Hollow Core door layouts?

[TuscoTodd]

Scored a great deal on a used TOMY AFX set and plan to take the plunge to set up a Hollow Core door track! :D
Would love input on layouts that fit a door!
Thanks guys!

[BRP32]

Hey Todd!

Here are a few of mine in my posts in the ho section here..

Enjoy!

Wayne :D :D :D

viewtopic.php?f=8&t=11829

viewtopic.php?f=8&t=8884

viewtopic.php?f=8&t=8089

[TuscoTodd]

Thanks for the links Wayne! Always like the looks of your set ups!
The set I bought (used) is a pretty simple set (only included 9" curves) and I figured since it is most likely only ever going to be me running it, that I would set it up as a two lane with the ability to run it as a single lane by putting in / taking out a single crossover. (not sure how easy / difficult it will be to engineer that ability into it with the majority of the track being fastened down)
I plan to run without guard rails, instead using aprons to allow for some good drifting fun with t-jets, so no matter which lane you are in it ought to be fun! :D

[gonegonzo]

http://www.hoslotcarracing.com/Layouts.html

Todd ,

This link is a very informative site . It has a good selection of track layouts . It has several door track layouts .

I'm happy to hear your putting a track together .

Tom D aka / Gonzo

[HomeRacingWorld]

Just a simple one.



Decided to trim the outside with 1x6's

Little 1x2's for support







Mine is for a roll away under our 1/32 table.







No carpet. Just some paint right over the old door.



Poor man's driver station in progress.



This sort of let's you know why I added the 1 inch lip at the bottom. Wanted the bolts to face inside so you would not catch on them.



Used cardboard to make "borders". Just an oval but worked great.



Some paint made it look ok for us.

[TuscoTodd]

Thank you for the added info guys! :D
I think this is going to be fun! :D

[BRP32]

I may be building a third ho hollow core door layout myself. It will be a two lane road course also. Just gathering track up currently for it. Acquired a bunch of Ho buildings at a garage sale recently cheap to incorporate into it.

Like you said Todd, "Should be fun!"

Let the fun begin!!!

Can't wait to see what you come up with!

Wayne :D :D :D

[mrstumpyHO]

Todd...This should be fun. Small layouts have several advantages: Inexpensive, light enough to handle, will store in the back of a closet out of sight, everything will be in easy reach, and maintenance and troubleshooting is simpler. I've been into model railroading a bit longer than slot cars and have built a dozen layouts for both trains and cars on hollow core doors. For one I hinged two doors together so they could fold for transport. They come in sizes up to 36" wide and are usually 6 1/2 feet long.

I used to do as many as ten train shows a year with portable layouts on doors. However, as I got older and as the wife's medical problems sidelined her from helping me move in and out of the buildings, I started looking for something lighter. In 1999 I tried extruded Styrofoam. (This is construction insulation board, NOT the white packaging "bead board.") I quickly converted to that as my primary material for portable layouts as it is VERY light, and amazingly durable. I put my layouts on top of folding tables or card tables which eliminates building framing and legs. One lasted 9 years doing 8 to 10 shows a year. The Styrofoam didn't fail, the rails wore out of gauge! It's good for "personal" type tracks, but I have not used it for a speedway where a bunch of guys are racing hard such as at Monkey Wrench. Doors might be better for this use.

I've built four HO slot car layouts on extruded Styrofoam so far (sold three of them) and my slotless track is on extruded Styrofoam right now. You can buy it in 2" thick 4x8 foot sheets for about $30. It comes in different colors, for instance Dow extruded Styrofoam is blue. There is also green, red, and pink that I know of, each a different manufacturer. As a bonus, anything you cut off of the sheet can be used for scenery. It carves easily with a plain old steak knife. I've made hills, block walls, and even buildings from the scraps.

Now matter whether you use hollow core door or extruded Styrofoam, you can use model train cork roadbed for "berms" inside and outside the track. It comes in various scales, so you can either use the thickness that matches your track or "stack" the cork to get the right thickness. It bends easily to surprisingly tight radius, I've used it inside 6" radius curves. It even makes concrete looking crash walls painted white, and is softer than plastic so it doesn't batter the paint jobs of the cars. It also takes paint readily.

Have fun and keep us posted on the progress.

Stumpy in Ahia :character-oldtimer:

[TuscoTodd]

Love all the info guys!
When I will be sure to share pictures of the progress as I go through the build. :)
Thanks again!
:banana-dance:

[BRP32]

Here is a cool 4 lane hollow core door I came upon recently but not sure where? I liked it and kept the pic for inspiration to build another. It is a little bit different take on the hollow core door 4 lane road course. Reminds me of my 4 lane 1/32 road course I had.

Enjoy!

Wayne :D :D :D

[ChallengerGuy]

Here's another idea...

[TuscoTodd]

Great stuff guys!
Thanks again for sharing the additional designs! :D

[vabchrog]

[BRP32]

Any chance we can get some more pics of it?

I would love to see some more.

Thanks!

Wayne

[TuscoTodd]

I have been playing with Ultimate Racer 3.0 doing some different configurations to see what "could" fit on a hollow core door...
Here are some of the "plans" I sketched up...
Would love to hear your guys thoughts on the plus/minus of the individual designs...
(plan on running t-jets primarily)

I avoided using specialty pieces like chicanes, cross overs, 3" hair pins etc. to keep things simple... But could look at adding those types of pieces if you guys think that they would add to the "fun" factor without hurting the drivability of the layout. :)

Design 1 - Shoot the Loop
(advantage - uses a lot of "standard" pieces I already have - like the 9" radius corners)




Design 2 - Cork Screw
(advantage - increasing (or decreasing depending on direction) radius cork screw)



Design 3 - English Curve
(advantage - variety of corners along with the possibility to use a 90 degree intersection piece and have the entire layout flat?)



Design 4 - Drop the Hammer
(advantage - should be easy to build)