Inslot's Checkered Flag Raceway - Set Up After the Move (Page 3 of 4)

Put a few more hours in on the track today. Got more done than I had even hoped for. The braid is complete for the yellow, blue, and white lanes. Good news is there is only one more section of braid to replace in the red lane. Bad news is it's one of the sections that runs under the overpass!....Ugh!......I'm saving that piece for tomorrow when I'm fresh!

Bravo

Zack

Are you re-doing the lane color stripes too?

I started working on the track early this morning. I came up with a method for laying down the braid through the underpass. After I cut the section of braid to be replaced to the proper length, I suspended the middle portion over the track surface between a small anvil and a board.

I used blue painters tape to mark out a portion of the braid recess in the underpass to apply glue to. I also marked that section out with blue tape on the new braid, so the corresponding portion of the new braid could also have glue applied. For those unaware the proper procedure for applying contact cement is to apply the cement on both surfaces, let them dry, and then bond the two surfaces together.  After the braid was secured with blue tape to the anvil and then board, I slid the anvil, braid, and board out from the underpass. With the braid in the open I could easily apply the contact cement to the top surface of the braid. 

While the braid was still outside the underpass I also applied contact cement to the braid recess in the underpass area. Once both surfaces had cement applied I slid the anvil, braid, and board back into the underpass, being careful not to let the braid contact the track surface or braid recess.

This is the cut down brush I used to apply the contact cement in the limited access of the underpass area.

After I completed working on the braid I went up to the local Hobby Town to get the paint to touch up the lane color stripes. I had the old bottles of paint so I could match up the colors with what is already on the track. While searching through the Testor's Model Master paint display I was only able to match up the Guard's Red color. This was not going well. They were out of the white, and there was not a match for the blue. I was totally without luck on the yellow as it was a Boyd's color. The lady behind the counter was very helpful. She checked and matched the yellow color with one of the Testor's colors, but the blue I had was no longer made. She said Rustoleum had bought out Testor's and dropped some colors. She matched it up with another blue and although it did not match exactly, it was close enough for me. She also ordered a bottle of white from another store and said she would have it there later in the afternoon. Pretty dang good service I'd say!

So back to the shop I went with paint in hand. Along with the track I got the cool little striping tool that either Kirk or Bob had modified for track lane striping. They had built a base that the striping tool attaches to, and on the base is a guide flag. It works pretty slick. Had I practiced some before I actually laid the stripes down, I'm sure I could have done a better job. But I only had some short sections to do, so I just got 'er done. Not perfect, but it's functional, and done!....Except for the white lane.....

Here's a couple photos of the cool striping tool I used.

That is excellent!  Will definitely borrow when(ever) the new track happens.

Good job Bill. Now if you throw on a little glue on the track for Dianne, she will get hooked and kick our ass!

Today I finished up the wall for the back straight. Just needs paint.

I also replaced the 1/8" side board opposite the back straight on the right end of the track. I think this will also be a high traffic area where damage to the thinner side board material could occur.

I only installed the 1/2" board on the straights where cars should not be impacting the side boards head on.

I worked on the track's side boards and right side infield. New side board on the right side end curve, and finish off the build on the new infield. Getting close to more painting.

Looking very nice, Bill!

That's a lot of awesome work you've put in.  I'm getting tired just reading the posts.