Okay, so I’ve been messing around with this idea of making, like, digital F1 street circuits. It’s been a bit of a wild ride, so I figured I’d share the whole messy process.
The Idea Hit Me
It all started when I was watching some race, I don’t even remember which one. I was thinking it would so fun design your own! That’s when it hit me – I could totally try to make my own, at least digitally.
Getting Started (and Getting Stuck)
First, I needed some kind of software.I use a simple paint software because it had basic shape tools, and I figured that’s all I really needed. Boy, was I wrong. I started by trying to draw a basic track layout, just a simple oval to get the hang of it. Even that was tough!
It turns out, drawing smooth curves with a mouse is way harder than it looks. My “oval” looked more like a lumpy potato. I spent hours trying to fix it, erasing and redrawing, and getting more and more frustrated. I almost gave up right there.
Finding a Better Way
I realised my tools were completely wrong for the project. I am not a professional designer!
I spent some time looking at real-life circuits. I opened up, Google Maps and started tracing the outlines of some famous street circuits, like Monaco and Singapore. That gave me a much better sense of the scale and proportions.
I still needed to find an easier way, So I try to use some tracing. It took a while to get the hang of it.
The Little Details
Once I had a basic track layout I was reasonably happy with, I started adding details.
- Barriers: These were pretty easy, just a matter of drawing thick lines along the track edges.
- Run-off areas: These were a bit trickier, as I had to make sure they looked realistic and blended in with the track.
- Grandstands: I didn’t go too crazy with these, just some simple blocks to represent the seating areas.
- Pit lane: This was important to get right, as it’s a key part of any F1 circuit. I made sure it was long enough and had enough space for all the teams.
It Actually Looks Like Something!
After many many hours of playing around, adding details, and tweaking things, I finally had something that actually resembled an F1 street circuit! It’s not perfect, of course, but I’m pretty proud of it. It’s amazing what you can do with a bit of perserverance and a willingness to learn from your mistakes (and trust me, I made a lot of them!).
What’s Next?
I’m not sure where I’ll go from here. Maybe I’ll try to design some more circuits, or maybe I’ll just leave it as a fun little project. Who knows? Maybe I’ll even try to 3D print it someday! The possibilities are endless, and that’s what makes it so exciting.
