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First track - Targa Tasmania AFX door layout

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agrojim

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Discussion Starter · #1 · (Edited by Moderator)
G'day all,

I've been snooping these forums for a little while now and recently got myself 'Mega' AFX set.
Space is pretty limited at the moment so I decided on the HO scale and to make a layout on a door I had laying around. I figure I'm better off not being too ambitious on my first attempt on scenery.
After trying out a stack of track designs I settled on one and have now got to work. It's nothing exciting compared to a lot of the tracks members are building on here but I have to start somewhere. lol
I've squeezed quite a bit of track onto the door so I haven't left myself with a lot of space for scenery. I was originally going to go for a race track design but I think a pit lane, start finish line and grandstand would have looked to cramped.
So I decided I will stick with the racing idea but move it onto the open road and base the track on a high country leg of the Targa Tasmania. I'm going to put in plenty of trees and country road features, scattered spectators, flags, temporary fencing and a little carnage too. :)
Today I started on the hills. I'm using the old paper mache method. So far I'm pretty happy with how it's coming along.
I need to sort some lighting out in the garage so I don't have to stop just because the stupid sun goes down! I have a feeling this hobby is going to eat up a fair bit of my time...
It's still early days but I'm hoping I can make pretty good progress and keep this thread updated fairly regularly. Well It's good to have a plan...

Some pics I am using for inspiration...



My progress so far...



Cheers,
Jim
 
agrojim

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Discussion Starter · #6 ·
Thanks for the comments.
Zook that track looks great. There are so many brilliant layouts on this forum. Embs, yours is one of my favourites.
As for a routed track, maybe one day. The plan is to move to Scalextric track after this one.

I'm waiting for the paper to dry now, then I'll go over the whole lot with another few layers to strengthen it up. At least I can see the shape of the land now.
Time to start working on some trees. I plan to have lots of them!

First few layers down...


And some carnage...


Cheers,
Jim
 
Ember

· One petunia in a field of onions
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6,433 Posts
#7 ·
I was going to ask where abouts in the wide brown land you were, but I see you've updated to Bendigo. Billy_Cart is in your neck of the woods too. I'll be in the vacinity on Wednesday visiting my brother.

Hmmm... Wondering what I've got in my old pile of AFX track that you don't have. No skid pan?
 
SSD slotguy

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#8 ·
agrojim

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Discussion Starter · #10 · (Edited by Moderator)
QUOTE (Ember @ 8 Nov 2010, 15:37) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>I was going to ask where abouts in the wide brown land you were, but I see you've updated to Bendigo. Billy_Cart is in your neck of the woods too. I'll be in the vacinity on Wednesday visiting my brother.

Hmmm... Wondering what I've got in my old pile of AFX track that you don't have. No skid pan?
Skid pan? lol... I've squeezed a hell of a lot of track onto the available space. I know it restricts my scenic potential but I think I'd get sick of the track if it was too short. These AFX cars get around way too quick as it is. I have plenty of straights left and would love to make the whole thing bigger but I keep telling myself that this track is for me to learn as much as I can before I step up a scale.

QUOTE (SSD slotguy @ 8 Nov 2010, 20:17) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>How did you do that? You could put it in my Crashed cars thread.

About 1 minute with a hammer and a file.
You can't have a Targa Tasmania without a crash or two. This one will be in a ditch against a tree somewhere on the track.

Cheers,
Jim
 
Ember

· One petunia in a field of onions
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6,433 Posts
#11 ·
QUOTE (agrojim @ 8 Nov 2010, 22:37) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Skid pan? lol... I've squeezed a hell of a lot of track onto the available space. I know it restricts my scenic potential but I think I'd get sick of the track if it was too short. These AFX cars get around way too quick as it is. I have plenty of straights left and would love to make the whole thing bigger but I keep telling myself that this track is for me to learn as much as I can before I step up a scale.
I know what you mean about the AFX cars being quick. I started with AFX when I first attempted to get into slots. But 3 sets of track and truckloads of extras didn't make for a satisfying driving experience for me. Even after removing the traction magnets from a few cars.

But its possible to get so much into so little space. Looking forward to seeing where you take this.

Embs
 
F

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#13 ·
Hi,

A little "heads up" regarding the "super tight" hairpin you've got in there - For me at least, T-Jets and standard AFX cars handled it OK, but Super G3's would stall on it every time. Dunno if that's significant to you.

Looking good, thanks for sharing,

Cheers,
Ian
 
Billy_Cart

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#17 · (Edited by Moderator)
QUOTE (agrojim @ 12 Nov 2010, 16:02) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>I might have a little wait before there is much more progress as I need to get some grass, dirt and a few other bits and pieces.

Jim,

Coming along really well I had never thought of scenery with an AFX scale layout before, it will certainly have a great fell when your finished.

There is a fake flower shop in Bath Lane that I have got a lot if my grass type scenery stuff from so it might be worth a look now your at this stage. Games World in Mitchell St also has a lot of grass & tree scenery stuff and Martin there is another slot car tragic.
 
Ember

· One petunia in a field of onions
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#18 ·
So far so good.

Can't say I every had any problems with the Hairpin at all. Except when the kitten worked out that this was a slow spot and lay in wait. But then I was mainly running AFX and AFX SuperG.
 
agrojim

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Discussion Starter · #19 ·
Thanks for the comments guys, (and girls)... I usually make Power Grunt Hobbies my first stop but I'll have to check out those other shops you mentioned tomorrow.
Need some joint filler stuff so I can finish off my trees too.

I just spent a couple of hours zooming around the track.
It's soo much nicer when the track is fixed down properly. The cars run a little quieter around the track and I think they get thrown off a little easier too because the track doesn't absorb any of the momentum by shifting if you get what I mean.

I painted some of the bright orange guard rails and will see how they look on the bridge section that crosses over the top of the back straights. I'm hoping with a paint job and a clear coat they will look and wear ok.

Cheers,
Jim
 
Billy_Cart

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#20 ·
QUOTE (agrojim @ 12 Nov 2010, 19:30) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>... I usually make Power Grunt Hobbies my first stop but I'll have to check out those other shops you mentioned tomorrow.

Yes, I drop into Power Grunt a bit as well they actually have a lot of good scenery building stuff.
 
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