Re: Inslot's Checkered Flag Raceway - Renovation
Thanks guys!
Re: Inslot's Checkered Flag Raceway - Renovation
It almost like you done these before Bill.
Job well done.
The secondnidator
- kidvolt
- The Decider
- Offline
Re: Inslot's Checkered Flag Raceway - Renovation
Experience is one heck of a teacher.
Hey Doc, have you heard Bill's story about melting track with overhead timing lights?
"Big Smooth"
Re: Inslot's Checkered Flag Raceway - Renovation
No let's hear the dirt on that one.
The secondnidator
- wb0s
- Administrator
- Offline
Re: Inslot's Checkered Flag Raceway - Renovation
Ok, ok.....years ago I built an 8 lane Aurora Thunderjet plastic track. I purchased an 8 lane timing system from Trackmate and decided to try the light sensor system. I built an overhead gantry to house lights placed over the sensors. Evidently the lights I used in the gantry provided too much heat...............
Re: Inslot's Checkered Flag Raceway - Renovation
what you do? install grow lamps????
The secondnidator
- wb0s
- Administrator
- Offline
Re: Inslot's Checkered Flag Raceway - Renovation
Honest Doc, they were small.......but evidently they got hot enough!
- reek455
- Slot Racer Emeritus
- Offline
Re: Inslot's Checkered Flag Raceway - Renovation
If you're into meltdowns, there's always Jack's infamous paint oven experiment. I sure wish I could find the pics of it. I just know they are on the forum somewhere, but a search revealed nothing.
Race cars are neither beautiful nor ugly. They become beautiful when they win.
- reek455
- Slot Racer Emeritus
- Offline
Re: Inslot's Checkered Flag Raceway - Renovation
I just found them. Page 3 of the photo gallery: Disasters and other remedies.
Race cars are neither beautiful nor ugly. They become beautiful when they win.
- kidvolt
- The Decider
- Offline
Re: Inslot's Checkered Flag Raceway - Renovation
Yup, the legendary Jack paint job.
He may still be available for custom work.
"Big Smooth"
- wb0s
- Administrator
- Offline
Re: Inslot's Checkered Flag Raceway - Renovation
I haven't posted an update for awhile so here it is. I've been working on the track most every day, mostly on painting. The track surface is painted, color sanded, and ready for the braid to be laid. The driver's stations are built and have three coats of white base color on them. Today I applied the first coats of color to the driver's stations to identify which lanes each serves. I also remounted the electrical track control center that houses all the relays and connections for the lap counting system.
COLOR!....Something other than tan or white!
As a track owner I DO NOT like having problems or issues during a race! It can happen but what makes it even worse is having to crawl around under the track trying to figure out the source of the problem. With the track controls mounted here with easy access, it will make performing any necessary diagnostics much easier! I am planning to redo/redesign all the electrical connections and hardware that connects the wiring to the track braid and controller hookups. Part of the plan is to use fewer nuts, bolts, and screws!
112 September 25, 2020 7:58 pm (edited by Mitch58 September 26, 2020 6:25 am)
Re: Inslot's Checkered Flag Raceway - Renovation
Ooooh primary colors. I like that.
At Bobs the orange and green look the same to me. At other tracks I've had trouble with the purple and blue, Sometimes if the yellow is not bright enough it looks like the green, but the yellow and orange are never a problem, go figure.
Re: Inslot's Checkered Flag Raceway - Renovation
Mitch58 wrote:
Ooooh primary colors. I like that.
At Bobs the orange and green look the same to me. At other tracks I've had trouble with the purple and blue, Sometimes if the yellow is not bright enough it looks like the green, but the yellow and orange are never a problem, go figure.
Well that explains all the yellow and orange cars you own...
The secondnidator
114 September 26, 2020 1:28 pm (edited by docdoom September 26, 2020 7:51 pm)
Re: Inslot's Checkered Flag Raceway - Renovation
wb0s wrote:
I haven't posted an update for awhile so here it is. I've been working on the track most every day, mostly on painting. The track surface is painted, color sanded, and ready for the braid to be laid. The driver's stations are built and have three coats of white base color on them. Today I applied the first coats of color to the driver's stations to identify which lanes each serves. I also remounted the electrical track control center that houses all the relays and connections for the lap counting system.
COLOR!....Something other than tan or white!
As a track owner I DO NOT like having problems or issues during a race! It can happen but what makes it even worse is having to crawl around under the track trying to figure out the source of the problem. With the track controls mounted here with easy access, it will make performing any necessary diagnostics much easier! I am planning to redo/redesign all the electrical connections and hardware that connects the wiring to the track braid and controller hookups. Part of the plan is to use fewer nuts, bolts, and screws!
busy busy there Bill
Do have Rush working man playing in the back ground to keep you motivated???? Looking good by the way
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iIGKlicb8n0
The secondnidator
115 September 26, 2020 5:38 pm (edited by reek455 September 26, 2020 5:42 pm)
- reek455
- Slot Racer Emeritus
- Offline
Re: Inslot's Checkered Flag Raceway - Renovation
Lookin' Good Bill
Race cars are neither beautiful nor ugly. They become beautiful when they win.
- wb0s
- Administrator
- Offline
Re: Inslot's Checkered Flag Raceway - Renovation
This is what the driver's stations will look like when completed:
I need to finish painting the faceplates for the controller hook-ups for the other lanes.
- wb0s
- Administrator
- Offline
Re: Inslot's Checkered Flag Raceway - Renovation
Here's a closer look at the hook-ups. Thanks to Beau for the cool discs for correct controller wire connection.
I get questions about how to connect the controller alligator clips on these hook-ups. Here's a photo of the clips connected with the boots pulled back:
The hook-ups work fine even with the boots in place.
- wb0s
- Administrator
- Offline
Re: Inslot's Checkered Flag Raceway - Renovation
I like this controller hook-up for a number of reasons. The wiring is easily soldered to the hook-ups, no screws and nuts to loosen up over time. The copper tubing offers excellent electrical contact to the alligator clips. The copper tubing hook-ups are very solidly mounted. These set ups are very easy to make at very little cost. The use of the copper tubing for controller hook-ups was originally thought up by Hugh Ellsworth in the early '80s. Over the years I have refined his original concept.
Re: Inslot's Checkered Flag Raceway - Renovation
wb0s wrote:
Here's a closer look at the hook-ups. Thanks to Beau for the cool discs for correct controller wire connection.
I get questions about how to connect the controller alligator clips on these hook-ups. Here's a photo of the clips connected with the boots pulled back:
The hook-ups work fine even with the boots in place.
those look great Bill, but I still think Jeff could hook up to them wrong still.... think you need to add some braille and flashing lights...
The secondnidator
- wb0s
- Administrator
- Offline
Re: Inslot's Checkered Flag Raceway - Renovation
Well Doc there's only so much I can do...............
- wb0s
- Administrator
- Offline
Re: Inslot's Checkered Flag Raceway - Renovation
Re: Inslot's Checkered Flag Raceway - Renovation
That turned out great Bill.
The secondnidator
- wb0s
- Administrator
- Offline
Re: Inslot's Checkered Flag Raceway - Renovation
Thanks Doc.
Re: Inslot's Checkered Flag Raceway - Renovation
your welcome.. how much more you have to do?
The secondnidator
- wb0s
- Administrator
- Offline
Re: Inslot's Checkered Flag Raceway - Renovation
I'm ready to start reinstalling the wiring. I'll be rewiring some of it.
Then I will be ready to rebraid the track. I'm thinking I will be rebraiding the entire track. The track is 18 years old now and most of the glue holding the existing braid down is giving up, it's old and brittle with little to no grip. The braid pulls up easily and is prone to damage during races.
After I finish laying down the braid I need to repaint some of the lane striping.
Then reinstall the side boards and the under skirting.
Then it is break in time!