Newest Track: The Schweizering - Part Three

Just a brief update on our progress - the Pit/Grandstand building is shaping up nicely...it's turning out to be a fairly large structure - with three Artin grandstands, three VIP suites, a control tower and ten pit garages, the whole thing will be about five feet long. The basic structure is complete, but there's a lot of work yet to do, including the roof, back walls and interiors for the VIP suites, garage doors, lighting, etc. - but the photo below gives you a pretty good idea of where we stand.


At the bottom of the photo, you can also see the "parking garage" underneath part of the track - where I plan to store some of my extra cars (especially some of the older ones that have no display case). Below, you can see a photo of the garage itself, showing the simple LED lighting that's currently installed.


Work on the structures is pretty much at a standstill right now as I complete the rest of the structural work on the track - including the elevations and mountain forms, painting and filling the track surface, and laying copper tape. I'll include some photos of that work in the next Schweizering installment.

[]

Email ThisBlogThis!Share to XShare to FacebookShare to Pinterest

My Old Track: Circuit Schweiz-Baden

While we're hard at work on the new track, I thought I'd drop in a few photos of my first track, Circuit Schweiz-Baden. Below is the original description I included for an old RadTrax customer track contest:

"Schweiz-Baden was designed as a purely fictitious place, nestled at the foot of the Swiss Alps...just a stone's throw from the wooded forests of Alsace-Lorraine. The circuit was mainly home to Le Mans prototypes of the coupe and open-cockpit variety, though a wide range of modern and classic GT cars also ply its many challenging curves. The track was landscaped and includes a hand-painted backdrop, combined with several areas where painted scenery and three dimensional models blend together (see the village area). The L-shaped tabletop is approximately 4' x 12' along the back side and 3' x 6 foot along the right-hand side.


The main section contains a paper-clip arrangement, with the main grandstands and pits surrounded by outside straightaways--and at one end, the "Trinity Curve"...a banked section with three inside 60-degree curves (curve-straight-curve-straight-curve). This came about because some of the longer cars couldn't take more than two sections of the tight Artin banked curves at a time. The smaller table section contains the "esses"...raised on a upper level of track--all supported on a 4" layer of foam, which is covered with crumpled and painted landscape (kraft) paper--an old and very cost-effective model RR trick. Schweiz-Baden features a wide range of varying curves and level changes over it's approximate 58 ft. length, and believe it or not, sub-10sec. lap times are not that easy to come by--even with an out-of the box Fly.


TRACK DETAILS

The track is a hand-laid (no computer plan) Artin 2-lane setup, with custom-painted borders...and I also blacked-out the dotted-white-line separating the lanes. The power supply is from the Artin 4-lane set, it provides separate power to each lane, and I splice-wired the extra leads to double the per lane amperage from 1.5 amps to 3. That and the Parma controllers make a BIG difference in the overall enjoyment level. Look at the photos and I think you'll agree that it is indeed possible to design a unique and challenging layout with Artin track. (Okay, it did take three different sets...) Artin Lap Counter/Timer; Ninco, SCX and Artin barriers, with white board advertising barriers slipped into channel at edge of track.



SCENERY

The Control Tower, Pits, Medical Station and Beer Haus (concession stand) are hand-made from foam-core, cardboard boxes and clear plastic boxes. Many of the building exteriors are inkjetted onto large sheets of adhesive-backed paper, then applied to the structure. A mix of porcelain "collectible" accessories (I painted out the snow) and other painted toy buildings round out the architectural mix, which includes 3 painted Artin grandstands. The track signs blend old and new logos, along with local (Swiss & European) advertisers like banks, magazines, radio stations and even passenger railroads. My overall goal was to make the elements blend together as well as possible, with enough scenery to add interest and fun--but not to overdo it by trying to cram as much as possible onto the table."



As it turns out, the basic inspiration for the original track and scenic themes will be carried through on The Schweizering. Of course, the result will be better this time, we hope.

Email ThisBlogThis!Share to XShare to FacebookShare to Pinterest

Monte Carlo Rallye Track for Sale Now on Ebay

Bill - or slotforum member jmswms - has established the highest levels of craftsmanship when it comes to building multi-level, scenic mountain rally courses. We've enjoyed many of his projects like his Targa Florio course - but this Monte Carlo Rallye track - built for a special Petersen Automotive Museum event in LA is really incredible.


Bill is about as good as they come when it comes to modelling mountainous areas, like the French Alps around the Pont des Miolans, which this track is based upon. Bill's probably forgotten more about scenic modelling than many of us have ever known, and each new project he takes on is a real wonder. Since the museum event, Bill has begun adding even more detail to this particular track, like the French village elements and additional lighting seen below.

PHOTO CREDITS: ebay.com.

Of course, it should be added that this fantastic Monte Carlo Rallye track is for sale, with part of the proceeds going to the MSFriends charity that co-sponsored the event. Check it out now on Ebay. To see more photos of the track and how it was constructed, visit the thread about it at slotforum.com

Email ThisBlogThis!Share to XShare to FacebookShare to Pinterest

The Need for Speed — Without a Speeding Ticket.

Came across a nice article in the Suburban Chicago Glen Ellyn News about Chicagoland Raceway, where owner Mike Swiss - a five-time national champion and a two-time world champion - invites all ages and skill levels to join in on the fun. The facility holds races that are open to the public every Saturday night, where two racing tracks are hooked up to a computerized system that tracks a person’s number of laps, their best time and last race time on a monitor.

PHOTO CREDITS: Mysuburbanlife.com.

While Swiss will get in on the action during the Saturday night races and take on his customers in a friendly race, the chances for success againsy him aren't in your favor: he's been traveling around Chicagoland racing competitively since the age of 14. He’s also traveled to South America to race, and spent 19 years working for Koford Engineering, a slot car component manufacturer, for 19 years.

Hats off to Mike for his past successes and his hard work in promoting the hobby! Tom find out more about Chicagoland Raceway, check out their website.

Email ThisBlogThis!Share to XShare to FacebookShare to Pinterest

Now if Carrera Would Only Make THIS Ferrari...

I just came across this on Jalopnik - it's the racing version of Jim Glickenhaus's wicked Ferrari P4/5 - which is currently under construction. Set to compete in next year's 24-hours of the Nürburgring, the car--dubbed the Competizione--will incorporate the suspension and V-8 drivetrain of an F430 GT2 ALMS racing car under bodywork like that of his one-off, Pininfarina-built Ferrari Enzo.

PHOTO CREDIT: Jalopnik.com.

I think this would make an incredible slot car - hopefully Carrera (who owns the current rights to Ferrari) will agree, assuming the car does run at The Ring and hopefully at some other races (LeMans would be nice) as well. While many of the current available modern Ferraris are nice - this would be a real step up, in my opinion.

Email ThisBlogThis!Share to XShare to FacebookShare to Pinterest