Tweet
Didn't know what to call my newly founded raceway, that's still in process of evolving, but came up with The Cat's Meow Carrera Raceway. First picture is Tinker and she's queen of the garage, even takes her choice of chairs while overseeing all garage mischief. I started with an HO layout but tired of over-priced unobtainable cars, meh track quality and small size, love 1/32 scale and miss racing at our local closed raceway!
Started by building a new framework of 2x4s held together with #10x3 decking screws and covered with 5/16 sanded plywood attached with 1.25" course thread construction screws. As we installed table legs, leveled it.
Please standby to standby as I get the rest of my progress pictures sorted.
First picture on the left is it sits today, 8x14' except for the little 2x4' cut-out on the left which I think I'm going to build another bump out to complete the 8x14' that I shoulda started with! Picture on the right is the first iteration of a layout that connected. Table started as 6x12' to keep everyone happy, then got two bolt on bump outs attached with 4x1/2" carriage bolts, flat washers and regular nuts just snugged up. Super strong, stable, can remove table sections and easily reattached exactly the same every time. Table is currently 6x14' with a 2x8' bump out on front right of table, I'm thinking shoulda just built it 8x14' in the first place, ah hindsight.
Track is Carrera plastic consisting of two Digital sets (Furore 1/32 Wireless Digital (7.3 meters of track) and GT Face Off non-wireless Digital (8.0 meters of track)), with two boxes of 2/30 turns, one box 1/30 turns, a box of full length straights, couple boxes each of 1/4 and 1/3 straights, and a bunch of inner and outer curve aprons. Buying a second set is the cheapest way to get more track, also get two more digital cars with lights, spare Control Unit, power supply, bridge supports and guard rails. I'm looking for good indoor/outdoor carpet for track underlay to deaden sound a bit, although it's pretty quiet as is imo. Going to install Carrera guard rails to the outside of the aprons to help stop cars going off the edge. Probably some plastic rain gutter leaf guard mesh at table edges in key spots as I've already broken the tail off my sweet Porsche 935.
Pulled the rear magnet out of the Porsche and it's more fun, going to pull the front magnet too. Carrera cars are pretty, but dangit they are top heavy thick plastic compared to most others. Pulled second magnet, handles better and more fun! Un-mounted the tires, trimmed tiny plastic sprue off all four wheels, reinstalled tires, spun the tires on some sandpaper, rolled them with tape to removed debris...handling, smoothness and noise is much better as expected.
Tires are stock and nothing is trued or glued yet (just little sandpaper trick for now), I've got adjustable power supply and Tire Razor ready and waiting. Looking at Paul Gage Urethane and Quick Slicks silicon tires for replacing the stock rubber for more grip and less maintenance. Bought several sets of PG standard urethane tires for testing.
Control Unit (CU) is set to one red LED the minimum braking and still don't have hardly any roll when letting off throttle. Hopefully removing the second magnet helps this. Power is set to 6 out of 10 on the CU.
I dislike thumb plunger controllers so I'm trying a TruSpeed and a RamJet controller, we'll see. Love my Professor Motor Professional Low Voltage from racing days. Feeling like I need to use my adjustable power supply sooner than later for track power, also adding regular driver stations with proper hook up posts will allow me to use my PM controller. So far liking the DRS RamJet controller much better than the TruSpeed.
OK, been a long day, time to relax and play a bit. Thanks for looking and please make suggestions!
Lessons learned while building my first table and 1/32 scale track:
1. Build the table as large as you have room for, cheaper and less work in the long run, plus more track change options down the road. Your first layout will not be your final design!
2. If you extend it later, just extend it to max size but don't cramp your area too much, gotta walk around and hang out with friends. This way if you change your mind on the layout you'll not need to add
3. A great space saver is cutting the corners off round to the outer diameter of the smallest radius turn (with the outer shoulder attached), love how my first cut corner turned out and really makes it roomier in garage around my track!
4. Install catch fence around the track especially before much racing, I've broken several wings off my cars prior to this.
Attached Files
Comment