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Post by crazynski on Jan 18, 2022 19:07:02 GMT -7
I came out of my igloo yesterday morning, and a name for the new race track quickly came to mind.  I built an AFX road-race track called the "Oak Creek 36" two years ago. It's mounted on hinges and folds up agains the wall.  I got invited to the "Rock County Raceway" in the UK. That prompted a 12-foot test track. It has a 7-foot run at 12-volts with a 5-foot shut down. Humble beginnings.  It has return lanes. That was fine with slow cars at 12-volts. We're scrapping the return lane idea in favour of a proper catch-box. The entire plastic track is being retired. |
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Post by crazynski on Jan 18, 2022 19:24:10 GMT -7
New concrete was poured to level the floor in the hallway. The fold-down Oak Creek 36 was temporarily taken down. The ugly wallpaper was taken down, permanently.  The new vinyl floor planks are in. Like the new open concept toilet? It needs to be re-installed in the washroom.  That's a 24' foot level hallway from one end to the other. 1) Is that enough space? 2) Can I make my own drag race track by routing two 12'-foot lengths of 3/4" by 8" particle board as seen under the 12-foot drag race track? I would need to come up with a method of detaching the boards for storage. They can rest on brackets under the AFX road race track when not in use. Locating pins and locking snaps would also be needed to make sure the 2-boards align perfectly while sitting on the floor. No speed bumps allowed. Everything starts with an idea. I look forward to making this happen. |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 18, 2022 19:56:59 GMT -7
24' is ideal for a 1/64 scale 1000' timed area (15' 7.5") leaving about 8' or so of shutdown.
I have made my portable sections by using a flat board (you can use particle or plywood too) that has 1"X3" sides under it.
I overlap the top board about 4" on top of the 1"X3" side to allow screws to lock the sections together.
so, "side" is not really a good describer since those long 1"X3" are under the flat boards.
I make the flat boards about 2" wider than the track to facilitate this "support" (which also allows room for jumper wires and timing system wires under the track "platform" surface) and the ability to lock it together with the screws.
there are many ways of accomplishing what you want to do.
keep us posted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 18, 2022 19:59:38 GMT -7
did you send any cars to UK for the race getting ready to start there?
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Post by crazynski on Jan 18, 2022 20:42:57 GMT -7
Hi Al, Thank you very kindly for your input and help! I also have another 12'-foot extension after the 24'-foot hallway. But it is an inch lower than the hallway. It can be added to the whole thing if I make a spacer under that last 12'-feet. Is it worth adding the extra length to make 36' feet total? Or stay with the 15 foot, 7.5-inch track? Yes sir! Cars have been sent to the UK. The race is going to start in a day or so. This is what I've sent across the pond. I'm looking forward to race day!  |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 18, 2022 21:10:47 GMT -7
most of the Nitro tracks are 1/64 scale 1000'.
so it would be good to have same to practice and test on.
good luck in the UK races
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Post by pete on Jan 19, 2022 5:45:16 GMT -7
this is my opinion coming from my back round of 50 years of construction practice.
Particle board does not do well with moisture. Basement and storing on the floor is a red flag as Im listening to your plans. If the room is very dry well maybe, but on the floor is still going to get moisture because concrete will sweat the moisture coming from ground soil. Will it be a problem? Maybe Ken.
Next 12 foot length of anything is heavy and awkward to move. If it never moves np, if it does move, how many people will it take to make that happen? You don't think it will be heavy till you go to pick it up. 50 60 pounds in long length is not easy to move by yourself up and down.
You could use a good grade of cabinet plywood, 8 foot will be fine to make your pieces, three of them will give you 24 feet.
You can fit your 15'7" in 16 feet and still have 8 feet of shut down with a catch box. Its still going to have weight to it and you can work with smaller sections.
The upgrade in material will serve you much better than the few bucks you will save using PB.
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Post by crazynski on Jan 19, 2022 9:47:43 GMT -7
Hi Pete, I appreciate everyone's input. The basement was dry before the reno. Now we have a well insulated subfloor under the vinyl planks. I was planning on painting the entire particle board to seal it. The plan is to make custom hooks on the wall under the road race track. The new track sections are to be stored on their side a foot up off the floor from where it sits now. I have a 12'-foot wall to perfectly store 2-sections between races/testing. I might as well use it.  But... making a track out of some sort of water resistant foam-core product would allow me to glue smooth plastic sheets as a track surface. Traction might increase dramatically. Scary thought. Everything is up in the air. Please keep the ideas flowing? Thanks a million! Ken |
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Post by dave632 on Jan 19, 2022 11:17:21 GMT -7
How about attaching it to the wall so that it can be folded up when not in use. That was how my fist track was
installed. Hinged about 1" away from the wall so it could be folded up with track screwed to the bed of course.
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Post by crazynski on Jan 19, 2022 11:37:34 GMT -7
Hi Dave, Thank you very kindly for the suggestion. The road race track below is built exactly that way.   Trouble is I don't have a 24'-foot wall to fold it up against. |
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Post by dave632 on Jan 19, 2022 14:20:58 GMT -7
You would not have to run the fastest cars. Many of the cars in the
stock classes will only run between 10-18 MPH. Then a short stop strip
and a good catch box will work.
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Post by ecbill on Jan 19, 2022 17:28:25 GMT -7
The surface that my track is on also doubles as the top of the cabinets and work benches. Its 3/4" melamine, which is particle board with a hard plastic coating on the flat surfaces. The edges are finished with iron on bands.
Not sure how prices and availability of lumber is on Canada, which is where much of our lumber comes from. The price of melamine 8x4 sheets, thus far have not heavily been affected by the hyper inflated lumber pricing, in the US.
The stuff is hard, fairy slick and wipe clean very easily. Kinda like formica.
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Post by crazynski on Jan 19, 2022 18:00:47 GMT -7
Thanks to everyone for your input. I'm taking notes. I hope to take everyone's ideas and test a few of them. Everything looks good on paper... until you need to lift it as Dave says. My back isn't what it used to be.  |
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Post by crazynski on Jan 19, 2022 18:03:31 GMT -7
We use copper tape for power rails with 1/32 routed tracks. What do you use on a home-made routed HO track please?
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Post by dave632 on Jan 19, 2022 18:25:43 GMT -7
Lumber prices have just about tripled in the last couple of years here in the US.
Never made a routed track. I got mine from Max Trax.
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