Re: New Track Under Construction at TooBad Motorplex in Fairview

Got the second quart of magnetic primer on the track this evening. Found that just a plain ole stir stick works the best for mixing. The tool for my variable speed drill was a waste of time and money for this stuff!!!

Re: New Track Under Construction at TooBad Motorplex in Fairview

No argument there, sounds like a solid plan to me.

"Big Smooth"

Re: New Track Under Construction at TooBad Motorplex in Fairview

3rd quart of mag primer is down.......................

Re: New Track Under Construction at TooBad Motorplex in Fairview

I am now DONE with the magnetic primer! I applied a total of 4 quarts to the track. I varied the number of coats to a couple turns. It will be interesting to see if you can notice a difference driving a magnet car......    -----------------------Bill

Re: New Track Under Construction at TooBad Motorplex in Fairview

I'm game, I have a few, and a lot of magnets.

"Big Smooth"

Re: New Track Under Construction at TooBad Motorplex in Fairview

I applied the first of two top coats this evening. Thanks to The Professor for the paint information. The final surface for this track will be the same as John Powers' track in Auburn. Hopefully having two tracks with the same running surface will promote some more inter-club racing in the northwest.

http://www.naste.org/members/bill/IMG_0614.jpg

Re: New Track Under Construction at TooBad Motorplex in Fairview

Yesterday I smoothed out the little imperfections in the first top coat. Today I got the second and last top coat done. The running surface is ready for copper tape!   --------------Bill

Re: New Track Under Construction at TooBad Motorplex in Fairview

Awesome!  I can almost see cars moving!

"Big Smooth"

Re: New Track Under Construction at TooBad Motorplex in Fairview

Bill the track look great!!   as monte said...i can almost see the cars moving....and crashing.  Another great track to the naste lineup.

"Due to economic cutbacks,the light at the end of the tunnel has been turned off"

Re: New Track Under Construction at TooBad Motorplex in Fairview

Looks great Bill and thanks again for the track pieces.

Rico

Race cars are neither beautiful nor ugly. They become beautiful when they win.

Re: New Track Under Construction at TooBad Motorplex in Fairview

Thanks guys, and you're very welcome Rico!

Re: New Track Under Construction at TooBad Motorplex in Fairview

Today I worked for a few hours eliminating some of the large "white" areas by applying some base color. I also touched up the running surface paint by brushing in the edges up to the guardrail, retaining wall sections.

http://www.naste.org/members/bill/IMG_0618.jpg

http://www.naste.org/members/bill/IMG_0620.jpg

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Re: New Track Under Construction at TooBad Motorplex in Fairview

This weekend I got the last of the white scenery areas painted with a base color (ok, just flat brown).  I also painted the sides of the track table black. Another coat of black and some light sanding to the running surface and I'm ready to apply the copper tape!!!!!   -----------------------Bill

Re: New Track Under Construction at TooBad Motorplex in Fairview

Tape, tape, tape!  We want tape!  I should toss up a few pictures of our progress as well.

Go Billy, go!

"Big Smooth"

Re: New Track Under Construction at TooBad Motorplex in Fairview

Over the weekend I got the side boards painted black. I Went over the running surface this evening to check for flaws. I felt the surface was a little too aggressive as far as texture, so I lightly block sanded it with 220 grit. I'm happy now........... Next steps are the installation of the power taps using flush mounted copper rod, and the driver's station hookups with flush mounted copper tubing.             -----------------Bill

http://www.naste.org/members/bill/IMG_0634.jpg

http://www.naste.org/members/bill/IMG_0635.jpg

Re: New Track Under Construction at TooBad Motorplex in Fairview

Been "off track" or "side tracked" for awhile but back on it today. I started the work for the power taps today. With an 84 foot lap length I decided on power taps every 20 feet. In the early 80's I restored a 1/24 track built by Dave Smith of Salem. A friend of mine Hugh Ellsworth helped me with the track and designed this type of power tape for copper tape tracks. I have not seen any other style that to me works or looks better. This system is easy to install although it looks harder than it really is. Thanks again Hugh!   -------------------Bill

First I lay out where the tape will be in relation to the guide slot.

http://www.naste.org/members/bill/IMG_0675.jpg

Then I drill a hole on either side of the slot.

http://www.naste.org/members/bill/IMG_0676.jpg

Using my Dremel mounted in a router base attachment I route from the hole up next to the guide slot where the copper tape will lay.

http://www.naste.org/members/bill/IMG_0678.jpg

This is the "ditch" or recess I end up with from the hole up to approximately 1/8 inch from the guide slot.

http://www.naste.org/members/bill/IMG_0680.jpg

I use a piece of copper plated welding rod with a bend in the top portion as the conductor between the copper tape and the power supply.

http://www.naste.org/members/bill/IMG_0683.jpg

The copper rod extends through the hole below the track. The tape is laid below the horizontal bend in the rod so that when the rod is pulled down into the recess the tape is captured below the rod. I then apply solder to the rod and tape within the recess.

http://www.naste.org/members/bill/IMG_0684.jpg

So today I got one power tap done, and the lap counter dead strip section.

http://www.naste.org/members/bill/IMG_0687.jpg

Re: New Track Under Construction at TooBad Motorplex in Fairview

One at a time, just keep at it.  I spent most of the day sanding a body.  I wish my progress looked as good as yours.

"Big Smooth"

Re: New Track Under Construction at TooBad Motorplex in Fairview

I'm not sure if I'm actually progressing????...............I don't have a Halloween car done..................    --------------Bill

Re: New Track Under Construction at TooBad Motorplex in Fairview

I have updated the photos and description (152 through 202) of the build up of this track.  If you are interested in seeing more of the process click on the "Slot-Tech" tab on the NASTE Home Page, and then look in the  "NEW routed track at TooBad Motorplex" gallery.   --------------------Bill

Re: New Track Under Construction at TooBad Motorplex in Fairview

I finished up the prep work for the power taps tonight. The track surface has been readied for all four power taps and the lap counter dead strip.

Here is what the completed dead strip area looks like with power tap provisions on either side:

http://www.naste.org/members/bill/IMG_0688.jpg

Re: New Track Under Construction at TooBad Motorplex in Fairview

Tape, tape, tape, tape!

"Big Smooth"

Re: New Track Under Construction at TooBad Motorplex in Fairview

Bill, I knew you were building a new track, but this is incredible!!! Today was the first time I saw any photos and ,WOW! I'm going to restart my collection of 1/32nd scale cars in the hope of getting a chance to run on that beautiful layout. ABSOLUTLY "P1" job.....Beau

Re: New Track Under Construction at TooBad Motorplex in Fairview

Thank you Beau. It's been a LONG process, but I have not been in any hurry. At this point I am pretty much on schedule for my goal to have it up and running by November 1 (that's 2011....for REAL!!!). I should be copper tapin' within the next week or so!!! I now have you on my official invitee list for the track break-in ceremony!!!    ------------------Bill

Re: New Track Under Construction at TooBad Motorplex in Fairview

Bill, thanks so much. I'd love to be there. Is this going to be a track that uses glue or will it be for rubber and silicone tires only? I'd like to build a scratchbuilt car and want to be sure I set it up correctly. Thanks again for the invite....Beau

Re: New Track Under Construction at TooBad Motorplex in Fairview

Beau, This will be a no glue track. The other 1/32 routed tracks that I have raced on have had very good luck with rubber tires, and no glue once the track is rubber'd up. NSR makes rubber tires in various compounds, the two softer compounds work very well on wood routed tracks. Some of the softer Slot.It tires work well, and so do urethane tires, so there are a lot of tire choices for use without glue. I will probably discourage the use of silicone tires as they tend to remove the rubber build up from the track surface, which hurts the effectiveness of the softer rubber compound tires. if I were setting up a scratchbuilt 1/32 car, I'd go with the softest NSR tires (I've had very good luck with them on Monte's track).    ---------------------Bill