42 replies to this topic

[manic35]

Now that I've moved from unit living, one of the BIG advantages is I can finally have a permanent track.

I've been waiting for approximately 4 years for this track so when I received a Bunning voucher for Father's Day I didn't hesitate to get myself some wood.

The track is a little under 2 x 5 meters in size and although I played around with the concept of a 4 lane track I ended up going with only 2.











My favourite section of the track is where the track drops approx 400mm in around a metre. The vertical change makes for a lot of fun and tail action when you run a slot through the inside lane with a bit of speed.







The next step is to start the landscaping of the track. As I said it's been approx 4 years coming so I'm going to go slowly and enjoy every minute!!

Cheers Manic

Edited by gazza, 27 July 2009 - 04:39 PM.

[Bigfela]

She looks prety sweet mate,Can't wait to see the progress of this gem

[Slider]

my oath it,s sweet can,t wait for the landscaping to done keep us posted manic
Cheers Slider

[hmcsat]

After 4 years of badgering him for a permenant track, Manic has stepped up. After driving this track I can say he has out done himself in usual Manic fashion. Gee I am glad 'someone' convinced him to elevate it to that height. The back straight is a real hoot with cars getting about 50mm air off the first hill with only the very rare deslot.
Now we just need to convince him to hold a round of next years proxy there. With my track only 1.5km away we should have a nice QLD leg for next year.

[azzav8s]

Great looking track, I like the raised section would be a fun track to race on.

[phoeno29]

looks good Manic, will come alive thou with some colour, trees etc.

[itelectrical]

Good work Manic, I'm sure you'll do some awesome scenery.

[manic35]

Thanks for all the comments guys.

The track looks a bit stark with no scenery what-so-ever but as you guys would know, at least I can finally drive on my permanent track. Man I can tell you its just amazing after almost 4 years of tracks on carpet!

Next step is without doubt the pit lane section and some shoulders on the non-barrier corners for some tail non-mag action.

I haven't decided how I'm going to tackle landscaping this track as the methods I have used in the past, (foam, etc) just wouldn't work on a 10 square metre area. I'm thinking of going down the plaster / chicken wire route but have little experience - Can anyone shed some light? Did you use plaster for your last track Martin?

Cheers Matt

Edited by manic35, 10 September 2007 - 06:24 PM.

[schuey19]

I got a roll of aluminium fly screen from Bunnings and hot glued it to the edge of the track. Single layer of Woodland Scenic plaster cloth over the top. You can just use Chux wipes and plaster. Either way, get to it, you'll be rapt how good it looks as it gets coloured.

[Stevo41]

Hi Manic,

From what I recall of the sceneried track pieces you posted a while back - that track is going to look awsome. Looks nice and big and the elevation changes will really add some realism to the overall feel of driving it.

Welcome to the permanent track club.

Cheers,

Steve

[phoeno29]

Manic,

I used aluminium fly screen and woodlands scenic cloth. Great results, very quick. A roll of cloth is $25 from HobbyOne and is 10ft by 1ft. My old track being routed, gave me something to staple the alum. mesh to.

You need some mdf borders around your track so you have something to mesh onto.

[manic35]

Thanks for the info guys and thanks Steve for welcoming me to the club...I spent the night working on my track and its just so therapueitc!

I'll head into Bunning this weekend and source some of this Al fly mesh, sounds like a lot of fun. I'm thinking of getting some of the plaster rock molds to add some realism around the track.

Cheers Manic

[phoeno29]

Quote

I'm thinking of getting some of the plaster rock molds to add some realism around the track.

I have 2 if you want to borrow them.

[manic35]

I've been spending most of my spare time, (which isn't much when you have two kids) on getting the scenery up and running on my permanent track layout.

I had all kinds of grand plans to build a F1 style layout with scenery but decided my layout was just too cramped to pull it off. As a result I've gone with the more natural race track look and I'll be incorporating a bit of race flare into it down the track, (maybe a small pit lane, sponsorship signs, etc.).

I took phoeno's (and a few others) advice and went mainly with the plaster cloth as a basis for developing the terrain. Its going well although time consuming for such a relatively large area, here are some pics of my progress.



Some sections of the plaster cloth are supported with Al fly screen but the majority to date has been supported with newspaper.



I also used foam in sections, the vertical drop/wall in the centre background of this photo is foam, (slightly yellow section).



Good spot for some kind of bridge feature.



It's hard work watching Dad, (note the little hand crabbing on the edge of the table past my daughter, that's my 3 year old son wanting to get up and see too).



Bridge taking shape and green base coat for hills, (M1 courtesy of phoeno:)).



Building up the paint layers, etc. (At this stage the grey exposed rock areas are just plaster cloth)



The resultant painter rock areas didn't look very good so I decided to add some texture to all rock areas with some putty.



The final painted rock looks much more realistic.



I'm also happy with how the bridge turned out.



Cheers Manic

[manic35]

A few more...











I'm off to Indy for a LONG weekend so there won't be much getting done this weekend.

Cheers Manic

Edited by manic35, 16 October 2007 - 11:13 PM.

[BMR]

The track is looking really good , the scenery makes a track IMO . Looks to be a fast track layout. Some people are lucky enough to be able to leave a track set up in a room or a shed and put on scenery , It may not be for everyone but to me making the scenery is another part of enjoying slot cars. Your track will still race the same way but it looks 10 times better now with the scenery.
Your daughter looks around the same age as mine ....ain't it great when they learn how to marshal properly .

Edited by BMR, 16 October 2007 - 11:50 PM.

[phoeno29]

Coming along really really good Manic, just need to cover that red and white carrera fence with some real signs.

The more you do the better you get and don't rush it, once it is done, its done for a long time !

[triggy]

Looks fantastic manic. As the others have said.. the scenery really makes a track.

[manic35]

I hadn't seen this post phoeno, thanx mate...would be great if I could get them off you at some stage. Maybe we will catch up during the Rally Proxy in November?

Cheers Manic

phoeno29, on Sep 12 2007, 09:45 AM, said:

Quote

I'm thinking of getting some of the plaster rock molds to add some realism around the track.

I have 2 if you want to borrow them.

[erda]

Great looking track! Any updated photos?