G'day from downunder - Printable Version
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G'day from downunder - ThatOtherGuy - 30th-Dec-19
Hello all!
On and off slot car owner for around 45 years. After making friends with another enthusiast recently, and with the kids now fleeing the nest, the passion has reignited. Though originally this year it started as a train set (wife wanted to build it up). When she realised how fiddly it was and how little patience she had, the board (2400mm X 1200mm) became platform for me to build a slot car track.
Originally it was just a Scalextric Urban Outrun set up which quickly had multiple expansion packs added and an Arc Air with Magic Arc App running on a cheap tablet, all jammed onto the original board and hardly resembles the original track contents at all.
Cars went from 2 to 11 in the stable varying from the original 2 Urban cars, some rally cars (one of which is the WRC version of my own car), LeMans, GT and classic Australian V8 race cars. Scalextric and Carrera for now, but looking at other options to build some custom cars.
Having seen a few videos and reading a few threads here I have decided to build a wooden track based on the Snetterton track layout. However, I have decided after seeing some of the smaller single car rally tracks, to cut my teeth on track building on a "simple" project first (famous last words), the rally track will be based on a 2400mm X 1200mm board hopefully with quite few ideas I have seen. Once I am happy with this track and my capabilities I will tackle Snetterton.
RE: G'day from downunder - woodcote - 30th-Dec-19
Welcome
Sounds like a good plan.
RE: G'day from downunder - JasonB - 30th-Dec-19
Welcome aboard.
Is it the modern layout of Snetterton you're aiming for after you've built your rally track?
RE: G'day from downunder - CMOTD - 30th-Dec-19
Welcome. Interesting choice of circuit from a down-under person, do you have any connections with that part of the world? If you do settle on Snetterton then I would definitely suggest the latest version. It is a rubbish Mickey Mouse circuit from the 1:1 spectators' point of view but ideal for a slot car track with plenty of variety in the corners.
RE: G'day from downunder - Fluff - 30th-Dec-19
If you look on Lloyd Lewis posts in 1/43scale of little Snett circuit you can see a fair representation of this track ,and I'm sure Lloyd will give you all the help you will need .He has a wealth of knowledge of this Norfolk track
Steve
RE: G'day from downunder - ThatOtherGuy - 31st-Dec-19
Thanks for the welcome everyone, and the heads up with Lloyd, I'll be sure to ask questions, and I'll try to answer some of the queries.
In my research I found the BSCRA content by Chris Frost on track building which helped to solidify some of the other knowledge I had already gleaned from videos and on other web sites. I decided to build as I am a handy person and had every tool required except the router. My mate who reignited the passion is also a carpenter so I have resource to draw on with both knowledge and additional tools if required.
Trolling through all the content here I also found the track designs so downloaded them all so I could look at every track to find one that would be interesting to drive, and would fill a lot of a board in rectangular format. I narrowed it down to Sebring and Snetterton. Sebring was a bit too squarish, so decided on Snetterton. Then I did my research comparing the track plans from here to the satellite images to see if there were any variations and the track plan was quite true to the image. Then the bonus came, its close to Norwich. Norwich and Burgh Castle are where my family ancestral links are going back to middle ages and it was my fortune to go there there on my recent overseas holiday. Had I known then I was going to build a Snetterton replica I would have passed by out of curiosity. So I guess to answer JasonB, if the satellite image is the modern layout, that is the version I will be attempting to replicate.
The other attractive feature of Snetterton is that I am going for a folding track on three 1800mm X 1200mm boards hinged on the 1200mm length. This will allow me to fold the boards up into a triangle to move it without disassembly. It will be resident on the pool table most of the time, but I would also like to be able to transport it and a triangle is strong and will also protect the scenery. On this note, almost all of the Snetterton buildings can be built on the middle board so when folded should not be affected by the folded over outside panels containing any raised content.
However I realise that as per my first post, you need to crawl before walking, and on seeing some of the fantastic rally tracks decided a rally track would be a good way to hone my track building skills, and develop my jigs that I will need. On this note, this thread from Steve Ogilvie is brilliant for information.
Assuming that I am successful in building the two above tracks, I do want to build another track, an Australian one, Lakeside Park, it is local to me, I have raced bicycles and at one time owned a Group C race car which I drove on it. I realised though that one weekend of motor racing equals a lot of any other hobby costs, so gave up motor racing. In fact one weekend of motor racing would buy everything I need to build and finish my Snetterton track.
Thanks for reading.
Sean