afx 4×8 plywood stuff…

4′ × 8′ Raceways – 4-Lane

from internet archive of dead website: https://web.archive.org/web/20190110180326/http://www.hoslotcarracing.com/

This is the most popular size HO raceway. Built using a single 4×8 foot sheet of plywood with a simple 1×4 inch wooden frame, this size table provides a good platform for many challenging 2- and 4-lane raceways. See the Tables section for detailed construction information.

Scenic Hills 33

This first layout provides a 4-lane layout that fits on a single 4×8 foot plywood table. The overpass section allows for equal lap lengths of 33.50 feet per lane. This particular layout makes a good race track for scenic landscaping. See the Table construction section of this web site for the plans to build this table. See also the Landscaping section for more information about this layout. This circuit provides a fast 33.50 foot lap length with four fast straight sections and a challenging 6″ hairpin section. The center area on the table provides enough room to create a realistic pit row and garage complex.

View Color-Coded Track Section Drawing

Tomy AFX track inventory required to build the Scenic Hills 33 raceway:

(28) – 15″ Straights (8)  – 9″ Straights (6)  – 6″ Straights

(16) – 12″ Radius 1/8 Turns(20) – 9″ Radius 1/8 Turns (4)  – 6″ Radius 1/8 Turns

A longer 4×12 foot version of this raceway can also be built using the Random Lake 48 track plans shown later on this page. A faster banked version of this raceway is also possible using the Elm Grove 32 track plan.

Ravinia 35

The layout illustrated below fits on a single 4 × 8 foot table and provides a lap length of 35 feet per lane. The infield section is fast and provides a challenging technical section. See the Construction section for step-by-step instructions for building this raceway.

View Color-Coded Track Section Drawing

Cars travel counter-clockwise on the outer portion of the track. The main straight leads into a 90 degree right-hand turn followed by a 225 degree hairpin section. Upon exiting the hairpin the cars must negotiate a pair of 45 degree left-hand turns before accelerating down the infield straight. A decreasing radius turn at the end of the infield straight feeds onto a short chute followed by a sweeping carousel turn before exiting out and onto the back straight. A pair of 90 degree left-hand turns punctuated with a medium-speed straight leads back onto the main straight again. This particular layout incorporates many of the turn styles as described in the Design section, while still fitting on a single 4×8 foot table. This 4×8 foot raceway is my favorite layout for a smaller, flat racetrack. See the Scenic Hills 33 above for my choice of elevated 4×8 foot raceways suitable for authentic landscaping.

The table below lists the Tomy AFX track sections required to build the Ravinia 33 raceway:

(28) – 15″ Straights (6)  – 9″ Straights (8)  – 6″ Straights (2)  – 3″ Straights

(1)  – 15″ Radius 1/8 Turn(18) – 12″ Radius 1/8 Turns(23) – 9″ Radius 1/8 Turns (6)  – 6″ Radius 1/8 Turns

This design is ideal for modern Tomy AFX slot cars as well as older Model Motoring Thunderjets. If you’re looking for a race track design that will be both challenging and still fit on a smaller 4×8 foot table this is a great raceway to build.

International 39

This next track layout also fits on a single 4×8 foot table and uses the Tomy AFX Super International Racing Set in addition to one dozen 15″ straight track sections. This layout makes use of every track section contained in the Super International. This design packs a 39 foot lap length on to a simple 4×8 foot table.

View Color-Coded Track Section Drawing

If you own the Tomy AFX Super International Racing Set and are thinking about building a permanent HO race track this is an inexpensive layout to construct. Just add a dozen 15″ straights and you’ll have an excellent raceway. The circuit is comprised of three fast straights with a technically challenging infield section.

The table below lists the Tomy AFX track sections required to build the International 39 raceway:

(24) – 15″ Straights (2)  – 9″ Straights (8)  – 6″ Straights (6)  – 3″ Straights

(1)  – 15″ Radius 1/8 Turn (6)  – 12″ Radius 1/8 Turns (9)  – 9″ Radius 1/8 Turns(12) – 9″ Radius 1/4 Turns(28) – 6″ Radius 1/8 Turns

(2) – 15″ Power Tracks(2) – 22 VDC Power Packs(4) – Tomy AFX Hand Controls

Elm Grove 32

This 4×8 foot raceway is very similar to the Scenic Hills 33 described above. However, this plan utilizes Tomy’s new 18″ radius turn, an increasing/decreasing radius hairpin turn at the end of the long straight and also provides for an optional banked turn. Like the Scenic Hills 33, this track is also great for Landscaping

View Color-Coded Track Section Drawing

This challenging 4-lane racing circuit has even lap lengths of 32.48 feet for all four lanes and can be built on a single 4×8 foot table using the following Tomy AFX track sections:

(28) – 15″ Straights (4)  – 9″ Straights (6)  – 6″ Straights

(2)  – 18″ Radius 1/8 Turns (7)  – 15″ Radius 1/8 Turns(14) – 12″ Radius 1/8 Turns(11) – 9″ Radius 1/8 Turns (2)  – 6″ Radius 1/8 Turns

HO Challenge

This next track layout was designed for the now-defunct HO DL Challenge. This racing series allowed you to compete with other HO Slot Car racers from around the world using this standard track configuration. Because the track layout remained the same for all racers, lap times could simply be compared to see who the World’s Fastest HO Slot Car Racers really were.

View Color-Coded Track Section Drawing

This challenging 4-lane racing circuit has a lap length of 32.64 feet and can be built on a single 4×8 foot table using the Tomy AFX Super International Racing Set in addition to these extra track sections:

(4)  – 15″ Straights(12) – 9″ Straights

(16) – 12″ Radius 1/8 Turns

(2) – 15″ Power Tracks(2) – 22 VDC Power Packs

If you have ever wondered about your driving skills or your ability to prepare fast HO Slot Cars this is a good means of testing your abilities against other HO racers from around the world.

Whitefish Bay 33

This next track fits on a single 4 × 8 foot table. It has a 33 foot lap length comprised of 4 lanes. This track was originally built using Tyco/Mattel slot car track sections, but could have just as easily be made using Tomy AFX track instead.

View Color-Coded Track Section Drawing

The table below lists the Tyco/Mattel slot car track sections required to build the Whitefish Bay 33 raceway:

(20) – 15″ Straights(20) – 9″ Straights (6)  – 6″ Straights

(14) – 12″ Radius 1/8 Turns (4)  – 9″ Radius 1/8 Turns(12) – 9″ Radius 1/4 Turns (7)  – 6″ Radius 1/4 Turns

Whitefish Bay 43

This next racing layout is a variation on the original Whitefish Bay 33 described above that provides a longer lap length of 43 feet with an infield comprised of two additional chicane sections. In my opinion this would be a better layout for older Aurora ThunderJets and A/FX slot cars due to its increased lap length and twisty infield section.

View Color-Coded Track Section Drawing

This challenging 4-lane racing circuit has a lap length of 43 feet and can be built on a single 4×8 foot table using the following Tomy AFX track sections:

(24) – 15″ Straights (2)  – 9″ Straights(24) – 6″ Straights (4)  – 3″ Straights

(21) – 12″ Radius 1/8 Turns(36) – 9″ Radius 1/8 Turns(15) – 6″ Radius 1/8 Turns

The Whitefish Bay 43 is also well suited to computerized lap counting and timing. The open area in the lower left-hand corner of the diagram above provides space for a computer display monitor. The 6″ straight sections at the center of the straight on the left side is an ideal location for a dead track section or photo-cells. The track is designed so that the cars circulate in a counter-clockwise direction. With the start/finish line along the left edge of the table, drivers can glance up at the computer scoring screen as the cars pass over the lap counter and head into the double apex turn.

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