- 6 June, 2006 -

Bigger and better slot car layouts In our last article I showed you the layout we are going to build on several standard office tables. Now that we have the track designed and the tables purchased the next thing we will need is more track ? quite a lot of it, in fact. One nice thing about the Tracker 2000 program we are using to create our track designs is that it can keep a running tally of the number of each kind of track section you will need to build your design. We already have one each of the Scalextric T2 and T3 sets. When we go to the "Info" function in Tracker 2000 and plug the figures for these two sets into the "Stock" column for our completed layout, Tracker 2000 gives us the following list: Code Section Stock Used Free C8236 Short Straight 0 10 -10 C8200 Quarter Straight 2 2 0 C8207 Half Straight 0 6 -6 C8205 Straight 24 42 -18 C8234 Radius 2 curve, 22.5 deg. 1 4 -3 C8206 Radius 2 curve, 45 deg. 9 14 -5 C8204 Radius 3 curve, 22.5 deg. 22 40 -18 C8235 Radius 4 curve, 22.5 deg. 3 8 -5 In addition, we need borders. Tracker doesn't keep track of borders, but we can make our own table. Remember that Sport borders all come with guard rails, so you never have to buy guard rails separately. The negative figures in the "Free"column represent the quantity of each type of track section or border needed to complete the layout. If we buy the track sections and borders separately they will cost a total of $444.50. However, we can buy much of what we need in the form of extra sets, in this case another each of the T2 (C1141T, LeMans Sport) and T3 (C1142T, USA Classics). When we add in the track sections and borders from these sets our chart looks like this: The two sets, at Scalextric's list prices, sell for $380.00, and the track and border pieces remaining to be bought separately come to $176.50, for a total of $556.50. That's $112.00 more than the cost of just the track, but by buying the sets you get much more than that in extra value, including 4 cars ($172), 2 transformers ($40), and 2 power bases ($60). These items come to a total of $272.00. If you haven't already purchased two additional transformers to give you separate power per lane, the two in the additional sets will take care of that. If you have, it's nice to have a spare or two in case one fails someday in the middle of a big race. The same is true for the two extra power bases that come in the additional sets. In addition, you get four more stock controllers, which you can give to your kids so they don't wear out the Parma controllers you bought earlier for serious racing. And there's one other little bonus. One of the cars in the USA Classics set, the #12 Corvette, is only available in that set. You can't buy one separately. So, if you are a collector or just want a car to race that everybody else doesn't have, you'll have one. You can use the Info section of Tracker to plug in the track section inventories from different sets until you get the combination of sets and individual pieces that delivers the best overall value on what you need for any particular layout you are building, and also gives you the kinds of cars you want. I prefer to use the Scalextric USA sets because they not only have the cars I like, but also because they don't have any track sections such as lane changes and squeeze sections, which I never use in my layouts, and also come with the all-black borders I prefer over the tan "gravel trap" borders found in the sets packaged primarily for the UK and European markets. (I do sometimes use the tan ones when I need inner borders, just to give the layout a touch of color and variety.) The parts list for each Scalextric set is found on the box, so you can get the data you need from the sets on display at your local HobbyTown USA? store. In most cases, the larger the set, the better value per dollar it is, provided that you can use all or most of the track sections and other major components in it to build your layout. Your dealer will be glad to help you with any information you may need to plan your layout. - Bob Ward Bob Ward is a lifelong slot car racer. He has over twenty years in the hobby business. His pastimes include motorsports (1:1 scale), military history and creative writing. HobbyTown USA

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