[randybrown]

I finished building my three 4' by 8' tables for my track today. Have not painted it yet, and need to build a controller rack, etc. I have another track set on order and am looking for the the extra sections.

Here are two pictures of them with my current track setup:

in ohio

 

[randybrown]

By the way:

What is your favoritie underlayment for the track? Carpet, foam insulation?

TIA

in ohio

 

[Doug]

I've pinned and siliconed mine onto the wood.

Avoid carpet - that's one of the resons to build a table to keep the carpet fibres out of the cars.

 

[randybrown]

I'm not even close to wanting to make a track design permanent. What I would like to do is come up with a way to make the "clickety-clackety" less as the cars speed over the track.

While I was picking up some wood yesterday, I noticed some 4' by 8' foot sheets of foam insulation. The sheet had a thin coating on each side, so the foam would not break up and get in the track. It seems as though this might be a good sound deadener, and at $6 a sheet would not be too much to lose if it didn't work out.

Anyone else tried this, or somethign similar?

in ohio

 

[Doug]

That sounds good. I see many Americans using Astroturf or plastic grass matt. We don't get that so easily this side of the big water.

If you do secure the track, you won't get too much sound, but I imagine, whatever you use, try to keep it fibre free.

 

[Turismo]

Astroturf is the way to go. Look the part and quietens things down nicely, especially if you lay carpet underlay under it.

 

[randybrown]

Good idea about laying carpet padding under the astroturf, Turismo.

I'm going to paint the side rails next weekend, then will look for appropriate padding, etc. Should also have additional track in by then - for a total of about 80' of two-lane track!

in ohio

 

[plasticar]

Nice layout, looks fast and interesting to drive. Lots of room for scenery or for adding more track.

I don't know what is available on the east side of the pond. Here in the states, I went to our local home improvement warehouse that sponsors Tony Stewart. They had a nice dark green non-woven indoor-outdoor carpet that has a rubber backing and comes in 6' wide rolls. Non-woven carpet is similar to thermal fleece or flannel, in that it is not a cut-pile, but a random fiber with no ends. It was easy to cut with a utility knife, the rubber backing keeps it in place with no adhesive or fasteners, and keeps the booming echo from my wooden tables. It was cheap here, about US$2.50 per linear foot x 6' wide.

Much better than the plastic astroturf type. I have no problems with stray fibers in the cars. It also helps slow and catch stray flying cars. Not that that ever happens.

 

[randybrown]

>>They had a nice dark green non-woven indoor-outdoor carpet that has a rubber backing and comes in 6' wide rolls. Non-woven carpet is similar to thermal fleece or flannel, in that it is not a cut-pile, but a random fiber with no ends.<<

Thanks. I'll take a look for this carpet overthe weekend. Cost is about right. If our Home Depot (didn't think I'd figure it out, did you?)

has it in stock, this may be the key.

 

[Tropi]

There are indoor/outdoor carpets that are very suitable as track underlay, but Nuro is right to stress the necessity of it being fibre free.

Another alternative, in the USA at least, is 'Homasote'.
This is a cellulose based sound deadening material commmonly used as underlay on model railway tracks and slot tracks.
It needs sealing first and is then paintable.

I think I first came across this material on Gregory Braun's site.
Gregory started out in HO a long time ago and branched out into 1/32 scale about 3 years ago. I cannot recommend his site highly enough for anyone contemplating table and track construction - in any scale. His site is superbly well designed and, in its field, I have no problem in rating it as simply THE best there is.
I commend everyone to take a good long look there and I feel they are bound to find it of interest. It is SO good that it could spur you into building a permanent layout though you had never before considered it!
Here are a couple of specific links, but do take a look around the whole site while you are there - leave an hour or two for this - its a large and fascinating place!
Construction Section
Landscaping Section

 

[Firtol88]

QUOTE (Tropi @ 14 Jan 2004, 01:10 AM)It is SO good that it could spur you into building a permanent layout though you had never before considered it!

Construction Section
Landscaping Section
Exactly what it did to me!

 

[randybrown]

I built my tables with the plans, etc. from Braun's site. He does provide a lot of excellent info.

Question on where to find Homasote? Is it insulation, carpet underlayment....? Where do I find it?

in ohio

PS: I got my additional track yesterday and have come up with a design I think I set it up with tomorrow. Will post updated pictures and plan soon thereafter.

 

[randybrown]

I found some of the carpet mentioned earlier at Lowes yesterday. It went on easily and dresses the table up nicely. Here are pictures of my current track layout. I need to work on the bridges, etc. to make them a bit more permanent (not used books, etc. to prop things up!), but it's a very fun track. Two nice straights and lot sof twists and turns.

Thanks for all of the suggestions I received!

in ohio

 

[randybrown]

Here's the Tracker 2000 layout for the track in the above pictures:

in ohio

 

[SlideRule]

Hi,
Not sure if this has ever been considered...I haven't set up a perminent layout yet, but this winter I happened across something different to use under my track. I'm using dark green felt that I purchased from a local fabric store. I shopped around a bit, and found some inexpensive felt, about $1.50 USD per yard (3 feet by 3 feet wide). I've set up my track on two tables with 12 feet of felt. It's quiet, holds the track in place very well, and looks like a nice cultivated lawn of grass.

Been thinking more about this felt recently. By using a spot of water to make an area of the felt damp you can stretch and sculpt it into subtle shapes, such as small hills or valleys, adding contours to a more perminent layout. Just a thought...

Tim Johnson
Www.SlotCarHeroes.Com