[raikkonen_webber fan]

im going to keep this simple,
can a routed digital track be permently stored & used out door, would i need a coating on the rails to keep the water out?

 

[Julian_Boolean]

I'll give a simple answer then, yes.

And now for a more complicated answer, you'll need to make the track surface out of the right materials, there's no reason why you couldn't make the track like a real road - they're outside all the time. You'll probably need to use stainless steel for the rails.

I considered making an outside slot car track but using a radio controlled car fitted with a guide and the steering control disabled rather than a slot car, this way you don't have to worry about electrical connectivity but it would still drive like a slot car.

 

[300SLR]

There's a need to keep the rainwater out of the electrics. Easy enough to bring the power supply and controllers inside when its not in use, less easy to remove the lane changers.
Bright sun causes expansion - I've seen problems with that on several tracks outside on sunny summer days.

It would be interesting to hear from anybody who has actually done it what they did to make it work.

 

[vfr750]

How do model railway guys keep the water out of their lane changers?

Cheers

John

 

[Kellerkind]

...Outside track (biiiiiiiiig, scorpius digital and 1/24) might be one of my further projects, too.

My thoughts so far:
1.Flippersections should be removable in my opinion, on the other hand they might be custombuild with watertight electrics; rest of mechanichs wont need care about water.
2.sections should be short (about 2m I think because of stowing away and to avoid sunheat expansion; only the sum of the expansion causes problems - if you devide the track into smaller parts it wont happen anything; watch real railroad as example.),
3.slot with some drain-holes here and there to drain off rainwater (longitudinal shape e.g 4mm x 40mm to keep water-surface-effects away)
4.stainless steel braid with UV resistant, elastic and watertight glue
5.and all the rest from boatbuilders suppliers: watertight multilayer-plywood, epoxy-coating and 2-component grey epoxy topcoat: will last for decades (know it from my 50yearold sailboat I once owned)
6. some extra space both sides of the track to keep off grass and plants.

I will follow your thread closely, very interesting stuff.
Regards Jens

 

[stumbley]

By "outdoor," do you mean completely outdoors, uncovered? Or will the track be housed in a covered space outdoors, but open to the air?

In the first case, you'd need to ensure that all of your electrics and the track were completely sealed and watertight. If the latter, you can use tinned copper braid for the rails, and just make sure that the lane changers are coated with a water-displacing compound like WD-40 or Lanoguard, or similar. If you are using MDF for your routed track, be sure to paint (seal) the underside, sides, and slots, as well as the "gains" for the braid. My track is outdoors on a covered veranda, and I've never had problems with conductivity.

http://www.farroutslotcars.com/MemberTalk/...amp;whichpage=6

 

[roblees]

Go to youtube and search for 'outdoor scalextric' and you will find a load of tracks like this one....

linky

Contacting the author might give you some cliues, but the knowledge that it's doable should spur you on. The flipper stuff is about insuating the electronics sufficiently so that it will work in the damp.