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.

• Best Slot Car Track Brand
• Adult Slot Car Racing Sets
• Best Ho Slot Car Track
• Slot Car Racing Sets Reviews

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

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Slot Car World has recently acquired access to the full line of track, accessories and parts and is the U.S. It is an easy track to assemble and disassemble, a hard plastic instead of flexible one, and being almost exactly the size of Scalextric you can fit a 4 lane track in smaller spaces quite nicely. Trainz is your #1 source for all your slot car needs. Check out our huge selection of slot cars, including choices from all the best brands, like Auto World, AFX, Aurora, Scalextric, Carerrra and much more. We carry slot car tracks, slot car controllers, slot car parts, slot car race sets pretty much everything you will ever need!

#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

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.

Three new motors have arrived from Slot Car Corner for a quick testing. Each one of them have been chosen to fit a specific need for enthusiasts along with being easy on the budget.

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Motor test results are listed by the average of 5 motors. The data provided should give you a decent glimpse into each one and aid you in your next motor choice.

BEST ADVICE: Test yourself.

At the low cost, the fastest and most accurate conclusion will come from your own testing. These are my findings based on our home track and simple test equipment. With the wide variety of tracks and test methods out there, only yours will give you the data you truly need.

Equipment:

I have a simple RPM test bench using a common laser tachometer.

Power is from an after-market adjustable supply.
An additional supply combined with a standard multi-meter is used for additional accuracy.

“JAWS 17.5K”
FK-180 Long Can Type (NC-5) Configuration
Average based on 5 motors

This motor is not a neutral timed motor.

A motor with neutral timing means the motor will spin at roughly the same RMP’s regardless of how you hook it up (wire locations at motor tables). This motor has slightly advanced timing. This means that it has different RPMs depending on how you hook it up. In generic bench testing, hooking the red (positive) to the marked red side of the motor produces about 950 RPM more than the printed specifications.

Some of you might take advantage of this. It allows you to choose the speed you desire just by swapping the lead wires at either the motor or at the guide.

I wanted the LOWER end of this range. And the performance was just what I was hoping for. I wanted a motor that could tame my Sideways Group 5 models a little, without the major budget impact I have with the NSR Baby King. My track testing told me mission accomplished.

I installed this motor into one of my Sideways Porsche models. The motor shaft is a few thousandths longer than the Flat 6, but did not require any sanding/trimming.

Some motors just do not have a very smooth low end (low speed) feel to them no matter what you do. This motor just has that smoothness I prefer. It isn’t a weak motor my any means as it still has plenty of punch as well as very crisp braking action.

“GATOR 18K”
FC-130 “Standard” Can Type (Scalextric) Configuration
Endbell Drive – Splined Shaft

This was the “surprise” in the group. I was not involved with prototype testing of this one so I had no idea what to expect. The testing went very well. The motor is very close in performance to the stock motors found in Scalextric models and should offer you a decent option for replacement.

As far as the rating goes, well that’s a whole different story. This really isn’t an 18K motor, but neither is the standard motor from Scalextric. However, Scalextric lists them as such in some of their published technical data. Some groups use this published data to set rules for legal motors. Given this fact, listing the Gator as 18K allows it to be included. It is after all, literally the same motor.

For advanced enthusiasts? Racers that do not use any such rule?
Here is your data. Refer and share often 🙂

*NOTE 1 – Although some enthusiast press a brass pinion onto this shaft without sanding the splines (knurling), I advise against it. You can risk expanding the pinion in excess. This may cause the pinion to distort its shape, change the precise pitch of the teeth, and possibly crack.

I prefer to use light grit sandpaper (600) and sand the splines down. Simply hook the motor to a power source and hold the paper against the splined area until almost smooth.

“CLASSIC TUNA 16K”
FC-130 “Standard” Can Type (Carrera/Scalextric) Configuration
Dual Motor Shafts (smooth)

Might as well admit that this motor is one that I personally favored in our prototype round up. I was looking for a motor that would give smooth performance as well as a milder, more scale-like speed. To go even further, I wanted one that had a little more top end than the “standard” performance of the MT-1/NC-1, but less than the stock Carrera/Scalextric. In other words, that “sweet spot” in the middle.

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This motor delivered it. Taming some of the smaller classic models like the Carrera Cobra or Scalextric Jaguar are examples I use. The milder performance is what I enjoyed. Very nice in lower end and has plenty of punch when you need it. Braking is also good enough for my taste.

PRICE POINT

Each of these motors are affordable. Especially compared to some of the prices we are seeing today from some manufacturers.

Cloverleaf Racing & Slot Car Corner Canada will stock these as well.

“JAWS” – $8.99 – LINK TO MOTOR HERE

“GATOR” – $7.99 – LINK TO MOTOR HERE

Best Ho Slot Car Track

“Classic TUNA” – $7.99 – LINK TO MOTOR HERE

Slot Car Racing Sets Reviews

Thanks to Slot Car Corner for the opportunity to test these motors and to be included in the new motor selection process.