Best Home Slot Car Track
This video is in three parts. If you're interested in building a very nice home slot car track check out these videos. Built by Mike Whitley. AFX America's Sports Car Chevy Corvette 32-Foot Mega G+ HO Slot Car Track Set w/Tri-Power.
We have featured several new slot car track designer programs this year. Some old ones we wouldn’t recommended. Some new options with great potential. December is one of the busiest months of the year for visitors here at Slot Track Pro. We see over 5,000 visitors from over 30 different countries. Let us take a look at what everyone is downloading so you know what the most popular track designers are. In addition, we’ll find out which Scalextric track layouts and Carrera track layouts are the most popular also. We will let you know your recommendations as well, one of them includes a new piece of software we just posted in late December.
Up first, we will take a look at the top track designers. With over 3,500 downloads in December these five programs are the most popular amongst your fellow slot car enthusiasts.
Top 5 Slot Car Track Designer Programs
- Building a Home Slot Car Track. Text by Larry Geddes - Photos by James J. We would recommend contacting a track builder to find out the specifics, & what method would be best for a home track. We felt that tape would be adequate for a home track that will not see the amount of use (or abuse) of a commercial track.
- Best Sellers in Slot Car Vehicle Race Sets. Best Sellers in. Slot Car Vehicle Race Sets. IPlay, iLearn Kids Train Race Track Play Set, Toddler Dinosaur Ramp Vehicle Toys, Car Adventure Indoor Game, Educational Learning Birthday Gift for Age 3 4 5 6 7 Year Old.
- Best Sellers in. Slot Car Race Tracks. CubicFun Race Tracks for Boys Car Adventure Toys for 3 4 5 6 7 8 Year Old Boys Girls, City Rescue Preschool Educational Toy Vehicle Puzzle Car Track Playsets for Toddlers, Kids Toys Boy Toys Gifts. 4.6 out of 5 stars.
#5 – Coming in at fifth with 321 downloads is Track Power.
Track Power still gets quite a bit of attention despite the disappointing fact that you can’t buy and register it anymore. The developer has abandoned Track Power and it can only be used as a demo with a 20 pieces limit for tracks. We were fortunate enough to buy a copy years ago and it is a nice slot track editor. If you are looking to design for a small 4′ x 8′ table and can stay under the 20 piece limit then the demo may work out perfectly for you. If your looking to create a larger track we suggest you look into some of the more popular options.
#4 – In the fourth spot with 322 downloads is SlotMan
SlotMan just barely surpassed Track Power for the 4th spot by 1 download. The first free slot car track designer on the list, Slotman pulls double duty offering timing options in addition to track editing. The timing options are for analog slot car setups and you will have to rely on help from the slot car community in various forums if you don’t know where to start and what you need. As a track designer it offers good basic functionality. The user interface is not quite as nice as some of the other options. You have to choose your track components from a dropdown list first and then click a button to add the piece. There are also different buttons to change the direction of curves. Track libraries are limited and a lot of the newer digital tracks are un-supported.
#3 – Third on our list with 445 downloads is the Carrera Track Planner, also know as Autorennbahnplaner
The Carrera Track Planner is a very solid track designer for all the major Carrera track types. We have started using this designer for all our Carrera track layouts and enjoy the simple user interface and features it offers. A free demo is available for you to download and try. The demo has a 20 pc track limit which seems to be about the standard for track design programs. The developer has provided Slot Track Pro with a 20% off coupon if you are interested in purchasing. Read our full review and download the promo code instructions to see how to apply the discount during checkout.
#2 – Coming in as runner up with 793 downloads is the official Carrera Track Layout Planner
No longer available for download from Carrera, this outdated track planner supports Carrera Exclusive, Evolution, Profi, and GO!!! tracks. Carrera’s track planner was based entirely on the Slotman track designer. The timing options have been stripped away to focus entirely on the track planning perspective. The user interface and functionality are the same. If your looking for a basic free track designer for Carrera this may satisfy your needs. If you need to design both Carrera and Scalextric layouts, then go with Slotman.
#1 – And the most popular slot car track designer with 1,081 downloads is the Scalextric Track Designer
Maintaining its popularity for some time now, Scalextric’s own track designer is a good overall program that supports their Classic track, Sport, and Sport Digital. Now eleven years old, the program is no longer available to download on Scalextric’s website. The editor includes a very basic room designer and laying down pieces is fairly simple. If your looking to design just a few slot car tracks and never use the editor again, then this is a great free option. If you plan to be changing your track designs and playing in the editor more often we suggest looking at our suggestion for Scalextric track design below.
Our Recommendation for a Carrera Slot Car Track Designer
If your looking to design track for Carrera we suggest the Carrera Track Planner (Autorennbahnplaner). Coming in at #3 on our list it is a really nice program that is still available for purchase today and includes several hours of tutorials and support available online. The developer continues to keep the track library updated as well. Grab the demo today and check it out. If you like what you see be sure to use the available coupon code to get 20% off your purchase.
Our Recommendation for a Scalextric Slot Car Track Designer
What Is The Best Slot Car Track To Buy
For those of you designing Scalextric tracks, take a look at a new piece of software we just discovered this month. AnyRail 6 is primarily marketed towards model railroad enthusiasts but they have provided the Scalextric track library as well. We just shared it here on Slot Track Pro on the 29th of December and was downloaded 16 times in just 3 days. Track Power has always been our go to designer in the past but if you don’t have a license it has its limitations. AnyRail is still being developed and has plenty of information available online including forums. The demo allows for tracks up to 50 pieces to be designed. More than enough for some great slot car tracks. We encourage you to give it a try.
That completes our Top 5 list of slot car track designers. Be sure to check out our list of the 16 best slot car tracks and layout packs that we have available to download here at Slot Track Pro.
There are a number of brands and track systems commercially available, often collectively referred to as 'plexi' track, alluding to the plastic construction and modular desifgn. Carrera, Scalextric and Policar have a comprehensive range of slot car tracks for sale that allow owners to customize their circuits with special track sections, points and lane-changing curves for building more interesting and challenging courses. Learn about the features of their 1:24, 1:32, and 1:43 scale tracks below.
CARRERA 1:24 SCALE TRACK
Carrera has carved out a unique niche in the slot car market with their line of 1:24 scale slot car tracks. Carrera offers the widest tracks in 124 scale (7.79'/198mm wide) that enable racing both 1:24 and 1:32 scale cars. Carrera slot car track has solid supports to ensure stability and does not vibrate due to the rigid (ABS) synthetic material, a new bolt system and a stable track system. Track pieces are built with stainless U-profiles using Nirosta high-grade steel, which promotes good electrical connections and prevents rust/corrosion in harsh environments (damp basements, Garages, etc) and areas where humidity and temperature changes are present. The slot car track sets feature standard curves that come in 60º sections, so you only need three pieces to make 180º. 30º curves are also available if you want to make your circuit turn at a right angle. Carrera also offers a range of curves with a wider radii to make circuits with up to eight lanes, as they fit outside the standard curves. Banked curves are also available and track borders, which are useful at the curves as they allow the back of the cars to slide out at the bends. Special track pieces for lane switching and squeezing can be used in both analog and digital circuits. It is important to note that Carrera circuits can take up more space than other systems due to the wide track.
CARRERA 1:43 SCALE TRACK
The Carrera GO!!! 1:43 scale analog track is proportionally narrower (4-1/2' wide) and the sections are shorter than 1:24 scale track. Carrera's 1:43 scale track is very durable and offers easy assembly and disassembly with adjustable height supports. Choose LEB Hobbies for a variety of Carrera slot car tracks for sale!
SCALEXTRIC 1:32 SCALE TRACK
Scalextric track is the most versatile and space-efficient 1:32 scale track system. The extensive Sport track range includes curves in four different radii (including banked turns in radii 2 and 3) and straight sections in four different lengths, crossroads, raised crossovers and leaps, giving you an immense number of layout options. Scalextric also offers a full selection of track borders and barriers. The 1:32 slot car track is made of a durable, medium-hard plastic and a medium smooth surface, with 3.03' (77mm) lane spacing . The resilient material stands up well to frequent assembly and disassembly and features an easy-to-connect, push-fit connection. Browse our collection of new Scalextric cars for sale online today.
POLICAR 1:32 SCALE TRACK
Best Slot Car Racing Brand
Policar introduces innovative solutions for a completely new track system. The track is in hard plastic, with a textured surface to guarantee excellent grip even without traction magnets. Rust resistant steel rails provide good conductivity. Lane spacing is 3.54' / 90mm. Borders are wider than competing tracks, measuring 2.36' / 60mm in width, with a triple guardrail as well as a simpler ribbon type one. All curve assembly pieces are interchangeable -- any constant radius 90° turn can always be replaced with any contant radius 90° turn, regardless of whether you're using R1, R2, R3 or R4 pieces!