While in almost all new boxes, we now find flexible safety rails (barriers) instead of the white strips that had to be fixed on the supports or even put on the side of the track.
In the article “Flexible Track Barriers”, we have already talked about these barriers or safety rails and mentioned their main flaw.
Before talking about the flaw, I would like to talk about what I like about these barriers. I like the ease of installation and also the slightly meshed appearance that is more reminiscent of the configuration of modern circuits.
And the flaw is that for slightly wide vehicles, they could rub in the bends, slowing down the vehicle significantly because the rubber grips. Some vehicles even did not pass.
This year Carrera offers an evolution of this safety rail. With a slightly offset grip on the track (5 mm) which allows the widest vehicles to pass without problem.
If you have the old models like me, you can use small spacers that you can print in 3D. This small part offsets the rail in relation to the edge of the track.
A variation of this spacer allows you to position 2 rails one above the other to increase the height. If cars happen to pass over them, this allows you to secure a turn and perhaps prevent the car from falling to the ground if the circuit is high.
Between two fasteners on the rails there is a small stop to keep the barrier at a good distance from the rail.
Single height spreader on the left in the photo
Double height spreader on the right in the photo
You can find the stl files of the spacers in the downloads section.
Colors
As for colors, I have identified 4:
- Grey available in the Safety Rail set ref (61651)
- Red available in the Safety Rail set ref (61651)
- Blue available in the Cars sets
- Green available in the Cars sets
- Mauve available in the Glamour set (2024)
It is quite possible that from 2024 all the boxes with this type of barrier will be available with the new model. I have not been able to see it so to be continued.
Will Carrera offer a new accessory reference with new generation barriers, difficult to say. It is possible that they will sell off old stocks at first and for convenience, publish the new barriers under the same reference. To be monitored in the future.