04/18/2007

Readers Roads & Rides

My 7 year old son and I spent about a year researching and testing different layouts. HRW’s Readers Roads was an invaluable resource during this time. We decided that Brian Schindler’s Hootersville Raceway track layout was close to what we liked, made a few changes to accommodate our table and the style we were looking for.

My son came up with the name “Cinnamon Hill Raceway” during the initial stages of construction, we were using paper mache scented with some cinnamon to disguise the normally foul smell. The layout is Artin 1/43 scale on a 6x10 foot table, approximately 60 feet of track with 2 cross overs, one squeeze section and one canyon split section. Curves consist of R1’s and R2’s with some increasing/decreasing radius bends and shoulders made from MDF for drifting.

Electrical specs are 6 power taps, the choice of 8v, 12v and 15v independent power supplies for each lane, independent directional switches for each lane, dynamic braking and 3 separate controller connection stations at different locations around the table. Timing software is Laptimer 2000 with Infrared sensors hidden in the overpass, the tunnel acts as the IR light gantry. The tunnel also has your typical orange lighting as well as alternately blinking warning lights at each entrance. Almost everything you see is scratch built, except the Plastiville Windmill.

Sand was recycled from the sandbox my son has outgrown, flock was made using sawdust colored with acrylic paints, trees and reeds were made using bristles from a parging brush, copper wire, green spray paint and more flock. The water tower was made from wood scraps, a spray paint lid and a piece of styrene. Tree trunks were made by hand carving a mold in plaster then filling it with hot glue.  The water is “Max CLR” 2 part resin, similar to “Envirotex” and the canoe and paddles were carved from a block of wood.

Actual time to construct the track – 2 Canadian winters – so about 8 months of spare time.

We’re not quite done yet, but then I don’t thing the word “done” is in a slotter’s vocabulary.

Regards, 

Matt and Dylan Osterroth