You're absolutely right Chris! I have already removed all the existing shims from the straight section exiting the bank (the track is just hanging there unsupported. It is twisted from being screwed into place for so long). The end of that straight will be screwed down flat at a slightly elevated position above the tabletop to meet up with the new straight that leads into the hairpin. Same old scenario....change this and you screw up that!............
1,376 August 20, 2020 3:37 pm
Re: Inslot's Checkered Flag Raceway - Renovation (199 replies, posted in InSlot's Checkered Flag Raceway)
1,377 August 20, 2020 7:07 am
Re: Inslot's Checkered Flag Raceway - Renovation (199 replies, posted in InSlot's Checkered Flag Raceway)
Looks fantastic. In an imaginary way.
Yes, there are currently two sections for "slotless" cars........
"All the old track records are now obsolete, you'll/we'll have to start over."
Depending on when I get all this work done, maybe I'll have another open house for the track re-opening?
1,378 August 19, 2020 6:58 pm
Re: DOCDOM's Scalextric Digital Track in Vancouver - By Dan Fritz (43 replies, posted in Parkside Raceway)
That set up looks pretty cool Doc!
1,379 August 19, 2020 1:12 pm
Re: Inslot's Checkered Flag Raceway - Renovation (199 replies, posted in InSlot's Checkered Flag Raceway)
What I accomplished today:
1. Another trip to Home Depot (and NOT finding what I actually wanted......again....).
2. Another trip to the lumber yard (to get what I actually needed at about the same price as Home Depot....if they had it).
3. Cut, fit, and installed tabletop plywood surface.
4. Added additional 2x4 bracing to the tabletop framework.
5. Played around with lane designs to reconnect the hairpin turn to the rest of the layout (most fun part).
I used 1/2" plywood (OK, 15/32") for the tabletop. The original portion is 5/8", which you can't find anymore. Even 1/2" and 3/4" is undersized by 1/32" now days. I mean come on, how much can 1/32" actually save them?
Here you can see where I drew in the proposed new slots that will tie the hairpin curve back into the rest of the course.
1,380 August 18, 2020 9:30 pm
Re: Inslot's Checkered Flag Raceway - Renovation (199 replies, posted in InSlot's Checkered Flag Raceway)
This is a very good question Doc, one I have contemplated myself. I guess it's just nostalgia. I want to retain as much of the original track and its history as possible. It would probably be easier to just re-route a new corner, and it would only cost an additional $30 for another sheet of MDF. But there's that stubborn part of me I constantly deal with, and there's the "challenge" part of the endeavor..........We'll see how it goes, it's not over yet.....
1,381 August 18, 2020 1:32 pm
Re: Inslot's Checkered Flag Raceway - Renovation (199 replies, posted in InSlot's Checkered Flag Raceway)
It definitely helps relieve a little stress Doc!
I don't have much to show for today's efforts. I spent a little extra time trying to find materials. It seems as though every time I restore or re-construct an existing track I find myself wondering if it would have just been easier to start over from scratch. Today some of the "challenges" that come up when re-constructing an existing track made themselves known. First off this track surface is 5/8 inch MDF. Now the easiest way to make changes in the layout is to use like materials, so that all the joint line up easily. Well guess what, I found out after visiting Home Depot and our local lumber yard, 5/8 inch MDF is no longer easy to find. So I went with 3/4 inch MDF. I'll use 1/2 inch plywood for the tabletop instead of the 5/8 inch used on the rest of the tabletop. This should put my track surface joints even where the track is flat to the tabletop. Where the straight from the exit of the banked curve comes down the hill, I will have to do some fancy shimming to make the 5/8 inch roadbed flush with the 3/4 inch roadbed.
The next challenge was with the 180 degree hairpin. As the hairpin was originally mounted to the tabletop. the entry into the corner was elevated making for downhill travel through the curve. With the layout reconfiguration the lead into the hairpin will be with a flat transition. This meant I had to remove all the screws screwing the MDF roadbed to the tabletop. Not terribly difficult but time consuming. I used a magnet (I've found many "useful" uses for 1/32 slot car traction magnets) to locate the screws, and then dug out the bondo covering them with a knife so I could remove them. I had to remove almost every screw so I could knock out the shim materials under the roadbed. The profile for this curve will be totally opposite of what it was originally.
So now it's hot and I'm done for the day!
I cut and installed a couple 2x4s in the framework for cross bracing.
In this photo you can see the 18 or so screws I had to remove to get the shims out from under the roadbed.
This shows the original profile of the corner when it was positioned at the exit of the banked turn. Not gonna work where it is located now!
1,382 August 17, 2020 4:38 pm
Re: Inslot's Checkered Flag Raceway - Renovation (199 replies, posted in InSlot's Checkered Flag Raceway)
Thanks Howie, I figured you'd be gone this week. I've been getting some of the easier stuff done that I can accomplish by myself while working in "other" projects (bush trimming, trip to the dump, driving with my Granddaughter while she has her permit).......
It will be an 11 to 12 foot lap length increase when it is all said and done.
1,383 August 16, 2020 9:12 pm
Re: Inslot's Checkered Flag Raceway - Renovation (199 replies, posted in InSlot's Checkered Flag Raceway)
Yes, thanks Rico!
1,384 August 16, 2020 11:08 am
Re: Inslot's Checkered Flag Raceway - Renovation (199 replies, posted in InSlot's Checkered Flag Raceway)
This morning I got the perimeter of the frame for the new section built. I like to do my cutting outside, so by 11:30am it was getting too hot. I also ran out of long 2x4s, so I shut 'er down. So that means tomorrow morning I have to go out and trim our "wild" bush so I can top off the trailer load and take it to the dump. Then I can go pick up more 2x4s and the two sheets of 1/2" MDF I need for the track surface...........
1,385 August 16, 2020 6:38 am
Re: Inslot's Checkered Flag Raceway - Renovation (199 replies, posted in InSlot's Checkered Flag Raceway)
That knife is my go to all purpose tool! When damage needs to be done it'll do it! Between that and my saws-all, I'm good to go!
I'm going to try to get some serious work done this week. I have no schedule yet because I'm also trying to work in days to take my Granddaughter driving. The driving days are harder to schedule because of my Granddaughter's spur of the moment schedule!
1,386 August 15, 2020 12:36 pm
Re: Inslot's Checkered Flag Raceway - Renovation (199 replies, posted in InSlot's Checkered Flag Raceway)
Up early, 8 cups, then out to the shop!
1,387 August 15, 2020 11:10 am
Re: Inslot's Checkered Flag Raceway - Renovation (199 replies, posted in InSlot's Checkered Flag Raceway)
With the two temporary legs attached the curve is stable standing alone.
The curve is positioned to maintain 18 inches clearance from the other portions of the track to allow for turn marshals. Turn marshals will be able to access all portions of the track without crawling! No more hands and knees stuff for us old guys!
This is where the hairpin will sit in relation to the rest of the track. I will be adding about 12 feet overall to the lap length. The next step is to build the tabletop portion tying in the space between the curve and the rest of the track.
1,388 August 15, 2020 11:03 am
Re: Inslot's Checkered Flag Raceway - Renovation (199 replies, posted in InSlot's Checkered Flag Raceway)
I was out early again this morning to try to beat the heat. The shop stays nice and cool, but I had some 2x4s to cut and I like to do those cuts outside.
Once I had the doors closed back up to keep the heat out, I got started on the removal of the hairpin turn. First I pulled the braid up and dug out the screws joining the track surface pieces. The paper I had stuffed into the screw recess hole before applying the bondo worked out really well. I was able to easily expose the screw heads and did not have to dig bondo out of the phillips heads!
I installed two temporary legs to help support the curve section on its own. Then I removed the two bolts and nuts, and the screws holding the hairpin to the rest of the track tabletop. The curve separated easily once I had removed ALL the screws.
1,389 August 15, 2020 10:52 am
Re: CanAM Anyone? (2 replies, posted in Cars)
Nice starting grid Rico!
1,390 August 14, 2020 12:05 pm
Re: Inslot's Checkered Flag Raceway - Renovation (199 replies, posted in InSlot's Checkered Flag Raceway)
Because this area will be subjected to a lot of pressure from turn marshals leaning in to retrieve cars, I installed a replacement 2x4 in the tabletop framework. I installed this one at the same angle as the track surface to provide extra support for the relocated side board.
A little cleanup of the rough cuts was called for after the bracing was installed.
And ta da....no more need for anyone to crawl into the "hole"!
1,391 August 14, 2020 11:58 am
Re: Inslot's Checkered Flag Raceway - Renovation (199 replies, posted in InSlot's Checkered Flag Raceway)
Friday morning. Gonna be hot today. Coffee'd up and headed out to the shop early. I was able to complete one of the changes I had in mind for the track. When we moved the track into my shop I kept it away from the back wall leaving space between the back straight and the work benches. With turn marshal access to the backside of the track I was able to eliminate the need for the turn marshal "hole" on the right side of the track. After taking some measurements I decided I could also eliminate the turn marshal "hole" on the left side of the track inside the banked curve. I figured I could take 16" out of the infield without losing any structural strength in the table. So the music was turned up, and out came the saws-all!
This is what the section of track looked like before I got started.
This is where the surgery took place.
I had to remove one 2x4 frame rail. It was a short section of 2x4 table frame work, and there was a 4x4 post on either side. Even without any further bracing there would not have been any structural strength loss. The MDF track is screwed down over a 1/2" plywood table top.
1,393 August 13, 2020 8:10 am
Re: Sportsman chassis dimensions (5 replies, posted in Modifications)
I race one of the old original Hanna Econo chassis. If I were to build another chassis for this class or the similar classes, I'd build it to the original Hanna dimensions. This provides the maximum possible chassis width and weight, which has been proven to be a great performer through the years. The rules really don't allow for modifications to the original Hanna chassis design. I pick bodies that fit the chassis or will fit with just a little stretching, there are plenty of bodies that fit the original chassis specs. Bodies that require a narrower chassis or different wheelbase may be giving up some performance, you won't know until you actually race it. To me that's a lot of "maybe" for the work involved to build it. I'd just as soon go with a proven chassis for these classes.
1,394 August 12, 2020 9:26 pm
Re: Sportsman chassis dimensions (5 replies, posted in Modifications)
Hey Tommy, I don't recall if anything has been posted regarding the building of a Bob Hanna style Econo Car Chassis. The Econo chassis is the same chassis design required for the Sportsman Class. The Early Modified chassis as raced at Howie's are the same but with narrowed side pans to allow the mounting of the narrow modified bodies.
Here's a post with chassis photos:
http://naste.org/forum/viewtopic.php?id=858
.090" brass strip is used for the side pans and center section, and the wheelbase is 4.5".
1,395 August 12, 2020 3:33 pm
Re: Inslot's Checkered Flag Raceway - Renovation (199 replies, posted in InSlot's Checkered Flag Raceway)
Will do Tommy! Thanks!
1,396 August 12, 2020 3:24 pm
Re: 1/24 sprint car (1 replies, posted in Cars)
They look pretty cool.
1,397 August 11, 2020 8:36 pm
Re: Lamborghini Miura (8 replies, posted in Cars)
Very cool looking cars! The first one I ever saw was the Tyco HO slot car.
1,398 August 11, 2020 1:27 pm
Re: Inslot's Checkered Flag Raceway - Renovation (199 replies, posted in InSlot's Checkered Flag Raceway)
Thanks Rico, you are now on my list!
1,399 August 10, 2020 9:28 pm
Re: Inslot's Checkered Flag Raceway - Renovation (199 replies, posted in InSlot's Checkered Flag Raceway)
Here's where the day ended. Driver's stations and controller hookups removed.
This is the hairpin turn that will be coming off next and relocated to the end of the new track extensions.
1,400 August 10, 2020 9:25 pm
Re: Inslot's Checkered Flag Raceway - Renovation (199 replies, posted in InSlot's Checkered Flag Raceway)
So after 3 hours on my creeper I finally had all the threaded rods removed, and the controller hookups stripped out.
Here's my view for 3 hours...
Here's those pesky rods all herded together...Each one had to be double nutted to get them out!