The First Formula One F1 Monaco Grand Prix at the Miniatur Wunderland 2024

Many enthusiasts of rail transport modelling and scale model cars have been waiting for it for a long time: On April 25, 2024, the new section of Monaco was opened at the Miniatur Wunderland, the world’s largest model railway exhibition in Hamburg, Germany. The new miniature world on an area of 70 square meters was officially opened in the presence of Prince Albert II, Princess Charlène and their twins Prince Jaques and Princess Gabriella. Apart from the landscape, the marina and the beautiful houses of Monaco-Ville, the Formula One F1 race track in 1/87 scale is an absolute speciality and a real world first!
Formula One, commonly known as “Formula 1” or “F1”, is the highest class of international racing sanctioned by the “Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile” (FIA). The FIA Formula One World Championship has been one of the world’s premier forms of racing since its inaugural running in 1950. The Monaco Grand Prix is a Formula One motor racing event held annually on the Circuit de Monaco. It is widely considered to be one of the most important and prestigious automobile races in the world. The race is held on a narrow course laid out in the streets of Monaco, with many elevation changes and tight corners as well as the tunnel, making it one of the most demanding circuits in Formula One. In spite of the relatively low average speeds, the Monaco circuit is a dangerous place to race due to how narrow the track is, and the race often involves the intervention of a safety car.
Therefore, it was a particular challenge to build a model layout of this world-famous car race. In contrast to conventional scale model cars on model railroad layouts, the racing cars are controlled by an innovative drive system based on magnetic induction. This technology makes it possible for the miniature vehicles to drive truly autonomously and to influence each other. This means that every miniature car race has very different sequences and is truly unique.
The technical development of the car race took a total of eleven years! The main elements of this technology are so-called Halbach arrays. The racing track is 22 metres long and contains 24 track panels, 90 control panels and 90 positioning panels. Electronically generated magnetic fields on that panels let the race cars move in fractions of a millisecond. Furthermore, over 100,000 lines of programming code were required to develop the software. There are more than 39,000 meters of cable, about 5,700 hall sensors and at least 2,800 temperature sensors underneath the system.
In addition, a camera system was installed to film the race of the miniature vehicles directly from the race track. Similar to real television broadcasts, small micro-sized cameras are used to transmit a video stream to large screens installed in the model railway exhibition hall. These micro-sized cameras - adapted from Raspberry Pi Camera Modules - have been invisibly installed along the race track (e.g. behind the windows of houses or in ambulances parked along the track).
The team of Miniatur Wunderland saved the video data from each micro-sized camera and made it available to Pilentum Television for this video. Because the Raspberry Pi Camera Modules do not use autofocus, some video images are blurred. The cameras will therefore need to be correctly adjusted in future to improve the image quality. But note, this video footage are - as written in the video title - recordings of the first official race.
Miniatur Wunderland
www.miniatur-wunderland.com
Pilentum Television
www.pilentum.de
Keywords
#f1 #grandprix #racing
Credit
Video footage by courtesy of Miniatur Wunderland

[@NewtypeCommander]

The funny thing is, this is probably the most wheel-to-wheel action you will ever see at Monaco.

[@1986Unlimited]

This is the first time in my life I've seen a scaled model version of an F1 race. Wow. The stage. The speed and movement of the cars and the audio. "It's done so incredibly well" is an understatement.

[@chrisstephens6673]

Very realistic, with the same level of overtaking as the real thing!😉

[@barfuss2007]

this took over 10 years of development and never giving up, a masterpiece unique in the whole world.

[@mowax74]

@@chrisstephens6673 Watch the official Miniatur Wunderland KZbin Channel: The whole track is a large circuit board with magnets on it that can be triggered to move the cars forward bit by bit. Difficult here is that the track is not even. So how to bend the boards in height without getting any gaps? In terms of the software: Each car has it's own "AI", with a specific programmable driver skill (yes, they do mistakes, that other cars try to exploit), watch at 2:25 the overtaking. So no race will be identical. Are you impressed now? ;-)

[@kyleSD70MAC]

The Dunder Mifflin ad got a good chuckle when I noticed it lol. This racing section of the layout is pretty cool!

[@JeffreyOfTroy]

Wayne Enterprises

[@gerdschnittger3882]

Congratulations to the Miniaturwunderland team and especially to those who took care of the Monaco implementation. Thank you for your perseverance, despite the many setbacks that occurred when implementing the race. You have once again outdone yourself. The car racing looks absolutely realistic. What's next? Walter Röhrl in the Urquattro at Pikes Peak? We can be excited...

[@JoeOvercoat]

Pikes Peak is a grand idea. 👍

[@richardkinkead7823]

Amazing how far they have come with model railroading since the 40's.

[@thepreacher958]

😮 I….just…can‘t….find…words!!! Sooo cool!

[@msb3235]

Oh my god! After seeing so many trains and trains, this is so refreshing! And incredible too!

[@DLiberator78]

This is amazing. Very exciting race, excellent detail around the track and great camera placement. Thanks for uploading this. Loved the engine sounds also.

[@kenmunozatmmrrailroad6853]

Simply unbelievable!

[@danjmcs]

This is truly a remarkable achievment and simply amazing to watch!

[@hughzarie1860]

Miniatur Wunderland have outdone themselves yet again with this masterpiece. Very very clever. Bravo 👏🏻

[@ian_jenkins]

Amazing, incredible, stunning and every other superlative that there is. Incredible modelling skills to pull this off. Well done.

[@Ralph2]

I followed this build with great interest. The technology behind it is truly clever, the attention to detail jaw dropping. You can't make it out on the video, but the big (tiny!) screens around the circuit display the place positions of the cars in real time.

[@wasanaboxing]

Wow wow wonderful sharing ❤

[@jackthebassman1]

This is nothing less than STAGGERING!!

[@luger700]

Watching out how this technology started out in it’s infancy, it’s so crazy to see it just work!

[@NewModelRailway1]

This is the kind of feature Pete Waterman was talking about adding to the Making Tracks layout. I can see why he was impressed by it.

[@dioramasarah2164]

Uimitor ,fără cuvinte ,extraordinar👍💪🤩😎

[@SteveMikre44]

Absolutely amazing...🏁🏎

[@tedsplaneclips538]

Wow that's cool, I like that, I'll be doing a stop motion of Monaco soon!

[@user-kr8yv6qe1w]

They need 11 Years developing this system. I love the Miniatur Wunderland in Hamburg.❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@mjproebstle]

That was brilliant! Top scale race I’ve ever seen. Cheers!

[@user-lu1lh9zc1r]

wonderful❤😊

[@uriel736]

Absolutely incredible!

[@rayisland23]

WOW!!! Absolutely amazing

[@mikep8442]

Full stop awesome 😮

[@LesTrainsduBalbu]

Bonjour ! Merci beaucoup pour cette vidéo ! Je suis très impressionné par le réalisme du déplacement des voitures !!! Bravo à toute l'équipe du Miniaturwunderland ! 🙂

[@andyfiala7500]

So this is unique! Perfect, precise work!👍👏

[@madvente]

Next level - wow!

[@bentullett6068]

Amazing all you need now are a set of classic F1 cars for the Monaco Historic event.

[@nicholassmith3786]

Wish we get one those at home

[@user-pu9qi9tk4f]

速度帯に応じて車列が伸びる、ラインも各車異なる、追い抜きもしやがる・・・再現への執念がすごい

[@pilentum]

コメントありがとう！日本にたくさんのご挨拶を！

[@TheGambitMan]

2:52 The Wayne Enterprises advertising is fantastic!

[@Ruggedrails]

Bloody Amazing 🤩 so good and I don’t usually watch F1 I’m a v8 supercar fan

[@stevenikitas8170]

Absolutely amazing...

[@thorstenschopper8941]

Genial gemacht, wie das ganze Wunderland. Gruß nach Hamburg.

[@tucorameriz3538]

Wow! Simply amazing!

[@TerryMcGearyScotland]

Amazing 🤩 First time I’ve seen anything quite like this. Quite a change for your channel. Nicely filmed. Is the sound from the actual cars?

[@Demun1649]

Yes, from the 2023 GP.

[@pilentum]

The engine sounds are from a computer game and have been dubbed in this video.

[@TerryMcGearyScotland]

@@pilentum Ah I see. Thanks.

[@everaldolopes3313]

Sensacional.....muito bem feito

[@peterpetersen4619]

A technical masterpiece, respect! Above all, you have to remember that this model racetrack has to function for many hours every day. Respect! In addition to the technical achievement, I unfortunately have to let go of some sarcasm. I'm missing an accident with a dead driver and a few victims on the side of the road, the subsequent hero's celebration with the widow and children. That would complete the F1 representation.

[@Qrail]

Thanks! Now let’s see how the Miami race turns out!

[@Demun1649]

WHY? YOU haven't even built the scenery and the buildings yet.

[@cv643d]

Very nice, would like to see similar technology for self driving cars on a layout 👍

[@keithkarbel2000]

This is awesome!

[@B-A-L]

Super nice!

[@foodlover2236]

Nice !

[@JamesPetts]

Very impressive!

[@MPSlotCar]

Wow this is amazing!

[@giuliopedrali4794]

Incredible

[@walterwolf5416]

Einfach nur geil!😊

[@lolomodelismeferroviaire]

Absolument magnifique !!! 😍

[@SB5SimulationsFerroviairesEEP]

Merci du partage! Stéph.

[@marcciaramaglia7257]

Magnifique,impressionnant de réalisme, bravo.

[@peteryarema1410]

Holy smallville batman!!

[@tenerifedream2]

Wow!!!

[@charlini9558]

FABULOSO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 🔟🔟🔟🔟🔟🔟🔟🔟🔟🔟

[@user-je4be4ze3r]

c'est incroyable

[@kwansikyoon2058]

대단하군!!!

[@user-bn3jk8xj1o]

Ich komme aus kiel und war jetzt vier mal im Wunderland und jedes Mal war ich von den Neuerrungen begeistert. Aber die (endlich) funktionierende F1 Rennbahn ist unglaublich gut. Ich bin absolut begeistert.

[@pilentum]

Ja, das ist schon absolut genial, was die Mädels und Jungs im Miniatur Wunderland erschaffen.

[@karsh52]

Impressive! Very realistic apart from the fact that there were no crashes though 😅.

[@davidogrosky9875]

This is way cool 😎

[@davidogrosky9875]

It would be tough, but maybe the 24 hour race track in France 😊

[@jcfromfakelake9788]

WOW!! I can even say it backwards!! WOW!!

[@nilsgartig9779]

Der Hammer

[@hawkeye4184]

That is absolutely amazing! Who won?

[@user-ny4xy2nl2l]

素晴らしい

[@tyfon4429]

Fantastisch gemaak ! 💫 En ik ben niet eens een F1 fan… 🤗😂

[@tasminoben686]

Am 16. Mai werden meine Frau und ich vor dieser Anlage stehen! Wir können es kaum erwarten! Die Spannung steigt!❤😂🎉

[@pilentum]

...und wie war es gestern?

[@tasminoben686]

@@pilentum es war toll, wie immer! Und voll, wie immer! Das erste Mal mit meiner Frau, nach ungefähr zehn Jahren! Wir waren gut, 5 Stunden dort, und sie hat mir so viel, wie sie konnte beschrieben, bis sie Fransen am Mund hatte! LOL! Auch das Essen hat uns Geschmack geschmeckt. Aber wir waren doch ziemlich fertig, als wir wieder zu Hause waren. Natürlich auch durch die Hitze. Danke der Nachfrage, Grüße aus Ahrensburg Ben👍🏻

[@plamoanddiorama8528]

wow, the driving looks very realistic! Especially braking before a bend and then accelerating again. It's not just a row of cars all driving the same speed. Btw. a Capsule Corp logo? lol

[@user-mi2xu4qw6m]

Super model! Mersi Pilentum!🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿

[@cmbbfan78]

...but where are the railways?? :D (Absolute crazy work by the way)

[@luger700]

The Monaco section has a subterranean rail system that is viewable from besides the layout, there aren’t any surface level trains as far as I can tell.

[@andresbrusco1779]

IN-CREDI-BLE... !!! ;-))

[@JoeOvercoat]

👏

[@edwardphilipmarianafzger9800]

It took them 11 years to make this dream come true

[@pilentum]

Yes.

[@rudolfomagico4748]

...and 6 000 000 €...😮

[@B-A-L]

​@@rudolfomagico4748 Worth every cent!

[@PEREZTurbogames]

No overtakes in Monaco is 100% accurate

[@josemiralles2152]

mira bien, hay adelantamientos

[@gerbre1]

There are overtakes.

[@sophiaevans9908]

Now do Mount Panorama, Bathurst 😂

[@michael27689]

Wenn die Motoren nur in echt so klingen würden wie im Video 💭

[@pilentum]

Ja, es wurde ein bisschen mit der Nachvertonung nachgeholfen :-)

[@michael27689]

Tip Top auf jeden Fall

[@raymondmoumou]

C'est formidablement bien fait !!! Mais on aimerait une explication: comment ont-ils réalisé ça ???

[@pilentum]

Très simplement expliqué: Sous la piste il y a des modules électroniques qui génèrent un champ magnétique. En dessous des voitures se trouve un aimant qui réagit au champ magnétique.

[@eukaryon]

How did they create the variations in the paths of the cars? They do not follow an exact line!

[@ungesagt]

Every car has its own "mind" and stats and has its own process to make decisions in real time. All cars are "swimming" on magnetic fields and can use the whole width of the street.

[@kawaebby]

Wahnsinn !!!!!!

[@barneyrubble9309]

How? Is this stop motion or something?

[@johnd8892]

Description worth looking at and also the links.

[@markbeaumont1122]

Does a 1:148 scale Lewis Hamilton have 148 times less dress sense than the 1:1 version?

[@theoldar]

It's amazing, but every year they move more and more away from model railroading as the focus.

[@pilentum]

Yes, that's my concern too: I see fewer and fewer trains in Miniatur Wunderland.

[@Emperorjones]

Oh… and Max wins this one too.

[@teresaofthefaintsmile6031]

This minis are wonderful, but why in the most boring gp ever?

[@marcomanunta9511]

Ci starei dei giorni a rivedere dei GP riprodotti nel minimo dettaglio....