Personal project · RC circuit planning
Circuit Builder
Little cars. Big ideas.
Draw an RC circuit. Explore it in 3D. Then build it with full-size templates. Circuit Builder brings two of my favorite things together: RC cars and product design.
- My role
- Product design and development
- How I helped
- Designed and built an RC planning tool that connects space constraints, a 3D preview, and full-size construction templates.
- Status
- Personal project · In development
The idea
Start with your space.
A circuit can look great on screen and still be wrong for the space or the cars. I wanted those constraints to be part of the design from the beginning, so the app starts with the building area and RC scale before asking people to draw.
My goal was to make it easier to try ideas before cutting materials or rearranging a room. Drift is the starting point, but I kept road widths adjustable so people can plan grip layouts too.
Draw. Preview. Build.
I organized the experience around three things people need to do: draw a layout, understand how it flows, and prepare to build it.
Draw
Find the layout that fits.
I wanted drawing to feel direct. Road pieces connect as people draw, with control over entry and exit widths. I also brought guidance on tight corners, narrow lanes, and steep ramps into the editor, where it can help before a mistake becomes a physical problem.
Preview
Follow the line in 3D.
I added a 3D preview so people can look beyond the plan view. Adjusting apexes and clipping points changes the simulated line; tandem runs and a chase camera offer another way to explore the transitions.
I treat this as a planning preview. A real car’s handling still depends on its setup and the surface.
Build
Take it to the floor.
The printout needed to be useful on the workbench, not just look good as a PDF. I included full-size tile templates, an assembly map, and calibration bars so people can check the printed dimensions with a ruler before trimming and assembling the sheets.
I kept the overview PDF separate from the construction templates to make that distinction clear.
Room to explore
Plan a circuit that fits your build.
A mountain road, a city circuit, and a competition layout ask different things of the tool. I wanted to support that variety, including elevation, bridges, and tunnels, while keeping dimensions and clearances meaningful.
- Ten RC scales
- I included ten scales, from 1/76 to 1/5, with guidance for each rather than one set of numbers divided down. Dimensions can be read in feet or meters.
- Work within your boundary
- I made boundary problems visible and added Auto Fix to help bring a layout back inside the available space.
- Keep planning wherever you are
- I wanted people to keep working at home or at the club. Circuits sync across devices, remain editable offline, and can be exported as a backup.
- Share when you’re ready
- I kept circuits private by default. People can choose to publish, embed, or remix a layout when they want to share it.
Explore the project
Try Circuit Builder.
Circuit Builder is a personal project I’m continuing to develop. The editor is currently free with an account, and the gallery is a place to explore what people are making.
I keep the road dimensions to scale. The scenery and terrain provide context; the finished physical build is up to the person making it.