RCP Track Question's

[cdog4w]

Was looking to get a nice home track for my epochs and RCP is the best. I was aiming for $100 now with the intention of adding on later, but unforunately this limits me to just the narrow oval which seems to use some uncommon tiles and may or may not be compatible with the other tracks. So would the narrow oval be a good choice if my goal was more complex track and expanding in the future?

If I need to spend more, it seems like I'd want the wide L instead of the oval since it would have more curve bits and allow more setup variety, but that also opens the door to the mini-96 set. It seems like all I would ever need for an epoch track if I can set aside the money. I am worried that the track might be a bit narrow, but I thought I'd ask any mini-96 owners out there what they thought.

Thanks!

[Draconious]

I do not have any Epochs yet, but if I was able to afford and buy an RCP track, I would buy the mini-96 track, with the width expansion... this way key areas can be widened... can even use a Mini-Z on it once widened.
With an epoch I can see the oval and larger L getting kinda boring...

[cdog4w]

I'd have to agree, oval isn't worth considering, and the wide L would be good but get a bit boring. I'm just scared that the mini-96 expansion kit is super expensive (as much as the mini-96 itself). Reason I say that is this:
http://shop.tinyrc.com/home.php?cat=283
The wide expansion kit is $225. Tiny doesn't carry the mini-96 expansion unfortunately so I can't get a price.

[Draconious]

Odd I emailed RCP asking for pricing on the mini tile expansion (its not listedin shop lol) and he said not to get a 96 tile for epochs its too narrow...

but I dont know I think its just fine for what I want to do with it... expecialy if I get the widener set...

[Draconious]

"""
The 30 cm expansion kit runs $110, shipped to your door. (continental US states).

The kit comes with 60 tiles + a 3 tile wide finish line print. The price per tile in the expansion kit is less than the Mini-96.

RCPMini-Z
"""

from:
http://www.mini-zracer.com/forums/showthread.php?p=206609#post206609

[LBRC]

Don’t have a Mini-96 but have run Epochs on them. What I liked was that with the Epoch entering and exciting the turns was a lot like using a Mini-Z on the wider RCP track, so I thought it just might make a terrific home practice track for a serious racer/driver wants to practice/drive every day but doesn’t have the space for a larger track. The cons where that it’s a bit narrow for multiple and/or modified cars, and you do need a level hard floor since the smaller tiles have more ridges to catch the tires if not perfectly flat. The track we raced on was actually glued to the plywood table with rubber cement to keep the edges even which sort of rendered it more or less permanent instead of portable. Something else to be aware of is that the walls have a good deal of grip and tend to reach out and grab your car.

For the summer I built an outdoor 2’ lane track in a Costco garage tent out of modified chalk board painted Lakeshore sets that I picked up for almost nothing since their original owners pretty much hated them. I scuffed the surface with a belt sander, painted it with chalk board paint, then glued plastic to the rails and the tiles to the deck. But temperature changes kept causing the rails to come loose or the edges to separate, so like I-5 it was always undergoing constant repair and the warm weather ended before I could finish my grand plan. The point is that I would have been happier just using the RCP.

Next summer I will just build a larger/higher platform and use the wide RCP track although Apex may be coming out with a 3’ version of their laser cut PVC track with a tighter corner option so you can set it up without the wasted space. In that case I will probably go with it since I like the surface and the smooth plastic rails of the small (too narrow 18”) set I am using this winter. Its strong point is that the PVC track is easy to clean, looks more like the real thing, and breaks down for storage in ¼ of the space that the foam tracks do.

What I’m trying to say is that if you have the space I would go with the RCP wide L, if you don’t then by all means go with the Mini-96 for 1/43 and smaller cars but the floor will need to be level for the smaller cars.

[cdog4w]

Info on the mini-96 is kind of disheartening, it seemed like the best choice (maybe the idea of just 1 layout with the wide L is the main problem). I like that the mini-96 could be expanded for a relatively affordable price... but if I can't run it out of the box it won't do me much good. I agree that the 18.5" lanes are just a hair too small. I feel like I could do 24" lanes...

Also a good point on the smaller tiles LBRC. Well, I dropped RCP an email about what they thought would be good with an idea for expansion, but I would want something I can race on for $200! Wide L barely covers it since there aren't any other setup options.

Has anyone else run epochs or mini-z's on RCP and would care to chime in?

I won't be waiting around, but I am curious about this "laser cut pvc" track from apex. My apartment is carpeted, so would these be plastic plates or just lane borders? Any idea on price?

Lastly, to address the "grabby" rails, has anyone tried applying the slick packing tape or doing anything to treat the rails so that cars slide/bounce instead of stick to it?

[Draconious]

I've raced Z's on RCP.. a pair of L's... at the MZR races in Ann Arbor, MI. With the Z being bigger and faster, the Wider track is a must...

If the Mini Tile and Mini Expander was under 200$ ide prolly have bought one now... oh well guess ill stick to making my own track for now.

[cdog4w]

What do you think about the slick packing tape to edge the borders with? Think it would help things (it would help keep the flow while racing instead of sticking to the rail) enough to justify the smaller lane width?

RCP has echo'd what most have said here, but I recently saw a dif. layout that I like better than the wide L: http://www.atomicmods.com/ProductInfo.aspx?productid=10772
It has the wide lanes, but 2 layouts vs. the one of the wide L. BTW, the price *should* be less, since atomicmods marked up every other track by at least $50.

[Draconious]

Blah thats why I hit the reply button last time...


The car I was driving (Mini Z F40) did not realy stick to the rail much... it did however bounce off.. right into the path of other cars ;). Everyone was very pleased at me for giving them more of a challenge racing ;) hahah...

Maybe 5-10% of the time if you hit JUST right the car can be spun around by the added friction from the wall on one side... in this case the tape may help... but might be more of a bother than its worth.


At least some ppl are posting on here ;) lol.

[cdog4w]

Heh, its been quiet, I feel there will be a giant rush at some point (ie. when LBRC and Apex share what they've been working on). I finally got around to making my epoch turbo, but I haven't installed it yet. I will post a full pictoral tutorial when I get the time tho. I think I'll post the first half and let people critique and improve, then write up the install once I've done it. I'll go poke that laser lap timer thread too, I wouldn't mind some help re-designing the laser mounts for more accurate aiming, not to mention an easier build method.

Back to RCP, I have high hopes that I can get a good price on that 45 degree track from my local track or LHS, but I haven't heard back yet. I think it would solve my issues neatly, and hopefully stay close to $200.

[LBRC]

I won't be waiting around, but I am curious about this "laser cut pvc" track from apex. My apartment is carpeted, so would these be plastic plates or just lane borders? Any idea on price?

Lastly, to address the "grabby" rails, has anyone tried applying the slick packing tape or doing anything to treat the rails so that cars slide/bounce instead of stick to it?

Woops may have made a mistake I think its ABS not PVC, anyway one of the strong points is the way it fits together with the interlocking teeth under the driving surface, O-rings on the rails keep it locked tight no matter what it's put on. The rails are textured on one side and smooth on the other allowing them to be put on smooth side in or out.
http://lbspd.com/v-web/gallery/albums/album27/Epoch_track.jpg
I tried tape on the foam Lakeshore rails but it didn’t stay on for me, I ended up hot gluing Teflon glide rail strips (approx 1/32” x 1” x 8’) on but even they kept coming loose when the track expanded and contracted with the temp change.

The 45 Degree RCP track looks great, much better than a single wide L for a tight spot.

[cdog4w]

Ordered the 45 degree through my local track. Hope to have it this weekend. I found what I think is a 3rd layout, but I'm not sure if the angle pieces will do what I pictured (new one is bottom right).

http://cstanleyw4.home.comcast.net/rc/tracks/45_degree_layouts.jpg

[cdog4w]

Got it :) It's awesome, great quality.

http://rchin.philipwarren.net/~charles.white/gallery/RCP-track

[LBRC]

Nice, looks like the right choice.

[LBRC]

Me I’m for capital punishment. The one truly unforgivable crime is unprovoked discourtesy. Seems to me that some people, especially those who use automatic spamming programs, have long since used up their fair share of the community oxygen.

[arch2b]

sorry i did not catch those sooner. they have both been deleted and banned.

well, it seems i've made this a target thread. i've deleted many more since these last two.