The first job, having already decided the size and shape of the track I wanted was to
cut out blocks of foam to support the track.I had been meaning to build a rally track for a year or so now, and following a couple of emails from Dana (with a fabulous idea and a few tips). Whilst my son went to a football match today with a friend, I built myself a Rally Track.
Historically, all the Rally Tracks I have used have either been made from Scalextric Plexitrack, or from routed timber with copper tape. Dana had the brilliant idea to make it out of foam. So I have designed and built a track that will fit in the back of my car and only weighs a few pounds.
To build the track I have used :-
A sheet of insulation foam 35mm thick. Cost £8.50
A sheet of 3mm MDF for the road surface. Cost £4.80
Two tubes of 'No Nails' Glue. Cost £2.50
One can of expanding foam. Cost £6.80
One 4mm router bit. Cost £6.50
One roll of copper tape Cost £8.00
One tin of textured exterior masonary paint. Cost £9.00
Total cost to build. £37.60
The first job, having already decided the size and shape of the track I wanted was to
cut out blocks of foam to support the track.
Having cut the track out of the MDF sheet, I glue down the blocks and track.
The bricks are there to keep it together.
The sheet board was great to make the basic shape, however I used expanding foam to
fill up all the gaps.
I couldn't resist putting a couple of cars on to see how it would look.
Having allowed the foam to fully expand I cut a 4mm slot using a router bit fitted into an electric drill.
This is not recomended and you should use a proper router, but I couldn't wait.
This just a closer view. You then cut, hack and shape the foam so that it look vaguely natural.
I then painted the whole thing using paint borrowed from my next door neighbour
to colour the textured paint to get the required finish. It is supposed to look like a desert rally.
All I'm waiting for now is the copper tape, so I can wire it up and race the cars.
All in all I am very happy with the result, a portable rally track, built in a day,
that will be hours of fun. Eat your heart out Scalextric.
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