CARRERA SLOT CAR TRACK
The drver's displays are pretty neat when racing. I'm still struggling to figure out how to utilize all of the options but using these displays to show fuel level works great! The tach option is just eye candy because you'd never be able to monitor it while driving. The sight of six of these displays together is cool. - Maybe even better when the lights are dimmed in the room. I've spaced them in pairs so that there will be room for seating.
The printed billboards that I was using for the pit area before didn't seem to me to really resemble a pit area so I used my printer again to re-make the background.
You've probably noticed that I've pictured the classic NASCAR cars on the track. That's because I did manage to modify them with digital chips to run on the new track. Some of them were easy to do but most needed to have a drill and X-acto knife persuasion. The glue gun has been really handy adhering the new chips to the various different chassies. The new chips can be modded into almost any brand of slot car so they'll be compatible with this track.
Although I haven't gotten a better camera yet, I was able to re-take some photos with the flash turned off to get a clearer image of the layout with the room lights off. They're not the best pics but hopefully they'll better show the way some of the animated signs change.
Whenever I tackle a new project I end up doing a lot of research online to figure things out. As such, I've been visiting slot car sites. During my research I came across a discussion about attempts to add realistic sounds to slot car racing. Their general train of thought was to add recorded sounds at various positions around their layouts that would be triggered when a car passed by. I wasn't able to chime in with an idea I have because the site didn't allow me to join but I'll share it with you.
I'm thinking of using micro sized MP3 players/speakers mounted inside of each car. That way the sound will travel with each vehicle the way it should. I've also considered using some form of micro sized bluetooth speaker inside of each that would duplicate the sound from a single source to every car and still allow the engine sounds to travel.
Some of these micro sized speakers and MP3 players can be purchased for a few dollars each so the cost doesn't seem to be too bad. - Not sure if it'll work but I think I might give it a try.
The drver's displays are pretty neat when racing. I'm still struggling to figure out how to utilize all of the options but using these displays to show fuel level works great! The tach option is just eye candy because you'd never be able to monitor it while driving. The sight of six of these displays together is cool. - Maybe even better when the lights are dimmed in the room. I've spaced them in pairs so that there will be room for seating.
The printed billboards that I was using for the pit area before didn't seem to me to really resemble a pit area so I used my printer again to re-make the background.
You've probably noticed that I've pictured the classic NASCAR cars on the track. That's because I did manage to modify them with digital chips to run on the new track. Some of them were easy to do but most needed to have a drill and X-acto knife persuasion. The glue gun has been really handy adhering the new chips to the various different chassies. The new chips can be modded into almost any brand of slot car so they'll be compatible with this track.
Although I haven't gotten a better camera yet, I was able to re-take some photos with the flash turned off to get a clearer image of the layout with the room lights off. They're not the best pics but hopefully they'll better show the way some of the animated signs change.
Whenever I tackle a new project I end up doing a lot of research online to figure things out. As such, I've been visiting slot car sites. During my research I came across a discussion about attempts to add realistic sounds to slot car racing. Their general train of thought was to add recorded sounds at various positions around their layouts that would be triggered when a car passed by. I wasn't able to chime in with an idea I have because the site didn't allow me to join but I'll share it with you.
I'm thinking of using micro sized MP3 players/speakers mounted inside of each car. That way the sound will travel with each vehicle the way it should. I've also considered using some form of micro sized bluetooth speaker inside of each that would duplicate the sound from a single source to every car and still allow the engine sounds to travel.
Some of these micro sized speakers and MP3 players can be purchased for a few dollars each so the cost doesn't seem to be too bad. - Not sure if it'll work but I think I might give it a try.