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The NASTE Forum → InSlot's Checkered Flag Raceway → Inslot's Checkered Flag Raceway - Renovation
Today I finished up the track braid replacement. It took 800 feet of new braid to replace all of the old stuff. After I finished up with the braid I took time to install the track side boards using some of the old existing material as well as a section of new material.
will not be long and you be doing laps nice work there bill
Thanks Doc. It should be up and running in about another week barring any unforeseen circumstances............
Well it's been a long four month process but today at 11:00 A.M. I made the final electrical connection. Inslot's Checkered Flag Raceway is now again operational!
After completing hundreds of solder and mechanical connections I threw the switch and the track was up and running with no issues. I ended up rewiring the entire track, excluding the main control panel. Was it really necessary? Probably not. Is it over kill? Definitely, but I really HATE having problems during a race!
Originally the track had 2 power taps. It now has 7. All the wiring has been color coded and designed for ease of diagnostics just incase of an issue. The use of terminal blocks will ease the reconnection of any necessary braid replacement in the future.
Power tap 1 and driver's station connections for Yellow & White lanes:
Power tap 2 and driver's station connections for Red & Blue lanes:
Power tap 3 at the downhill exit straight off the bank:
Power tap 4 at the start of the lower straight after the esses:
Power tap 5 at the end of the lower straight at the entrance to the chicane:
Power tap 6 at the beginning of the back straight after the lead on curve:
Power tap 7 at the end of the back straight at the entrance to the bank:
This is the wiring for the lap counter section:
That came out really really really really NICE... I'll be right over to run some lapps and put your wiring to the test....
Thanks Doc. I'm planning to have some small get togethers after the first of the year, with just a few people at a time to burn some laps in on this puppy. Stay tuned.
Sounds like a plan. I tried to get a small get together here for a paint party. it was a bust.... so I get to do it solo.... 1700 sq feet and one guy. I might be done mid spring summer......
Inside or outside?
Very nice professional job Bill.
Rico
Inside or outside?
inside, have vaulted ceiling, no fun at all painting
Oh man, lots of luck with that!
Well it's been a long four month process but today at 11:00 A.M. I made the final electrical connection. Inslot's Checkered Flag Raceway is now again operational!
With a lead in like that, I was super excited to see what the pics would be as the loaded. Then the first one showed up- the underside of the table. Meh... OK, the next will be better.
Uh, same thing?
Ok, the next will definitely be better...
Better be prepared for disappointment. Ok, surely the next one will show the track surface that was just... Oh, never mind. More raw lumber from the underside of a slot car track. Did Bill actually work on the top of the track or was it all photoshopped?
Let's see some pics of the business side of the track!!
I don't know Chris, after cleaning up the Rat's nest of wires under mine I was kind of impressed with the neatness.
Of course in my own defense in between the time I got mine fired up and getting the timing system I had a stroke so things got a little hairy, I would never had got it installed without Monte & Al while I concentrated on not falling out of my chair.
The track and I are much better now.
Ok, ok......
My goal for this renovation was not to end up with a new track. I wanted to retain the originality and history of this track, but make a few improvements. On my list were: 1. more room for driver's at the driver's stations and an indicator light to let them now they had power at their controller hookup. 2. Redo the wiring to make it more easily diagnosable in case of electrical problems. 3. Eliminate the "hole" needed to turn marshal the esses. 4. Move the deadman's or hairpin turn further away from the banked curve to save wear and tear on the braid and the slot. I feel I have met my goals.
THAT'S more like it!!!!
And yes, many props for the invisible work. That is typically the work I do best, because by the time I am through with it and on to the pretty-fying of things, I am out of patience and just want to get on with it. Kudos to Mr Bill for doing it right and with patience all the way through.
It looks fantastic! Game on!!!!
Thanks Chris!
Of course it does, we would expect nothing less!
Wowser!
Getting closer to done everyday! Yesterday I finished up the driver's stations. Kirk Smith installed controller "hangers" when he built the track. He saw photos of some he liked and had them custom fabricated here in town. To keep controllers from shorting out when placed in the brackets, he applied a rubberized coating to them. The coating was pretty well worn off when I got the track. I decided to try for a '60's look by covering them with a metallic or metal flake type of fabric that was popular back in the day. I still had to figure a way to insulate the edge of the cut out from the controllers to prevent the shorting issue. A couple hours at Parkrose Hardware provided me with a solution. I found some 1 1/2 inch rubberized hole plugs. They fit nice and snug and after a little Dremel work and some Goop, the hangers were ready to install!
those came out like sweet potato fries with baby ray bbq sauce Bill, TO bad there not a Purple lane....... could of called the jimmy hendrix purple haze lane. hey that a thought with 60's paint . name each lane from a 60 and 70's song
Baby Blue – 1972 – Badfinger
Yellow Submarine – 1966 – The Beatles
Nights In White Satin – 1972 – The Moody Blues
Red Red Wine – 1968 – Neil Diamond
Cool idea Doc!
Only older!
Blue Suede Shoes - Elvis 1960
Mellow Yellow - Donovan 1966
White Rabbit - Jefferson Airplane 1966
Li' Red Ridin' Hood - Sam The Sham 1966
They look good Bill, but controllers with metal triggers went out of fashion quite some time ago. Al and I use bare aluminum hangers with no problem. Well some guys have problems, but usually it is with the OTHER end of the controller. LOL
That's true Mitch, and my set up is probably overkill, But I've noticed with tracks for 1/24 cars you never know who or what might show up to play. There are still guys out there that email me saying they have some old slot car stuff they'd like to bring out to run. There are still thousands of those old Parma and even Russkit metal trigger controllers out there just waitin' to come over and play!
Cool idea Doc!
Only older!
Blue Suede Shoes - Elvis 1960
Mellow Yellow - Donovan 1966
White Rabbit - Jefferson Airplane 1966
Li' Red Ridin' Hood - Sam The Sham 1966
I see some fancy lettering going up on those driver station.
calling out car starting will be a lot more colorful for sure..
I went through a phase where I picked up a few "older" controllers just to go along with some of the older cars. But apon closer
examination there are a couple I'd be afraid to plug in.
I hear ya there Mitch! I have some of those. It is kinda fun to watch them go up in smoke!
The NASTE Forum → InSlot's Checkered Flag Raceway → Inslot's Checkered Flag Raceway - Renovation
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