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Post by GTS on Feb 19, 2018 13:44:20 GMT -7
Well, I planned all I could stand and decided to just get started. I am attempting to build a scale 1000 foot drag track. It will be attached to my 4x16 Tomy track. It will be 6" wide as that's all the space I can spare. So-o-o, yesterday I went and picked up a 5x5x1/2" sheet of BB plywood to build the foundation.
[img src="I had them cut it up in predetermined 3 pieces so I could haul it home easier.
Ran those thru the table saw to get 4-5'x6" pcs, 4-5'x5" pcs and 4- 5'x3" pcs. I had some scrap 1/2" to cut the required brackets.  Got all the bracketry hung today. The start line will be closest to you in the photo. The first one was kinda tricky 'cause I wasn't real careful fabricating the add on desk area so had to do some shimming to get it started straight. It is straight and level in both directions, 6" & the 20' length  . I attached the first top piece with screws but didn't care for that so will be taking that off and attaching all the top pieces with glue, clamps and nail gun.  This kinda shows the brackets. There are 1/2" holes drilled in all those to run wiring and such. I still have an 18" section to fabricate for part of the slow down area so the total length will be 21' 6". I am absolutely positive I will be 'hand' staging, so with that said, is 8" enough distance before the starting line to accommodate, say a scale fuel dragster?  And this is the power supply I plan to use for a while. It's variable 40VDC @ 15 amps. Glad to get started (finally) and wanted to share. I'll up date as progress happens. |
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Post by ncdragracer on Feb 19, 2018 21:03:23 GMT -7
GTS, I am jealous looks like a very good start keep us updated on the progress. dig the four lane in the background as well
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Post by kiwidave on Feb 19, 2018 22:13:46 GMT -7
Excellent work GTS. Please keep us updated with pics!
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Post by GTS on Feb 20, 2018 8:44:43 GMT -7
Thanks!
Really appreciate the encouragement!
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Post by jjwallace on Feb 20, 2018 13:43:12 GMT -7
Looking great so far GTS!! I think 8" should be enough room for a dragster and anything else. Look forward to updates and completion.
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Post by GTS on Feb 20, 2018 15:40:24 GMT -7
Thanks for the confirmation on the 8", Jeff. It seemed like it would be, but had no hard data to confirm that, so thought I better ask.  Picked up a sheet of 1/4" mdf and 4 pcs. of black pvc this morning which will wind up being the track surface. Will be laminating the pvc to the mdf. The black pvc, which is 1/8" x 17" x 96", I got from the sign shop I retired from. Cost was minimal because it was drops from a past project. I'll explain more about this as it goes along. I know, some of you are wondering, what the ....? Please be patient with me and remember, this thread IS NOT about How To build a track but rather, how I decided to build one . And I do like to make stuff! |
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Post by GTS on Feb 20, 2018 18:40:32 GMT -7
Got a little more done today.  Got the glue on, ready to nail the surface piece. Got all the top pieces glued & nailed.  Got the small 18" piece at the end all fabbed and installed.   A couple pix of the test piece I thru together. It's thicker mdf but what I had on hand. The lamination is a real stout bond. The test piece is for putting sensors in (at the right depth) and making sure they work on the correct connections on the Arduino that I'm going to use for the timing software. The Arduino will be hooked up to the computer via usb.  And a look down the other direction, towards the start. Okay, I have another newb question. The timing software I'll be using allows for one variable length timing segment. Would the most advantageous place for these sensors be at the scale 660' mark? Would this give me more useful data for tuning cars? |
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Post by jjwallace on Feb 21, 2018 4:06:44 GMT -7
It's looking better and better GTS! Ive had my Trackmate system for a little while now and I have sensors at 60', 660', with the speed trap the last 12". I love having the incremental timing for tuning! For me the 60' is the most valuable. It lets you know what the car is doing on the all important start. Keep up the good work Gale.
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Post by GTS on Feb 21, 2018 9:14:38 GMT -7
It's looking better and better GTS! Ive had my Trackmate system for a little while now and I have sensors at 60', 660', with the speed trap the last 12". I love having the incremental timing for tuning! For me the 60' is the most valuable. It lets you know what the car is doing on the all important start. Keep up the good work Gale. Thanks Jeff! Good to know about the 12" speed trap, too. At some point, I would really like to see the acquisition of the Trackmate software, so, for me, it's really good info to know what & where all the sensors go. And, thinking about it, I suppose I better include the staging sensor holes in the track for later, .....just in case I'll have to get in touch with them maybe and inquire what they use for sensors. Thanks again! |
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Post by GTS on Feb 21, 2018 11:28:14 GMT -7
Got the mdf & pvc cut to size, mdf is at 14" x 49", pvc at 14" x 48". Each of these pieces when lammed together will make 2 track pieces at 6" x 47" for a total of 6 track pieces. The 6th piece will be cut down to 23" for the end of the slow down. The extra material is for clamping area as these will be cut on a CNC. The CNC will give me better tolerances on the slot depth, etc.. I'm not the best with a hand router . Hoping to get these all lammed together tomorrow. Have other projects today.  |
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Post by jjwallace on Feb 21, 2018 14:47:12 GMT -7
It's looking better and better GTS! Ive had my Trackmate system for a little while now and I have sensors at 60', 660', with the speed trap the last 12". I love having the incremental timing for tuning! For me the 60' is the most valuable. It lets you know what the car is doing on the all important start. Keep up the good work Gale. Thanks Jeff! Good to know about the 12" speed trap, too. At some point, I would really like to see the acquisition of the Trackmate software, so, for me, it's really good info to know what & where all the sensors go. And, thinking about it, I suppose I better include the staging sensor holes in the track for later, .....just in case I'll have to get in touch with them maybe and inquire what they use for sensors. Thanks again! Gale I have all the sensor info for the Trackmate system. They are IR sensors. I will send you the info. I have. |
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Post by dave632 on Feb 21, 2018 15:44:55 GMT -7
Looks good GTS. Keep up the good work.
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Post by GTS on Feb 22, 2018 16:53:54 GMT -7
Looks good GTS. Keep up the good work. Thanks Dave, appreciate that! Got three blanks laminated today.  This shows two pieces sprayed with the adhesive and ready to put together. Although the picture doesn't show it very well, there is adhesive coverage on the entire surfaces. I didn't want to mess around with contact cement due to the weather and fumes. Had read some reviews and did some testing with this 3M 90, and it works good and much easier to use than contact cement. When you stick 'em together, it's stuck like chuck. After sticking them together, I rolled it out with a chunk of 3" DWV pipe with as much pressure as I could, just in case.  Like I said, this stuff works. They don't specify a time to let it set up before you put the two pieces together. They say touch it lightly and if it doesn't stick to your finger, you are good to go. It wound up being about 10 to 12 minutes at 62 degrees in my shop.  It'll drive me crazier but will let these set up for a couple days before I start cutting out the track pieces. Got the files all ready. Besides the car slots and conductor slots, I allowed for various sensors, which I won't be using all of them at first but figured I better get 'em in there. Will have only 1 set of staging sensors, start, 60', 660', speed trap & finish. Also allowed for voltage supply jumpers in each piece. EDIT: Forgot to mention; I did 4 blanks plus the test piece and that emptied the can of 3M 90. Would like to wish everyone the very best in the Winter Nationals at Bear Creek Dragway this weekend!!!!! |
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Post by ncdragracer on Feb 22, 2018 17:40:58 GMT -7
Man is that Track looking awesome..Shows your talent for sure. Keep posting
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Post by GTS on Feb 27, 2018 9:32:24 GMT -7
Thanks for the kind comments, ncdragracer! Cut a couple pieces of track this morning. Will be confirming a few things before I cut the rest of the pieces. So far, so good, though.   |
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. I attached the first top piece with screws but didn't care for that so will be taking that off and attaching all the top pieces with glue, clamps and nail gun.
