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That’s pretty cool! Interested to see how they run.

Thanks! Me too! :auto-driving:

Interesting design!
I see tjet screw mount holes and guide - is it set up for wiper style pickups or is there a method of hanging shoes on there?
(Either way, look forward to hearing how it runs!)

Thanks! There are screw post holes for fitting resin bodies. But with the optional body clips, you can easily fit bodies like Tyco 440, AFX, AW, etc. The guidepin is set up for a T-Jet style. I 3D print metal ones for myself which are indestructible. And since I run on AFX track, I don't need to worry about wearing down the slots of a routed layout.

I prefer to run my cars with braids. More power. Cheap and easy to replace. And 10 or 20 years from now, I will still be able to find replacements!

But some builders of the HWP cars say they have easily fit Tyco Pro style brass wipers in place of the braids.

I was thinking of designing alternate front ends to run currently available shoes. But again, future availability is a concern. And braids free me up to make more compact designs.

Do you find any issues with connectivity or handling (braid getting grooved and grabbing) using braids on the factory thin rail of TOMY (or other) track?
I run braid naturally on all my bigger scale cars - but there is a lot more surface area that the braid is running on.
Just curious your observations.
:)

I had one AW crossover track that gave me a bit of trouble. But it gave me the same trouble (not as pronounced) with shoed cars. I adjusted the rail a bit, and haven't had any trouble since. I find the braids run a lot quieter and smoother than most shoes. All you hear is the motor and guidepin noises.

The biggest concern I hear about braids is from racers who worry that a turn marshal might fat-finger the braids out of alignment during a race. But I really haven't had any trouble with them. Admittedly I occasionally may have to tweak them, especially if I'd been drifting a lot on a layout that favored more right or left turns. But when they are properly dressed, they are so much smoother running that clackety-clack shoes.

Nice thing with braids is that they seem to improve with running them. Unlike shoes that start wearing a groove. So they tend to work better as they get run in. And then quickly fail at the end of their lifespan. Where shoes start out great, and start to decline from there.