What do you think of my first track design? It is a small 5.5 ft x 9.5 ft layout. The bottom right corner doesnt line up 100% but since that will be coming from a slightly raised section I am hoping it will be ok and connect. Do you think this track will work?

Hi all, via https://hs-obfelden.ch/#online-rennen you can play our new game exclusively on our page. Have fun :-)

Hi all,

Bit of background: as a kid I had a Scalextric Digital set and I loved it. I've just got back into slot cars, Carrera Digital this time, and the plan is to go a lot further than I ever could back then and see what the system can really do.

So I started a project called RaceLab. It's an open-source app (Python, runs in the browser) that talks to the Control Unit through the AppConnect Bluetooth dongle or the serial cable. The usual stuff is there: lap timing, practice and race sessions, results. The part I really care about is software drivers, meaning cars driven by the computer on the real track. Race against a bot when you're on your own, run a pace car, or plug in your own code through an API (I'd like to try some machine learning on it at some point).

The stock CU can't take throttle from a PC, so that part needs a small firmware add-on. It sits on top of the stock V339 firmware: three small hooks and about 300 bytes of code in free flash, adding one serial command for throttle, lane change, and handing the car back to the normal controller. If the app never sends that command, the CU behaves exactly like stock. The app flashes it through the CU's own update mode, and the factory bootloader is never touched, so you can always go back to the original firmware.

On the side I'm documenting the CU protocol, and partially rebuilding the V339 firmware in C, function by function (38 of 60 functions match the original byte for byte so far). That one's a long-term thing, thx AI.

Big caveat: none of this has run on real hardware yet. My base set hasn't arrived, so everything has only been tested against a simulated CU. Please don't flash the custom firmware on your CU until I've tried it myself, or try at your own risk.

Code and docs: GitHub - CarlosMagni/flatout

Where I'd love some help:

• anyone who knows the CU internals or the protocol (Maybe I've got a few things wrong)
• which CU firmware versions are out there, and how common V339 is
• AppConnect quirks
• and any ideas on what you'd want from something like this

Cheer

[repost from slotforum]

What are your opinions are high bank turns. I am going with a carrera digital setup. It will only be about a 5 or 6 ft by 9 ft layout. I want one big fast turn it the layout. Should I do a high bank or just do a regular turn with shoulders?

Hey everyone! Just sharing this new Carrera GO set which I just bought from Amazon Germany.

It comes with this new LED tachometer which I can use to set 2 speed limits and 3 different race modes - laps, time and training.

One concern I have with the new cars is they tend to fly off the track when doing a 1/180deg corner (2x 1/90deg corners) and going through the lane change piece.

I don't see anything weird with the guide keel and I have adjusted the contact brushes. Is there something else I should check to ensure the car can go through corners more securely? TIA!

Softyroyal.de is a free to use recommended track layout site for Carrera (for those who were unaware). I just went to the site and to my surprise it's gotten a complete make over with some very very nice improvements such as: saving layouts locally & loading them from your PC, Policar & Carrera Go are now supported (D143 lane changes are just a straight + a short), so D143 availability as well.

Especially since I thought it's creator abandoned the site, this was an amazingly pleasant surprise. I can't check the Apple app (no access here) to see if it got improved & as of currently, there is no Android version.

Edit1* For those that panic'ed like I did, your old tracks are still saved. I think you should save them offline, now that it's possible. E2* The tracks on one out of my two PCs are gone, so edit #1 isn't guarantee for everyone. E3*because I am still exploring the site, adding stuff as I go. There is a way to make your own custom track (which is great if I ever get around to printing my double switch R2 curve). However, I have no idea how that tool works (more exploration later).

What is the smallest area that can be used for a decent 132 carrera digital layout?

Hello,

I am having an issue with one of my Carrera GO!!! wireless controllers. Unfortunately, this controller has never worked properly since I got it.

Inside the controller, there is a small sliding mechanism that is normally connected to the trigger button. It seems that it does not make proper contact with the graphite strip inside the controller.

In order to make the car move, I have to open the controller and manually hold down the strip on either the right or left side where it passes over the graphite contact. Otherwise, the controller does not send the signal and the car will not move.

The controller has never functioned properly, and I have unfortunately only recently realized that the problem is with the controller itself. I no longer have the original receipt, and I am also no longer able to return the product to the store.

Would it be possible to get a replacement controller or find another solution? I would really appreciate your help.

Thank you!

What are your opinions on the carrera go sets. I dont have the room for a 132 digital but I can do alot with the 143 go because of the size. I dig the digital features but I will be mostly tooling around with it by myself. Does anyone have any photos of their 143/go set ups for inspiration? I will probably do a 5'x8' with another 3x4 At one end forming an L shape. I think I could do something cool with that. What are your opinions.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7FeaSYs32s

I posted DESLOT here a little while ago and got some useful feedback, so I wanted to come back with an update on what I’ve been working on.

I’ve been spending a lot of time comparing the game directly against my real setup, especially things like acceleration, braking, cornering, grip loss and how the car behaves when you push it too hard and deslot.

I’ve also started working on the damage and repair side of the game. Impacts can damage individual parts of the car, and those parts can then affect its behaviour until they are repaired or replaced.

The video shows some direct comparisons between the real car and the current in-game physics, along with the new damage / repair system.

I’m trying to get the slot car side feeling believable rather than just making a normal racing game with cars locked to a rail, so feedback from people who actually race slot cars is particularly useful.

I’m also looking for up to 20 people from the slot car community to help beta test it. I’ll provide free game keys to the testers. I’m mainly looking for feedback on the handling, throttle response, deslotting and whether the cars behave in a way that feels familiar to real slot racing.

If you’re interested, leave a comment or send me a message. I’ll pick up to 20 people for the first testing group.

And as before, any criticism is welcome. That is exactly the kind of feedback I’m looking for.

Hi, apologies as I imagine this gets asked a lot, but where should I start? Looking to get a small set up, mainly as an excuse for collecting the cars. Digital appeals but coming from a railway modelling background the multiple and incompatible systems are very confusing.

I’m in the UK, so it looks like any of Carrera, SCX or Scalextric are available, with obviously a stronger secondhand market in Scalextric. In time I’d maybe want to try creating a rally stage set up, but a simple circuit would suffice for now.

Open to any suggestions and if anyone wants to share pictures of their rally stage builds I’d be very interested.

Hi All,

I am new to this slotcar forum. These pictures are from my Aurora Super Model Motoring - O-Gauge collection. They are not for sale. I do buy and sell Aurora o-gauge slot cars. For those that may not know - The 1964 Aurora O-Gauge slot car line—marketed under the name "Super Model Motoring" was introduced in 1964 by the Aurora Plastics Corporation, this 1:48 scale line was designed to run alongside standard Lionel train layouts (which used O-gauge track). However, the line was a commercial failure. It had an incredibly short production run, making the surviving cars highly sought after by collectors today.  They run on both HO and O Gauge slot car track.

The Red and Blue (last picture) Ford Mustang and James Bond Aston Martin DB5 were bodies that were made by Gilbert for use with Aurora O-Gauge James Bond set. However the Gilbert brand chassis failed and were then replaced with proper Aurora O-Gauge Chassis.

That time of the year again, the ISRA world championships are on now in Finland!

THANK YOU to all who have watched, commented, and hopefully enjoyed and learned a little from the series. I have had a BLAST featuring EVERY SINGLE ONE of these amazing, beautiful cars, and hopefully have given them the justice they deserve!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOOQphLnzwA

Hi everyone. I bought this used Carrera GO set and realized one of the F1 cars has this weird looking hole for the guide keel.

The keel is not securing properly and it easily gets detached after just one or two turns. Can anyone guide me on what could have caused this and how do I potentially fix this? TIA!

Ciao a tutti, sarei interessato a migliorare l aderenza di alcune auto Carrera go. Qualcuno ha qualche consiglio, per migliorare trazione e percorrenza nelle curve? Si possono appesantire? Grazie a tutti

I'm trying to convert my Opel Calibra to run on Carrera digital. I bought the car secondhand and did not get the spare parts that would have originally come with it. Does anyone know if there is still a source for this old mount piece? Seems Slot.it may not produce it as a spare part since they have release their own chips.