Arch2b's RealTrack 34 pack layout review

[arch2b]

i'll be sharing my thoughts on my 34 pack track layout i currently have for review.

[arch2b]

to begin, i have a few sections of 16" tiles as well

i must say the red/white striping does add to the scale look in a very good way.

here are some comparison pictures i took tonight.

here is a 24" realtracks tile over a mini-96 rcp track. the size is actually very close.
http://mini-zracer.com/mini-zgallery/data/1334/medium/IMG_11801.JPG

here is a 16" tile over a 24" tile over a 3 tile wide rcp mini-96 track
http://mini-zracer.com/mini-zgallery/data/1334/medium/IMG_11811.JPG

here is a tile finish comparison with the 24" tile and rough side rcp tile
http://mini-zracer.com/mini-zgallery/data/1334/medium/IMG_11821.JPG

here are 4 mini-z's on a 24" tile. it's very scale width but too tight for several mini-z's to race competitively unless you have some tight lines.
http://mini-zracer.com/mini-zgallery/data/1334/medium/IMG_11831.JPG

as you can see here, the dnano fits more than comfortably on the 24" tile. i think you could easily race a couple of dnano's on this.
http://mini-zracer.com/mini-zgallery/data/1334/medium/IMG_11841.JPG

[arch2b]

here are some pictures....

http://mini-zracer.com/mini-zgallery/data/1334/medium/IMG_1189.JPG

http://mini-zracer.com/mini-zgallery/data/1334/medium/IMG_1190.JPG

http://mini-zracer.com/mini-zgallery/data/1334/medium/IMG_1191.JPG

http://mini-zracer.com/mini-zgallery/data/1334/medium/IMG_1192.JPG

[arch2b]

have my track over a tile floor and given the impercise nature of tile installation, there are some spots where uneven tiles create small uneven spots in tile joints
http://mini-zracer.com/mini-zgallery/data/1334/medium/IMG_1194.JPG

this should disappear as soon as i get the recommended background carpet.

for the most part, nearly all the tile joints look like this. there are some gaps where tiles do not align exactly edge to edge however the surface level is smooth. it may be my tile floor or me not getting the slack out of the track. even with rcp, you need to move it around a bit to get the kinks from assembly out of it. i need to do the same with this.
http://mini-zracer.com/mini-zgallery/data/1334/medium/IMG_11951.JPG

i feel compelled to confirm my inquires as to the durability of the track. i asked about the durability of the track connections knowing my kids were going to walk on them, ride scooters, etc. as the track is setup in thier game room. i was told the track would hold up to foot traffic and it sure has. you can see in the video's that my youngest cut over the track with a scooter and no problems at all.

here is a picture of that same gap.
http://mini-zracer.com/mini-zgallery/data/1334/medium/IMG_12091.JPG

i actually found a couple others since i took the time to look over them all. this one in particular was even wider
http://mini-zracer.com/mini-zgallery/data/1334/medium/IMG_1210.JPG

it may appear misleading large due to the tapered edge finish, better seen in this image. this causes more of a gap than the 1/32" clean gap. you can see how the finished surface is cut back from the tile edge.
http://mini-zracer.com/mini-zgallery/data/1334/medium/IMG_12111.JPG

these were the minority occurences. a vast majority of the tile connections looked just like this.
http://mini-zracer.com/mini-zgallery/data/1334/medium/IMG_12121.JPG

i will clarify this with the statement that neither caused any bump, miscue or anything else in use.

[arch2b]

as promised, HERE (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d4JuH6lIGN0) is the first video of my first test drive with a stock mini-z on my 34 pack 24" tile RealTracks. as you'll see the batteries died on me toward the end.

i was very surprised that the mini-z behaved almost exactly as it does on my RCP mini-96. there is a little bit more push in the runs under power but that is was expected. i happen to have the standard RCP tire setup for a mini-z which is Kyosho 20 front and 30 rear. this, in my opinion is very good starting point for a stock mini-z. anything faster will need some adjustments. maybe 20 fronts...

[arch2b]

HERE (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T456ngMlVSk) is some video with fresh batteries. please excuse the wild driving. this was the first time with my mini-z on a track without rails so there is added responsibility to keep the car on the track.

again, this common RCP tire setup did very well for the stock mini-z. i would advise that no more than 2 be on the track at the same time unless your racing with experienced drivers where 3 would be ok. passing skills and traffic avoidance skills are crucial here.

[arch2b]

i finally got some time to lay down some laps with my stock dnano, you can see the video HERE (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-ps1QEBGAA).

clarification- i was not aiming for clean laps or lines in this video. i was simply running at average race speeds to illustrate the lack of traction provided by the stock tires that came with the r35 gt-r

after getting some advice from miles, i tried putting a bump in the track and per his advice, careful placement in relation to the tile seems provided a nice size bump with little interference, if any. you can see some brief video HERE (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwWXwqnhLAQ).

to review the dnano performance in general, the stock tires are not sticky enough. you can get around at less than half throttle ok but any faster and the push is enough to keep you from staying on track.

there was little to no evidence of tile bump while driving. the bump in the track did more to throw off the line than any miniscule track gaps at seems.

i am eagerly awaiting getting some of the pn racing dnano tires to test on this and my rcp track.

[arch2b]

i also got some time to run my stock mini-z on the track as well. i always like using bumps in tracks as in real life, very few if any tracks are flat.

HERE (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=grxfa1RK5Bw) is some video i took today.

as previously mentioned, the stock mini-z with 3o rear, 20 front handles very similar to an rcp track with just a hint of added push. overall, the combination works very well.

i also ran the stock mini-z on the track with the cardboard tubes used to bank the turns as miles suggested and the transitions were very smooth. it was actually much more tricky for me to adjust my line to take advantage of the super elevation (banking of a turn as described in highway construction terms). you can see the video HERE (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZlguU86tVs). it did make the high speed cornering a bit easier to manage however you have to pay more attention to coming out of the turn at higher speed.

[arch2b]

traction

i would like to take a brief moment to review my thoughts on traction.

to begin with, despite being rigid plastic, the surface texture provides an adequate level of traction. obviously not as much as textured RCP but much more than one would anticipate.

i was able to navigate the track with relative ease using the standard RCP tire setup of kyosho 30 rear and kyosho 20 front tires. there was ever so slightly more push in the corners but still very decent traction. now my hfay mini-z is another story. the added speed requires altering the tire selection. i am not messing with my hfay setup however as it is working well for me in the series right now. i have other cars i will be running to do more speed/tire testing.

you must occasionally wipe down the track surfarce to remove dust that accumulates. this is not worse than the need to vacuum an RCP track occasionally.

subfloor material will play into your track characteristics enormously without side rails. my tile floor is a slippery surface for mini-z's and dnano's so as soon as you get more than 2 wheels off the track you have to be good at recovering your line without loosing control. this is a interesting feature that RCP tracks do not afford. you get a realistic sense of going off track vs. hitting rails. maybe it's just me but i like rails. i can appreciate the realistic experience of no rails but in the end, i'm not buying a track for realistic recreation. i'm buying for enjoyment and fun factor. if it's purple with flashing lights it won't prevent me from trying it. i'd prefer to not have a purple track however.

miles is working on side rails which i very much look forward to trying out. i think it will suit my preferences much more so than the rail-less layout.

as i do not have dnano tires to test, the stock dnano simply slides around too much on the surface. i was able to actually get some power slides through some corners which was fun but doesn't make for smooth racing. the stock speed of a dnano, with it's light weight makes setup much more challenging than a mini-z. tires play an even more important role with a dnano and unfortunately i do not have any to experiment with yet.

that being said, there are people making aluminum wheels which should add a slight amount of weight which will only increase the traction provided by the tires. it will also slow down the car due to added mass the motor will have to move but i think the trade off will be well worth it. even stock speed is plenty fast for a dnano in my opinion. i doubt i'll even have a need for faster motors on my home tracks.

i think those that have no experience on a realtracks track will be surprised as it counters your natural expectations.

[arch2b]

Assembly

i wanted to talk about this quickly. watch the short videos (http://www.realtracksonline.com/id11.html) on the realtracks website. it's not rocket science, but once you see how it works you can get it done very quickly and without hassle. my entire track was setup very quickly.

again, watch the video's, taking the track apart is a breeze once you see it done and do it yourself.

it also stacks away in a VERY small area. it naturally weights more than a stack of RCP tiles but less space.

[alanfujii]

Hi Arch2b. Your review was very interesting since I have been looking at Realtracks. I was into Mini-Z's about 4 years ago and I had a fairly large RCP track (12 x 18) setup in my empty dining room until my wife decided to fill it. That eventually ended my involvement since the commercial tracks were too far away. That's why I find these Dnanos attractive. The RealTrack looks like a great solution because I can assemble and disassembly it quickly. You review of the 24" flattrack left me wondering whether I could deal with a track that had no rails. The smaller 14" track has rails but do you think it would be too small for the Dnanos? I understand that they are working on providing rails for the flattrack but in my mind that defeats the quick assembly/disassembly. I would probably have no more than 3 cars going at any one time with by far the majority being just myself.

[arch2b]

no rails being a deal breaker is entirely up to you. it is an entirely different experience for sure.

plain and simple, the track i have is well worth the cost. it's certainly fun and absolutely challenging.

i would also prefer to have rails on this track but that is based on my years of racing on RCP.

watch the video from thier website. the rails in no way hinder the ease with which it is assembled.

[alanfujii]

My question is the 14.5" too narrow for Dnanos? It appears that the only track with built-in rails is the 14.5".

[arch2b]

i would not want to run my dnano on a 14.5" track. the speeds are soo high in my opinion for such a tight track. the 16" is not bad (for 1 or 2 cars) but i too wish the others had rails. miles mentioned working on rail designs so it may be an option yet.

anytime you have 2 or more cars your going to need a bit more lane width for passing, etc.

[alanfujii]

Thanks for the feedback.

[Marcro]

How does the track compare in size to RCP's Mini96? In my area, I had room for a Mini96, but because of the Irish Setter, I'm looking for something more pet-friendly. You've mentioned to me before how much more durable this track is than the RCP track, but does it require more room than the Mini?

[arch2b]

How does the track compare in size to RCP's Mini96? In my area, I had room for a Mini96, but because of the Irish Setter, I'm looking for something more pet-friendly. You've mentioned to me before how much more durable this track is than the RCP track, but does it require more room than the Mini?

34pack real tracks
http://mini-zracer.com/mini-zgallery/data/1334/medium/IMG_1189.JPG

mini-96 rcp
http://mini-zracer.com/mini-zgallery/data/511/medium/IMG_10121.JPG

[Marcro]

Wow, I guess it's bigger! Might have to re-think!

[alanfujii]

I had a mini 96 track that I had setup in our dining room (the only room without furniture at the time) but I had to eventually take it out because my wife began to worry that it was going to become a permanent thing. I had the track stored in the garage but lost half the track due to a paint spill. I recently dragged the remaining track out and set it up in a vacated office at my plant. It's only a wide oval about 8 feet long, which isn’t very challenging for the Dnanos but also way too wide. The current tracks available from RCP do not take advantage of the new Dnano format. They need to have narrower tracks and smaller footprints. I have come to the conclusion that the RCP track will not fit my needs.

What I need is a track that can be assembled and disassembled without a lot of effort. I don’t need a very wide track if fact being narrow offers some advantages. 1) I can make a more intriguing configuration in a smaller area 2) if the footprint is small enough I can leave it up longer. At my house, I’m the only one with this interest so the narrow track actually is good because I have to be more controlled in driving.

The tracks that Real Tracks fit my needs better but not the new flat tracks but the 14 ½” track with rails. My only problem is that it seems to be "Out of Stock" on the RealTracks web site. I've tried emailing them but no answer so far. I'm concerned that they might be thinking of discontinuing this track. My suggestion is they should market this as a single user track and package it with their laser beam counter. Meanwhile, could I get an idea when this track will be in stock? I also haven’t heard anything more concerning the laser beam counter.

[arch2b]

whats comfortable is very subjective. i for example would never buy a 14" track for the dnano. the speeds are too fast for such a narrow track making it feel like a luge event. the narrow tracks are more scale looking and i'm sure better suited to single drivers but that just doesn't fit my needs. i don't care so much for scale looks vs. functionality and i have 2 kids to contend with whom would just be riding the rails of a narrow track.

i'll email them as well to see if they can't still get what you want. i do like the side rails on realtracks as well and wish the larger tiles had them as an option.

you will have to follow the realtracks vendor forum for info on the single user lap timer.

[RealTracks]

Hi Alan
I must have missed your last email, I know we had a few of them going back and fourth and I get a lot to the RealTracks account. We will probably not continue the 14 1/2" formed guardrail track. Since the release of Flat Track the demand has almost completely dropped off for the 14 1/2”. I completed the CNC fixtures for the 16" Flat Track straight sections removable guardrails a few days ago. I will post pics of both options this afternoon as soon as I run some. 16" wide track is a challenge and fun for a single user. I have space for both and find myself always going to the 16" with the dNaNo. It is also very quick to put up and take down because the size enables it to be handled very easily. I have a thread going on the timing system. I have given up on time tables as something always seems to come up and push the RC products that don't pay the bills to end of the priority list. I did get a whole week to devote to it last week and we made some excellent progress on the software. A nice bonus of FlatTrack is you can walk over the whole thing without worrying about stepping on the guardrails. The family does not mind it that way as much if it is set up in a common area. Then all you have to do is drop in a few dividers in the runoff area if you want and you are racing.

Thanks for the questions

[arch2b]

i might even have video of my kids driving their big wheels all around over the track. they rode big wheels, small bicycles, etc. over it.

the ONLY effect it had was to telegraph edges of the bottom attachment points through to the surface of the track which in no way affected cars. you don't even notice it unless you look at it at the right angle and light reflects off the surface just right.

my kids also spilled soda, water, chocolate milk on occasion which all cleaned up with a wet rag.

the surface is plastic however meaning any scratches are permanent. you can not drag sharp object across it. i know that goes without saying but i feel it needs to be said none the less.

[RealTracks]

Arch,
Yea I get that the kids find all sorts of games to play and uses for the track when Dads at work. One customer in Europe came home and found his kids having "organized mini trike races on his track" I assume its a small big wheel of some sort. Since your track is on a hard surface, I could see where a hard small diameter wheel with the weight of child could stress mark the track where it meets the edge connector. But by all means, let them play.

[arch2b]

that is exactly what happened. my track is over ceramic tile and they rode tricycles, bigwheels, etc over it. that kind of high point load over a hard surface create the environment where the outlines can telegraph to the surface. it in no way affected the tracks use however, just want to be clear about that. :)

my kids had tricycle races on the track too. i think a skateboard may have been involved at some point as well. it's in the kids play area so i can't blame them really. having had previous discussion with you however, i felt confident that no hard would be done.

as mentioned, do not drag heavy or sharp objects over it though.

[alanfujii]

Hey Realtracks

Is the track in this Youtube clip your 16" Flat Track?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDVUqyGsq-Y

[RealTracks]

Hey Realtracks

Is the track in this Youtube clip your 16" Flat Track?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDVUqyGsq-Y

Yes it is, and that’s also my basket of dirty clothes. You can also see a basic version of the timing system. That screen is specifically for taking YouTube videos. I have changed it so the times are more visible and the bottoms are not washed out on videos anymore. I threw that up to email to a customer when we were talking about traction. Those are stock dNaNo clean tires 50f/ 10r. It also has 2 of the flat style removable guardrails. My driving is not the smoothest, but it gives you a reference for vehicle handling on a tight track.

Thanks for asking the questions here, This is a better format to ask them in rather than emails.

[alanfujii]

Hey Realtracks
You mentioned finishing up CNC fixtures for removable rails on the 16" flattrack. Does that mean that the current flattracks will not support these new rails or will these removable rails be retro-fitable?

[RealTracks]

Alan,
The guardrails are compatible all Flat Track. The guardrail lugs on Flat Track edge connectors were designed from the start to accept a variety of guardrail options, We are just getting around to manufacturing them. The tooling I referred to was for the guardrails themselves. I ran a batch of one of the options today and I will post a few pics tonight.

[jeanlee411]

Assembly

i wanted to talk about this quickly. watch the short videos (http://www.realtracksonline.com/id11.html) on the realtracks website. it's not rocket science, but once you see how it works you can get it done very quickly and without hassle. my entire track was setup very quickly.

again, watch the video's, taking the track apart is a breeze once you see it done and do it yourself.

it also stacks away in a VERY small area. it naturally weights more than a stack of RCP tiles but less space.

Hi Arch2b. Your review was very interesting since I have been looking at Realtracks. I was into Mini-Z's about 4 years ago and I had a fairly large RCP track (12 x 18) setup in my empty dining room until my wife decided to fill it. That eventually ended my involvement since the commercial tracks were too far away. That's why I find these Dnanos attractive. The RealTrack looks like a great solution because I can assemble and disassembly it quickly. You review of the 24" flattrack left me wondering whether I could deal with a track that had no rails. The smaller 14" track has rails but do you think it would be too small for the Dnanos? I understand that they are working on providing rails for the flattrack but in my mind that defeats the quick assembly/disassembly. I would probably have no more than 3 cars going at any one time with by far the majority being just myself.

[Sinister_Y]

jeanlee411, you can easily add/remove rails to the RealTracks flat track. You simply tape the rails onto the bottom of the track pieces using packing tape. Tape can be placed every 6-10 inches and won't be moved by cars hitting them however remain easy to remove on the tape is pealed up. Keep in mind that you wouldn't want rails all the way around the track, just put them where cars/drivers could shortcut the circuit.

As far as choices, both work for dNaNo really well. We've currently installed the 24" track system at our shop and love it. 3 cars could fit onto the 16" track but maybe tight. I'd recommend the 24". It leaves lots of room for different racing lines /passing and lastly more cars to race once you get the word out that you have a setup to race on.

Bottom line, we recommend RealTracks for dNaNo.

We'll be posting a detailed review of our own with pics and videos soon. You can check out our site and see a quick pic of our setup. Keep in mind we're still renovating but should be done soon. Surface testing has been completed. Needless to say, RealTracks has peformed awesome. We took a few cars out of their box last weekend and put them directly on the track after charging their batteries. The cars pushed and once the front tires were changed to Kyosho 40 degree. The cars handled awesome. All the mini-Z guys who were at the track tried the cars and loved them. Then think once you start to upgrade with all the options (if that is your thing), you laptimes/performance should get better.

[macrylinda]

My question is the 14.5" too narrow for Dnanos? It appears that the only track with built-in rails is the 14.5".

Hi Arch2b. Your review was very interesting since I have been looking at Realtracks. I was into Mini-Z's about 4 years ago and I had a fairly large RCP track (12 x 18) setup in my empty dining room until my wife decided to fill it. That eventually ended my involvement since the commercial tracks were too far away. That's why I find these Dnanos attractive. The RealTrack looks like a great solution because I can assemble and disassembly it quickly. You review of the 24" flattrack left me wondering whether I could deal with a track that had no rails. The smaller 14" track has rails but do you think it would be too small for the Dnanos? I understand that they are working on providing rails for the flattrack but in my mind that defeats the quick assembly/disassembly. I would probably have no more than 3 cars going at any one time with by far the majority being just myself.

[Sinister_Y]

Macrylinda,

Rails are super easy and cheap to make. Check out my track's pic (including rails):

http://tinyrc.com/forums/showpost.php?p=209666&postcount=9

We love our realtracks system.

Cheers,

Shawn

[rcspeedy55]

Hi gents,
new to forum - but am going to setup at least two tracks at the store I own.
However was thinking of sourcing rubber mat in one piece, which would enable the track configuration to change by reconfiguring guardrails etc.
Any tips on guardrails etc would be appreciated. The object is to have a large track for competition and seasoned drivers, small track for those new to racing and beginners. Looking at just dnano cars at the moment but might have mini z as well. Appreciate the info you have shared.
Greg