[Scootcar50]

Hi all that may be interested.

Had this space under my existing Carrera digital track (The Roller Coaster) and thought instead of filling it with storage boxed and alike I would put it to a more practical use.
The odd shape is due to a disused fireplace (now you push a button and the aircon does the rest) - was thinking of removing it but remembered that it served two purposes 1. Fireplace 2. Support for the room above - so it stays.
The space is made up of 3 section - from left to right (width first) 1.2M X 1M, 1.2M X .45M and .90M X 1M.

I have two 4 wheel drive cars, a Humber and a Pajero so thought I would like a nice outback run with lots of hilly bits and obstacles.

Found a SCX off-road raid track up for auction so I put a bid in and won, at a very cheap price (included another Pajero and a VW Touareg) so I got building a frame from 50mm square pine (found it in the garage) and then bought some 9mm MDF and some wheels and a track is born, now called "Outback Adventure".

Need 4 additional R2 curves to complete the track and they should arrive this week.

Probably wont do much for a few weeks yet as I want to run it for a while and make any configuration adjustment before I start the landscaping.

As I have a mismatch of track I wanted to paint it all the one colour - would appreciate your input on track preparation and type of paint to use.

Cheers from AUS

 

[Scootcar50]

QUOTE (4.3 ZOOK @ 13 Dec 2010, 16:46) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Do those pieces come pre bent or are they flexible?

Hi ya Zook

Pre-bent - from what I have seen the SCX track is the only pre-bent I have seen (might be wrong)

The hump in the middle is made up of 4 pieces and the risers are 2 pieces.

I had a run of the track (without the end curve) and its gonna be a whole lot of fun.

Cheers

 

[Scootcar50]

Thanks Embs your comments are much appreciated.

QUOTE (RS1600 @ 14 Dec 2010, 07:51) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>what an excellent use of space, and an interesting track are you going to landscape it ?

Already started

Put some back boards around and started roughing in some Styrofoam.

Cheers

 

[Scootcar50]

Embs

I have lots of ideas running round in my head but must admit the bleached skeletons got my interest - was going to keep it relatively simple with some Spinifex and maybe a dead tree here and there - lots of red dust.

Was thinking the big hole in the middle would be a lake which is fed from the dam spillway that runs under the black straight section (bridge) - maybe an island in the middle and a row boat with a fisherman.

Or maybe a tar pit with dinosaurs?

Who knows until it happens?

emigre

Interesting idea but I think that will be a no as I want to keep the 4X4 section separate.

Cheers
And thanks for the ideas

 

[Scootcar50]

QUOTE (Ember @ 14 Dec 2010, 16:09) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Sorry, probably getting carried away now.
Embs

Not at all - the more out there the better (or shoud I say OUTBACK) ---- Within reason! - (I am not a sig)

Maybe the right end could be the rain forest????? -- not even thought of that end yet - except I thought possible an Aboriginal village.

You are an inspiration Embs.

Maybe you can help being a colour/paint lady -- I want to paint the track (baby you know what doesn't appeal) - what preparation should I do and what paint should I use???

Thanks heaps.

Cheers

 

[Scootcar50]

Embs

Wound be an ancient settlement - as you said dry stone round house. not the more recent type

Cheers

 

[Scootcar50]

QUOTE (cullenski @ 17 Dec 2010, 03:31) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>nice track!!

Where can U get off-road track from??

Thanks

I picked up this second hand SCX track on eBay.
SCX don't make the sets any more but they still make the track pieces.
Ninco also makes an off-road track.

Cheers

 

[Scootcar50]

Got a bit more done today - The Grandkids gave it a good workout yesterday.

Some more Styrofoam and expanding foam filler and added an island.

And did a bit of white undercoating.

Cheers

 

[Scootcar50]

QUOTE (4.3 ZOOK @ 19 Dec 2010, 14:34) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Looks like it survived the full throttle test!

What track fit ;sport or classic?

FULL THROTTLE - that's for sure - Should say that I survived!

- This is the way I got through the day

Looks to be a combination of 3 different tracks - Off-Road and 2 different black sections - one very rough texture and the other not so rough.

Cheers

 

[Scootcar50]

Embs

Could be - but also could be murky water with the creature from the black lagoon poking his head out.

Now I'm getting a little carried away.

I am guessing to didn't spot "The Gap" (no Ghan) and the making of the Todd river - right hand end of the track?

Cheers

 

[Scootcar50]

Merry Christmas to one and all.

Playtime continues

Funny how as you progress through a project things change.

My original idea was to make a 4X4 track that resembles true outback Australia - Red dust! but found that the fantasy approach suited the track better than real life.

Note the reds and oranges do not come up true to colour (must be the flash)

Cheers from AUS

 

[Scootcar50]

Thanks for the comments.

Zook - yep the front lawn now has a bare patch! hehe.

Frank T - Thanks - that's the colour I was after - although I have maybe 20 photos of the Rock and the colour is different in every one - Amazing place!

Embs - I hate shopping except for my favourite store Bunnings.
I was wondering and came across the fake plastic grass area and spotted this long grass with a touch of brown - that's what it is Plastic grass but looks the part.
Had a thought - need to find a 1/32 victor lawnmower and a guy to push it!

PS1600 - The fireplace hasn't been used in years (put in Air Con) but I can't remove it as it supports the room above.

emigre - Thanks - will try and get a video up soon - BTW my movies will be nothing like your great works.

Cheers all
Now back to play

 

[Scootcar50]

More play on the Outback Adventure track.

Nothing on the landscape side as I have been waiting for my new Carrera Control Unit and Pit Lane Adapter which has now arrived.

My aim was to convert the SCX Raid track to Carrera Digital mostly because all my cars are digital chipped (including my Hummer and Pajero) but also I wanted to use my wireless controllers and Bruce's (b.yingling) great RMS software. This will allow me to simply unplug 3 wires from the Carrera track and plug into the SCX track so I can pull it out from under and play 4X4 with the above benefits.

The redundant Black Box and Lap Counter now wired to the SCX track.

The Wiring for the Lap Counter.

As the Carrera track is wider than the SCX track I had to use one of the water feature track pieces as the Start/Finish line.

Cheers

 

[Scootcar50]

And so it continues.

Not had a lot of time to play but built a new rock formation.

Put up some MDF and filled up with the bits of Styrofoam and packing that's been laying around.

Then got the can of expanding foam out and did some filling.

Cheers

 

[Scootcar50]

Another, rather different, view

Another angle

Oh how this stuff grows (Expanding foam not the grass)

Cheers

 

[Scootcar50]

So Embs might we see some of this plastic grass in your next project?

Cheers

 

[Scootcar50]

As I said before I got the stuff from Bunnings - Maybe you can have a look on next trip to the big city.

I was thinking you could use it in the vacant block of land behind your wonderful garage? - a bit poking through your wonderful paling fence?

Cheers

 

[Scootcar50]

Ok Video done

Let's hope this works

Enjoy

Nope -- how do i get the You Tube inserted ???

Try Again

Cheers

 

[Scootcar50]

Embs

Tried a couple of other cars but with those hills I need a car with heaps of ground clearance - was only built for my 4 X 4 action so I will stick to the VDub, Pajero and the Humber for now - the other guys I race with also have the same cars as me.

emigre

"Cool video" coming from you is a huge complement --- Thanks heaps.

I unfortunately have the same issue - Lots of air is good

Cheers and Thanks

 

[Scootcar50]

Thanks for the paint info HarV

The Amoeba is a great looking test track

Cheers