ac4car????

[viejoronnie]

I have been experimenting with the ac2car slot car wiring system and I think I have REdiscovered a method by which 4 cars in a single slot may be controlled independently.

One pair of cars (A/B) with on board diodes are controlled via the normal +/- slot braid/rails/ribbons on either side of the track slot, while another pair (C/D) are controlled by one of those normal power braids (e.g. +) AND another power braid (e.g., -) located in the very bottom of the slot.

Of course, all cars are diode equipped with the C/D cars' guides modified for a central "leading" braid pickup that extends from the central front edge of the guide down to the slot bottom.

Not a very elegant idea or new idea, but an interesting way to run 4 cars independently in a single slot on AC. Add a few strategic passing slot lanes adjacent to the routed racing line lane, and there ya go. Add another main/adjacent passing slot for an additional 4 car, and 8 cars can be controlled independently or up to 7 can set up as ghost/drone/jam cars if you race alone.

[Nor Cal Mike]

It is theoretically possible but would be a pain to build. What kind of pic up would you use on the bottom of the guide? It would be vulnerable by not being shielded by the guide blade as those in the conventional set up. How will you make it robust enough to survive overzealous turn marshals slamming the car into the slot? What is the end game? Eventually running eight cars in too lanes? Inquiring minds want to know.

[viejoronnie]

As stated this an experiment. My ultimate goal is, perhaps or not, a simpler, cost effective independently contolled 4 cars per single slot/passing lane pair, up to 2 such lane pairs, for 8 independently controlled cars; as an analog semi-alternative to digital for my own home/small club track...just for the heck of it.

The biggest hurdle will be applying the adhesive copper track conducting tape to the bottom of the slot efficiently. If that proves to be a problem in application, perhaps running a round section conducting wire in the bottom of the slot will work. I suppose push come to shove I could simply add additional + and - track power braid/tape to the outside of the normal track braids and make a special flag for the C/D cars for making the electrical connections.

For my initially idea the centrally located non-conducting round tube epoxied to the front of the flag (through which the powered wire is routed) extends to nearly the bottom the slot.

Marshalling and careful placement of the guide into the slot should not be a problem since most of the time with my initial idea as I will be racing alone or against someone else in one of the A or B cars with the C/D cars in each lane serving as chase, drone, or jam cars that could be set up such that they are difficult to deslot.

[slothead]

Before becoming a solo racer I seriously considered an AC2car system to incorporate the realism of having to plan passing and be strategic about it. I spent a few years on AC2car websites and exchanging email with those guys. I finally decided not to route the number of lanes needed (taking passing lanes into account) when digital options were becoming more available.

Many of us are happy to be 'old times' and satisfied with traditional analogue racing. But, as digital slot car racing becomes more established and hopefully standardized someday, it will likely become an essential aspect of the search for realism. The fact it uses computer technology will be a turn off to some, but it creates so many other possibilities such as refueling, ghost cars, etc., that it has merit.

Yes, there are ways to make analogue racing more like what digital racing offers, but it'll take some work.

Slothead

[viejoronnie]

Since my last post have been doing some experimenting with laying 1/8" adhesive copper tape in the very bottom of the plastic slot to allow another ac2car electrical circuit. It is surprisingly not that difficult.

I have modified some old Artin guides by Super Gluing a plastic tube onto the front center of the guide with the contact motor wire/ braid inserted within. The braid easily makes contact w/o binding/interfering with the guide blade bottom.

To allow passing, I am working on a routed drop-in lane change/passing section: continuing with the two primary lanes, plus a passing lane outside/adjacent to each of the primary lanes.

[slothead]

A thought I had years ago regarding passing on an ac2car track was lane change switches that flip flop every time a car passes. Initially the switch is set in the neutral position so when a car comes along it stays in the same lane. As the car exits the switch its guide flips the switch to the on position, in this configuration the next car will change lanes and then reset the switch to the neutral position.

Another idea was to have switches that flip for a short period of time after a car passes to allow lane changes, then reset to neutral so cars stay in the same lane. If a car gets close to a car ahead of it in the same lane, it can change lanes to make a pass, otherwise it will continue to follow it in the same lane. Probably the best way to create such a switch would be with an electro-magnet that holds the switch open after a car passes for a brief period of time, then as the charge dissipates the switch will reset to the neutral position.

Slothead

[viejoronnie]

Yep, there are several interesting electro/mechanical methods for lane changing that go back to the early 1960's and before that don't require a light activated switch and bound chip as in true digital, from simple sprung lane change mechanisms that allow a car to continue down the straight at full speed or upon full acceleration, or conversely allow the car to go into the passing lane if it slows down a bit; to spdt switches that energize a a train solenoid motor as a car passes over the switch lever; or even a button on the controller or driver's station that controls the lane change solenoid motor directly.