Starting a Track
You guys have inspired me. We finally started on our track today. I have been trying to find a set on eBay with a starting gate and a finish line. I can't find anything that is reasonably priced. I decided to build my own starting box after looking at some of yours. We had some scrap play wood laying around and this is what we came up with.
Not great but it will work. Not sure what we are going to use for a door yet. Plexiglass or a wood gate? I think I am going to attach it to a long piece of wood and use it as the ramp. That will allow me to lean it against whatever we have handy. Not sure. Still thinking.
Discussion
Home Depot sells small pieces of plexiglass/acrylic, about 10 x 14 I think, for roughly $5.00. I'd cut it a little wider so you could screw an L-bracket with a magnet to the side of the box, and glue a magnet to the door so they line up, and that helps keep the door closed when loading cars. Maybe a 3" wide hinge on the top in the center, or two smaller ones. I would definitely cut notches in the bottom edge of the door so you can keep it about 1/8" off the track. If you set it so the bottom edge of the door clears the top of the track sides the low noses on many cars will end up under the door when it's closed.
Keep us posted please on your progress. We like seeing what others have done with their tracks.
If I did this right it will either show by starting box or a link to Photobucket to see it. Only thing not on there in this pic is the magnet. You can see the notches in the plexiglass to keep it close to the track.
http://s50.photobucket.com/user/Dadvbal ... sort=6&o=3
I'm leaning towards plexiglass. I had an old basketball goal we just replaced laying around. It is plexiglass but very brittle. I tried cutting a piece of it and it was a mess. I was hoping a new piece of plexiglass would cut better. Never really messed with it before.
Anybody have any ideas for a finish line that I can make that will tell a winner on the close races?
use LEXAN not plexiglass,[ 8" x 10" x 1/16" at LOWES for under $4.00] you can work it...
before micro-wizard I used the INDY 500 ROLL-UP RACEWAY's finish line mounted to a sizzler's dual lane lap counter... never a problem...
grey toyz r us unit pictured... shallower than the blue INDY 500...
I'm leaning towards plexiglass. I had an old basketball goal we just replaced laying around. It is plexiglass but very brittle. I tried cutting a piece of it and it was a mess. I was hoping a new piece of plexiglass would cut better. Never really messed with it before.Anybody have any ideas for a finish line that I can make that will tell a winner on the close races?
The basketball goal could be acrylic, which is much more brittle than Plexiglas. Get Plexiglas ......
Good luck and a good start! Keep us posted...