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Old Revell track brought back to life

Posted:
Sun Sep 16, 2018 10:27 am
by NHBandit
Been collecting this stuff off and on for 20+ years but never had a space big enough to set it up or the time to work on it. Now that I'm retired and have a new place in North East Tennessee I have the time and the space. Dragged out the totes full of track, old and new cars, other bits I've collected and here we go.. As most of you know there's not a whole lot of choices for layouts with Revell track simply because of the lack of half curves & straights, no variety of different radius curves to speak of, etc. I got a big folder of track plans from someone (maybe on here) several years ago and picked one I liked and then modified it a little. Here's the basic bones of it. And spent a couple days wiring, repairing some old Cox commercial track controllers just to try it and screwed the track down once I was happy with it and I knew it was going to work. More progress pics as it goes along. Some of this is temporary of course. It's working enough with 1 old Revell power supply to know that it's wired correctly but that will be upgraded very soon to a new one that was recommended by a couple of the guys here. Also the Cox controllers need to go. Looking for something better and more modern if anyone has any recommendations for low budget (used even) stuff. Also have several vintage Revell, Strombecker & Eldon cars that still work but the tires are junk so leads to where to get modern tires that fit these old beaters are appreciated. I have a small collection of Carerra and Revell/Mogram cars I bought 10-15 years ago as well that are still new in the boxes and WOW what a difference in performance over the tired old stuff.
https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/ ... e=5C2CE683 https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/ ... e=5C293F53 https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/ ... e=5C32DC2F https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/ ... e=5C62AE5F
Re: Old Revell track brought back to life

Posted:
Sun Sep 16, 2018 10:42 am
by btaylor
Great looking track Bandit! I too have a thing for the old plastic tracks. I have an 85 ft Strombecker layout. Been running on it fo several years now. Once you finally decide on your layout, i would suggest copper taping it. It works wonders for connectivity, and reduces that clickity clack sound of cars running over the joints.
Looks like a fast and fun track!
Bob
Re: Old Revell track brought back to life

Posted:
Sun Sep 16, 2018 10:56 am
by mattb
Not a thing wrong with the old Revell track, it is a good choice and to all of us that old plastic has a real nostalgia look to it. It's what most of us started with in the 60's. Don't be afraid to make pieces of track the size you need. It is no big deal to cut pieces in half and glue them to another piece so you still have factory connections and plugs on each end and good connections. Many of us have done that a lot to make track pieces fit a design that factory pieces wont let you know.
Controllers, Pro Motor is the standard and you want to get positive polarity and wire your track as positive polarity. Plenty of diagrams on the net. If you want to go a little cheaper, watch Ebay for some used Parma controllers. they still work fine. Polarity is no issue with resistor controllers. Not sure what cars you will run and what ohm controllers you should get. The other guys here would know that better than me.
Here are pix of some track cut to fit and glued back togehter.
cut track 2.JPG
cut track.JPG
Re: Old Revell track brought back to life

Posted:
Sun Sep 16, 2018 12:42 pm
by chappyman66
It's great to see a full 4 lane Revell track. Well done sir!
Like Matt said, make the track go where you want. The connections are not a problem, and lots of us have done that over the years.
Plenty of controller and power supply options. It's great to see a new track!
Re: Old Revell track brought back to life

Posted:
Sun Sep 16, 2018 5:48 pm
by ourwayband
Great looking Vintage track.That Revell stuff is some of the best produced in the day.
Re: Old Revell track brought back to life

Posted:
Wed Jan 30, 2019 6:24 am
by 2cool
NH bandit, your pics URL has expired and won't load, would love to see pics of the old Revell track!
Mattb, would like to know what you used to cut the track so smooth? looks great!
Bob , do have any link to pics of your Strombecker track?
Thanks guys, lovin every minute of it.
Ed
Willow Springs, MO
Re: Old Revell track brought back to life

Posted:
Wed Jan 30, 2019 8:48 am
by mattb
I cut the track with an air powered cut off tool. Electric tool would work the same, even an angle grinder. Put a piece of tape on the track to be your guide and just cut the edge of the tape. Whatever you end up with, you put two pieces together and hot glue can fill any imperfections. It can be sanded and painted, also.