[Julian_Boolean]

I've been thinking of ways to create a rough track surface for rally tracks, and I've come up with the idea of using embossed wallpaper glued onto Scalextric track, is this a good idea or is it completely barmy?

 

[Abarth Mike]

Do you mean rugh as in abrasive/high grip or rough as in undulating/broken surface? If the later it is barmy enough that it might work.

 

[Julian_Boolean]

I mean the latter, as in an unsurfaced road sort of thing, I've also found some on a website that looks a bit like cobbles, I might pop out to the local DIY place at lunchtime and see what they've got.

 

[RikoRocket]

I think that is right up there Julian! But the line between mad and genius is very thin....

 

[Mr Modifier]

It's a completely bonkers idea which is why I love it and think it is genius!

Presumably you are going to soak it in PVA or something similar or the cars will rip it to shreds (which will also make handling difficult!)

This would also make it hard enough to buff it up with a wax based furniture polish to get rid of any last traces of grip

Don't forget to post your findings and some photos - this is one for my "to do" list I think

Just a thought if you use something like the anaglypta paper (do they still make this?) - this might raise the cars too far out of the slot so is there any way you could ease the rails up by a mm or two? You could really go to town on the unevenness of the surface and still run standard slot cars over it then.

 

[Julian_Boolean]

This looks good

https://www.decoratenow.co.uk/wallpapers/an...aintable-1.html

It'll be for cars with sprung guides and drop arms so the rails being a bit low isn't a problem

 

[RikoRocket]

QUOTE (Mr Modifier @ 8 May 2012, 09:12) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>This would also make it hard enough to buff it up with a wax based furniture polish to get rid of any last traces of grip

No! Not wax! That would screw the tyres and would spread round the rest of the track - it would be permantly ruined....

I think we have all tried techniques for reducing grip, anything that involves liquids or polishes invariably gets picked up and dragged around the circuit.

 

[sunsetman]

I'm assuming that thin coats of varnish have been tried already.

 

[Julian_Boolean]

Wayne,

I'm after bumpy not slippery.

 

[martini917k]

why not just buy Ninco or SCX "rough" track sections & the appropriate adapters; I run slot rallies all the time & that's what I do, my rally tracks have up to 5 different track surfaces in them & then I crown it off w/ flour for dirty rallies.

 

[Julian_Boolean]

Because SCX raid track is expensive, it costs £30 for 4 straights and 4 radius 2 bends, I've got loads of classic track and a roll of wallpaper will go a long way.

 

[sunsetman]

What about plaster or filler spread roughly.

 

[Julian_Boolean]

Plaster of filler would work, but I think you'd get quite a bit of dust caused by the cars going over it, and plaster dust is fairly unpleasant - besides the wallpaper idea is easier and quicker, and probably cheaper, the more I think about it the more I like it, if it were for a permanent layout you could paper over the track joins

 

[Julian_Boolean]

I mentioned my idea to the wife, so while she was doing some shopping she popped into a DIY store and got me some free samples of embossed wallpaper, so I covered a couple of R2 classic bends

http://s1269.photobucket.com/albums/jj587/julianallard/

I think they'll need painting, but first the glue needs to dry.

 

[RikoRocket]

apple white? white with a hint of turquoise?

 

[Julian_Boolean]

I don't know, I think I'll ask Changing Rooms to come round so I can get Anna Ryder Richardson's opinion

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jDcHVP6G1qE...player_embedded

 

[Mr Modifier]

QUOTE (Julian_Boolean @ 8 May 2012, 21:15) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>I mentioned my idea to the wife, so while she was doing some shopping she popped into a DIY store and got me some free samples of embossed wallpaper, so I covered a couple of R2 classic bends

http://s1269.photobucket.com/albums/jj587/julianallard/

I think they'll need painting, but first the glue needs to dry.

Outstanding work Julian!

What glue did you use?

How will you protect the surface from getting ripped up by passing 4WD's (and an indignant Laurence Llewelyn Bowen)?

 

[slotcrazy]

Based on the pictures I just saw of the sample tracks glued down, I am prepared to move you 3 steps from the thin line into the genius camp - that should be a safe distance from insanity for now

How about using a water based (acrylic) wood floor coat - they come in clear and are bullet hard once set. You could pre-paint it with whatever mix of greys, browns, etc, even imitation "pot-holes" if you're clever, then the clear coat seals everything in, and gives a surface that soft rubber tyres will work well on.

 

[Julian_Boolean]

QUOTE (Mr Modifier @ 8 May 2012, 21:00) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>What glue did you use?

Evo-Stik, it's what I had knocking around the house, it was either that, superglue or no more nails, I was surprised we had no PVA.

The smell of Evo-Stik reminded me of skiving off school as a teenager.

 

[robert1703]

QUOTE (Julian_Boolean @ 8 May 2012, 22:15) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>I mentioned my idea to the wife, so while she was doing some shopping she popped into a DIY store and got me some free samples of embossed wallpaper, so I covered a couple of R2 classic bends

http://s1269.photobucket.com/albums/jj587/julianallard/

I think they'll need painting, but first the glue needs to dry.

Absolutely brilliant! It looks like fresh snow has fallen on your track. I think the rubber tires will leave skidmarks on the paper, but that will just look great. I'm very interested to see your test results. If this works, you gave everyone with a lot of extra standard track in stock a cheap way to convert them to rally pieces.