A few months ago, I mentioned the Jersey barriers that could be placed next to GO tracks, but I’d never tried them with a Hybrid track. While slot cars aren’t supposed to go off the track, Hybrid cars can easily do so. Having obstacles at the edge of the track helps limit off-track excursions and also provides a visual reference point; it’s easier to avoid an object than a simple line drawn on the ground.
Today, we’re going to try the barriers we’ve already printed for the GO track, as well as some barriers I bought to mark out 1/50 scale Carrera mini RC tracks.
3D printed jersey barrier
I often browse 3D printing file websites to see what might be useful for our slot car or hybrid tracks. The hybrid range has given the community many ideas, and there are plenty of files available. The barrier file we’re testing today was found here:
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4922691
JI printed different colors, so I tried to create uniform sections in the alternating colors with harmonious combinations that are regularly found
- Red – white
- Yellow – blue
- Yellow – red
You can choose your print color.
The printer ran for a few days and nights, but we now have a reasonable quantity.
You can use these barriers to create freestyle tracks without the Hybrid track elements and have markers in your living room, or use them along the track edges. We’ll try the track edge barriers in our test.
It takes a few minutes to position the blocks along the track edges, but you quickly realize that it positively transforms the track. Better delineation, added depth—the change is real. I even took the opportunity to place a few cones off the track to fill in some corners, and it looks great.
Features:
Each barrier weighs 2.60 grams.
Each barrier is 4 cm long, or 25 cm per meter.
Collisions
If you hit a barrier, it won’t slow the car down and will move away from the track upon impact. The barriers will need to be replaced after the race.
There’s no risk of damaging the car. And if you’re looking for barriers to hold the car on the track, you’ll need something heavier and the components must be interconnected.
Barriers purchased
I bought other types of barriers from a Chinese website for just €3.90, about fifty pieces (25 white and 25 red).
You can immediately feel that they’re a bit lighter. These barriers have the unique feature of being able to be linked together to form a single unit, or rather a chain. It only takes a few minutes to assemble them. I made sure to alternate the red and white.
Specifications
Weight: 2.15 grams
Length: 56 mm (18.8 meters)
These barriers are slightly larger than 3D-printed barriers and also lighter.
Collisions
If you hit a barrier, it won’t slow the car down and will move aside upon impact, like 3D barriers, but the difference is that these are linked together and you won’t be able to go to the other side; the entire row of barriers will deform and follow the car!
Result
Visually, it’s very good; it gives the track depth and color. It’s an undeniable plus.
However, the slightest deviation from the track shifts the barriers, and for those that are linked, dragging them can obstruct the track and trigger a red flag, which isn’t handled by the app!