20th-Apr-21, 11:54 AM
Its been a while between posts for me not for any other reason than I have been researching everything track building, and accumulating the necessary tools (and other not so necessary tools but I just wanted them LOL).
After one dismal failure which I then turned into a testing ideas and just going through the motions to get my techniques right (then it became scrap to use for other tracks sides and base supports), I embarked on my first "real" track. I still made some errors, which have actually turned into really interesting features and give the track some real character.
My mate Murray who actually inspired me to get back into slot cars some years ago saw my made track and decided he wanted one for his nephew Tom. Tom is in his 30's but has a learning disability, and he and his mother, Murray's sister figured it may be a good way for him and his friends to have fun where the pool table hasn't really excited them.
So I said I would build it with Murray, he's a carpenter by trade, I work in IT and finance, but I have worked with tools all my life, my maternal grandfather being a cabinet maker (old school), and father a fitter and turner. So I can swing a tool and will give anything a go once.
I don't have a lot of photos of the work in progress, though Murray did take plenty of Tom's to update his sister. Murray was blown away at how methodical and exacting I was and how quickly it comes together, he is a very meticulous tradie, so it is a big compliment. For this I thank my grandfather (RIP), who gave me two golden rules, "measure twice, cut once", and "a job well held, is a job half done". Additionally I thank all the people on the slot forums who posted stuff about track building of which I think I read nearly everything. All up it has taken us four full days to get Tom's track finished, over the course of a 2 week period. Mine will be a work in progress as I decide to add more things to it.
If you look at the photo album my track is the one indoors, Tom's is under the pergola presently, we are taking it to him this Friday for his birthday.
So what did I learn?
1. Sometimes no matter how many times you measure you will screw it up, some routers just cannot do small radial cuts as you can see on my track.
2. On my track I decided to cut the inner line first so I could get the outer line tracking inwards, instead I got some very interesting lines that actually make driving it a great challenge. It looks weird but it is actually quite fun.
3. I decided cutting my turns first, then joining them with them with straights made it easier with my track design, especially as my track has very few straight sections. A straight edge carefully clamped made this very simple to run a router along and get a good cut between the turns.
4. Laying copper tape by hand is hard, but satisfying, the copper tape tool in its current design just didn’t do it for me.
5. Lay the copper tape first over the hole where the power supply will be, then plunge the brass bolt through it for best conduction, then lay another strip over the brass bolt for a clean look. Trying to get copper tape to stick effectively to the top of the brass bolt is just hopeless.
6. A 3D printer is invaluable. I was quoted a stupid price to get the copper tape tool printed. By the time I wanted to get a whole load of other stuff printed (control tower, figurines, barriers, etc..), buying the printer and materials was actually cheaper. I also now have a side gig printing custom bike parts, so the printer is now deductible to my business, big win. I can also print spare slot car parts, another win there. Plus the copper tape tool didn’t work so paying to print it and then not working would have really stung.
7. I also used the 3D printer to make a new base for my router with plunge holes for cutting the second rail, doing small radial turns, or attaching right angle aluminium for larger radius turns.
8. Designing in 3D is actually quite easy and free. Between Tinkercad.com and Thingiverse.com, there are literally millions of designs you can either print, or modify to suit your own requirements, or simply inspire you to create something from scatch. I designed a new copper tape tool which I hope to try on my next track. If it works as I think it should, I will release it for anyone to use.
9. Driving on a non magnetic track is so much more fun. I actually added builders loam to the last paint batch after blue taping the copper and it gives the road surface a very realistic feel, the cars drift well but also grip well. Some cars suffer from axle tramp and bounce under acceleration.
Overall, I am hooked on track building and already planning my next track, possibly a two level wooden track. But I want to finish my track with some more details before I start the next one. Then I may build some just to sell, not for massive profit, just to cover costs and enjoy the fun of building it.
This is a link to the google album. I got POV video of both tracks by printing a trailer, with wheels and axle, plus a camera cradle, then towed it behind a Scalextric Goodwood Beetle (only car with a bumper bar LOL). Its pretty awesome being able to think of something, design it, then make it, and use it.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/8W9JDqhvif8rsjSR7
After one dismal failure which I then turned into a testing ideas and just going through the motions to get my techniques right (then it became scrap to use for other tracks sides and base supports), I embarked on my first "real" track. I still made some errors, which have actually turned into really interesting features and give the track some real character.
My mate Murray who actually inspired me to get back into slot cars some years ago saw my made track and decided he wanted one for his nephew Tom. Tom is in his 30's but has a learning disability, and he and his mother, Murray's sister figured it may be a good way for him and his friends to have fun where the pool table hasn't really excited them.
So I said I would build it with Murray, he's a carpenter by trade, I work in IT and finance, but I have worked with tools all my life, my maternal grandfather being a cabinet maker (old school), and father a fitter and turner. So I can swing a tool and will give anything a go once.
I don't have a lot of photos of the work in progress, though Murray did take plenty of Tom's to update his sister. Murray was blown away at how methodical and exacting I was and how quickly it comes together, he is a very meticulous tradie, so it is a big compliment. For this I thank my grandfather (RIP), who gave me two golden rules, "measure twice, cut once", and "a job well held, is a job half done". Additionally I thank all the people on the slot forums who posted stuff about track building of which I think I read nearly everything. All up it has taken us four full days to get Tom's track finished, over the course of a 2 week period. Mine will be a work in progress as I decide to add more things to it.
If you look at the photo album my track is the one indoors, Tom's is under the pergola presently, we are taking it to him this Friday for his birthday.
So what did I learn?
1. Sometimes no matter how many times you measure you will screw it up, some routers just cannot do small radial cuts as you can see on my track.
2. On my track I decided to cut the inner line first so I could get the outer line tracking inwards, instead I got some very interesting lines that actually make driving it a great challenge. It looks weird but it is actually quite fun.
3. I decided cutting my turns first, then joining them with them with straights made it easier with my track design, especially as my track has very few straight sections. A straight edge carefully clamped made this very simple to run a router along and get a good cut between the turns.
4. Laying copper tape by hand is hard, but satisfying, the copper tape tool in its current design just didn’t do it for me.
5. Lay the copper tape first over the hole where the power supply will be, then plunge the brass bolt through it for best conduction, then lay another strip over the brass bolt for a clean look. Trying to get copper tape to stick effectively to the top of the brass bolt is just hopeless.
6. A 3D printer is invaluable. I was quoted a stupid price to get the copper tape tool printed. By the time I wanted to get a whole load of other stuff printed (control tower, figurines, barriers, etc..), buying the printer and materials was actually cheaper. I also now have a side gig printing custom bike parts, so the printer is now deductible to my business, big win. I can also print spare slot car parts, another win there. Plus the copper tape tool didn’t work so paying to print it and then not working would have really stung.
7. I also used the 3D printer to make a new base for my router with plunge holes for cutting the second rail, doing small radial turns, or attaching right angle aluminium for larger radius turns.
8. Designing in 3D is actually quite easy and free. Between Tinkercad.com and Thingiverse.com, there are literally millions of designs you can either print, or modify to suit your own requirements, or simply inspire you to create something from scatch. I designed a new copper tape tool which I hope to try on my next track. If it works as I think it should, I will release it for anyone to use.
9. Driving on a non magnetic track is so much more fun. I actually added builders loam to the last paint batch after blue taping the copper and it gives the road surface a very realistic feel, the cars drift well but also grip well. Some cars suffer from axle tramp and bounce under acceleration.
Overall, I am hooked on track building and already planning my next track, possibly a two level wooden track. But I want to finish my track with some more details before I start the next one. Then I may build some just to sell, not for massive profit, just to cover costs and enjoy the fun of building it.
This is a link to the google album. I got POV video of both tracks by printing a trailer, with wheels and axle, plus a camera cradle, then towed it behind a Scalextric Goodwood Beetle (only car with a bumper bar LOL). Its pretty awesome being able to think of something, design it, then make it, and use it.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/8W9JDqhvif8rsjSR7
![[+]](https://slotracer.online/community/images/bootbb/collapse_collapsed.png)
