I have an analog Sears Marx Professional 1/24 set from 1966. I set up Race Coordinator with a webcam using Web Zone Trigger to count laps and introduce a fuel feature to make things interesting. Would you happen to know if there is a special computer language for webcam.exe parameters -lap 1, -pitenter 1, -pitexit 1 etc. and who invented it? BTW I love your ingenuity and techy know-how. Is your current layout 132nd scale?

[@tomsidener]

Yes my track is 1/32. Unfortunately I am not familiar with webcam.exe. I used a camera based lap counter when I first setup my track but I had a lot of trouble with it. The problems I had lead me to develop the lap sensors installed in my track.

[@tombackes9557]

Tom, Thanks for the quick reply. Webcam.exe is built into Race Coordinator. The origin for the different parameters used for the camera zones in WZT. seems to be a well kept secret. Once the recommended parameters are entered into Web Zone Trigger and the zones are properly spaced, sensitivity is set to about 93% for each zone and there is plenty of lighting it works a treat. I will certainly watch all of your slot car and electronic related videos. Sincerely, Tom

[@joetrinks2570]

Hi Tom, are you planning on doing a video of how you made the digital to analog box?

[@tomsidener]

Yes I can do that. I am going to have to put together some graphics because the inside of the box is pretty much a mess of wires and it would be really hard to see on a video what is going on.

[@markcornman628]

Hi Tom, track looks great! I also would love to see how you made the analog digital switch box, maybe you could make another step by step, ( some of us are real visual) Thanks!

[@tomsidener]

The digital to analog video is out there now, enjoy!

[@kevinclayton3179]

Thanks for the reply In your video today you show two lap counters on the table next to the track. Do you have any plans to make a video on this counter li 3:31 ke you did with the track sensor. Thanks Kevin

[@tomsidener]

Yes. I currently have an order from china for an updated PCB for the lap counters. The first one you see in the video has a few issues. I had to cut trace and cluge the back to get them working. Hopefully the new boards will be perfect. Once I have the boards perfect, I will make a video and make the boards available for purchase from PCB way. I will also provide a list to all the components needed for the build.

[@kevinclayton3179]

Looking forward to the video