New visitor to HRW - What a great day

[cantstopnow]

As for track size, I went from a 12X8 four lane routed down to a current 4X8. It will be extened to 4X12 as soon as the help shows up again. I am having a blast with it. I wonderd how it was going to be on a small oval. Try it!! John W.

[midmoslts]

While I have more space than others might have I still face the question of how much space am I willing to give up to slot car tracks. Harry will flip out when he comes over and sees all the room that I have compared to what he has and I am still grumbling about space. Harry's place is amazing. I would never have believed that you could fit that much racing action and all of the supporting hobby equipment into the space that he has to work with. I felt somewhat like a kid in a candy store for the first time. Every direction I looked there was something to see and it all looked delicious.

I will mull over the thought of having more than one track. I do however want to remain married so I will have to take that into consideration. The track that I have now has been a lot of fun and I do have a good group of folks that come over every other week to play. There is always great action and lots of fun had bu all that show up.

The plan to replace my track came from the desire to make the move from plastic to a routed track. A routed track also allows more freedom of designee, but mainly dose away with the clickity clackity of the high magnet cars and the concerns of power loss due to all the joints. As I got to working on a new track plan I quickly realized that I was no longer bound by what the manufactures of the tracks think we should have. Now my extra large graph paper (several sheets taped together) was a blank canvas. Now I'm no Rembrandt, but I know what I like and what I don't. Take that with knowing what dose and doesn't work in HO tracks and cars. With all that in mind I set out to see what I could come up with.

My current track (4 lanes) is on a 4' x 16' table and has a average lane length of 66'. The plan was to go to a 5' x 16' table and add the aspect of high speed sweeping turns and some tighter slow speed turns. Balance it out with a multitude of varying length straights. The end result has me at about 94' of 4 lane. Not to mention I will have a nice routed track to put my name on.

I have the lumber and steel wire for the rails setting in the garage waiting for me to make up my mind. Well I'm not going to figure it out today.

At some point I really should move this topic to the HRW form as I don't have on oval track at this point, but this is just the hello this is who I am part.

[HomeRacingWorld]

The staying married part we kinda agree :)

Another friend of mine is planning the EXACT same routing project in HO. I would enjoy helping make yours if that is the route (ahem) you choose.

Maybe we can get some of your other members down here too. See if they like it.

Appreciate the kind words on the old Skunkworks :)

[midmoslts]

RazorJon, I have to get the next 2 weekend behind me first, but then I would love to take you up on you offer. I have the crew coming over on Sunday this week (due to valentines day) at noon for HO racing. I just moved the track and I'm trying hard to get everything up and working again before then. If you were interested in checking out the action let me know and I can get you the info. We are racing at noon and you are welcome to come check it out.

The next week is the Daytona 500 and that is a big day around our house. It will take me all week to get ready for that one. Not to mention Tom has agreed to lend me a 1/32 track and I plan to set that up for Daytona too.

[midmoslts]

What is the lane spacing for 1/24 and 1/32? How much apron do you leave inside and outside on turns? Kind of trying to evaluate what I could do in the space that I am working in now or how much room I would give up to another track. I would like to stick with the 4 lanes that I am use to, but would consider going down to 3 lanes for the right configuration. Any info anyone is willing to share would be considered. Other things like what you have tried that didn't work out at all or things that you have done or seen that you really like would be good too.

[HomeRacingWorld]

My track was 3 1/2 lane spacing, or just a shade over. My aprons are about 6 inches.

Honestly, plan for 4 inch spacing if you want to run the big ones. And since I think you like those, that would be a good plan :)

[ElSecundo]

[HomeRacingWorld]

It caused serious issues. You know what a good fumigator costs?

[ElSecundo]

It's expensive. One of our guys used to clean/demolish homes after they'd been used as meth labs, and it's an expensive process. Can't imagine how you'd clean up after vegetables.

[dreinecke]

Busted.

What really happened is that Harry had just finished cutting the grass and suckered me into believing that by simply adding a little Marvel Mystery Oil on top that this was a house salad.

As for the fumigator - just to set the record straight - that was Lee, not me.

[midmoslts]

Any of you have any layout ideas that you san convey for a space 20' x 6' or maybe even 8'? I found a track map of a real track that I like the looks of. Someone posted it as the base for the track that they built and along with the build of the track. I liked some of the changes they had made, but they built as a 2 lane digital and I want 4 lane analog so the changes they made would not be something that would work for me.

If some one could get me up to speed on how to post pictures on the forum I would post the pictures I found to see what all of you could add to it. I would also post pictures of my layout as it is now.

[midmoslts]

Ok, so what is the tightest radius you would recommend for 1/32 and then for 1/24 to the slot on the inside lane? Trying to figure out how many times I could wind this thing back on it's self in the space I want to use. I really would like to go 1/24, but fear that I do not have the space for the type of layout that I would like to build.

[HomeRacingWorld]

I hesitate to answer as it's personal taste that dictates it. Some like tight hairpins, I don't. I would say 15?

[midmoslts]

15" for 1/32 or 1/24?

[HomeRacingWorld]

1/32.

But remember...this is just me. I just don't like super tight areas, some welcome them.

Might be time to get some paper and start penciling...unless you have already. Get Tom to help, he needs the work :)