Search found 1234 matches

by Vitamin K
Thu Mar 28, 2024 9:40 am
Forum: Do-It-Yourself
Topic: Vitamin K builds a Track! (slowly)
Replies: 0
Views: 2

Vitamin K builds a Track! (slowly)

So, I've wanted some kind of Pinewood Derby track for some time now. Partially because I want something better to run our Troop races on, partially because I have some big ideas of running community event derbies, and maybe even some kind of local league when the kids are old enough to be out of the...
by Vitamin K
Wed Mar 27, 2024 4:45 pm
Forum: Do-It-Yourself
Topic: Mulling a track build...
Replies: 40
Views: 1039

Re: Mulling a track build...

Welp, went ahead and ordered some. Now I guess I'm committed. Looks like the inventory is now depleted. I wonder if this thread contributed to its rapid sell off... :thinking: Hopefully you got a sufficient quantity! I certainly would not have found it had you not pointed it out! At any rate, I hav...
by Vitamin K
Wed Mar 27, 2024 1:33 pm
Forum: Do-It-Yourself
Topic: Mulling a track build...
Replies: 40
Views: 1039

Re: Mulling a track build...

VK - looking forward to those "pics of what arrives"... :eager: Good news! My track plating arrived! Bad news, it happened in the middle of the workday, so I haven't been able to take any pictures yet. Couple of things to report on, though: - The aluminum is nicely flexible, and I don't t...
by Vitamin K
Tue Mar 26, 2024 8:40 pm
Forum: Do-It-Yourself
Topic: Mulling a track build...
Replies: 40
Views: 1039

Re: Mulling a track build...

Not sure how much weight the wood will add, but hopefully I can build a sturdy enough shelf. If you use birch 5/8 plywood as a backer about 55lbs a sheet, probably going to need at least 2 sheets as a bare minimum to back the track and seam it properly plus whatever supports... Thus I would guess w...
by Vitamin K
Tue Mar 26, 2024 9:01 am
Forum: Do-It-Yourself
Topic: Mulling a track build...
Replies: 40
Views: 1039

Re: Mulling a track build...

I plan to build a heavy duty shelf in my garage to store the lanes while I'm making time to work on the track and later the track itself. It would be nice if the whole thing laid flat. Nice, indeed. It would likely require the heft of several people to safely shelve a 4-lane 42' foot track in its c...
by Vitamin K
Mon Mar 25, 2024 1:05 pm
Forum: Do-It-Yourself
Topic: Mulling a track build...
Replies: 40
Views: 1039

Re: Mulling a track build...

mimicking the Best Track curve seems like it would require cutting the aluminum track section..? Why? I'd imagine the Best Track approach would involve something like mild brake bending in the desired location... You may be right. I was thinking more in terms of how Best Track does it, with a short...
by Vitamin K
Mon Mar 25, 2024 11:15 am
Forum: Do-It-Yourself
Topic: Mulling a track build...
Replies: 40
Views: 1039

Re: Mulling a track build...

This sounds like it would give me a permanent Microwizard sized curve section which seems like the worst of both worlds? At least as far as storage or transport goes? On the other hand, mimicing the Best Track curve seems like it would require cutting the aluminum track section..? Be nice if I could...
by Vitamin K
Mon Mar 25, 2024 9:58 am
Forum: Do-It-Yourself
Topic: Mulling a track build...
Replies: 40
Views: 1039

Re: Mulling a track build...

Do you have any information regarding how the curve is bent? There's something on the challenger track plans about a template, but it doesn't seem to be in the PDF. I'd hate to destroy the lanes attempting to bend them. :O Sorry, I posted all of the information that I have on that track. It does me...
by Vitamin K
Mon Mar 25, 2024 9:40 am
Forum: Do-It-Yourself
Topic: Mulling a track build...
Replies: 40
Views: 1039

Re: Mulling a track build...

The "Challenger" looks like the clearest plan and easiest to follow, especially since it assumes the use of the betacraft track segments. I'm not quite sure how it handles curving the segments, though. I wonder how hard it would be to adapt the Challenger plans to a curve design that mimi...
by Vitamin K
Mon Mar 25, 2024 6:52 am
Forum: Do-It-Yourself
Topic: Mulling a track build...
Replies: 40
Views: 1039

Re: Mulling a track build...

There are other plans at https://grandprix-race-central.com/index.php/download/category/6-tracks . I rather liked the Pinewood Derby SuperSite plans. The "Challenger" looks like the clearest plan and easiest to follow, especially since it assumes the use of the betacraft track segments. I...
by Vitamin K
Sat Mar 23, 2024 6:50 am
Forum: Do-It-Yourself
Topic: Mulling a track build...
Replies: 40
Views: 1039

Re: Mulling a track build...

For a DYI track, this surplus offering currently on ebay from Diamond Brand Gear Outlet might be of interest to someone. A ~42' 4-lane track would require 4 bundles of six aluminum lane segments for a total (right now) of $384 (plus tax) and shipped *free*. The lane material could be pretty thin (&...
by Vitamin K
Fri Mar 22, 2024 9:26 pm
Forum: Do-It-Yourself
Topic: Mulling a track build...
Replies: 40
Views: 1039

Re: Mulling a track build...

Will do!

Sent from my moto g(9) play using Tapatalk

by Vitamin K
Fri Mar 22, 2024 9:12 pm
Forum: Do-It-Yourself
Topic: Mulling a track build...
Replies: 40
Views: 1039

Re: Mulling a track build...

Welp, went ahead and ordered some. Now I guess I'm committed. :mrgreen:
by Vitamin K
Fri Mar 22, 2024 5:40 pm
Forum: Do-It-Yourself
Topic: Mulling a track build...
Replies: 40
Views: 1039

Re: Mulling a track build...

An aluminum one is out of my budget... For a DYI track, this surplus offering currently on ebay from Diamond Brand Gear Outlet might be of interest to someone. A ~42' 4-lane track would require 4 bundles of six aluminum lane segments for a total (right now) of $384 (plus tax) and shipped *free*. Th...
by Vitamin K
Wed Mar 20, 2024 2:03 pm
Forum: Do-It-Yourself
Topic: Mulling a track build...
Replies: 40
Views: 1039

Re: Mulling a track build...

Is wood lath available in the width and height (1.5" x .025") that guide strips call for? 1/4" is a common lath thickness. I don't remember exactly; but what was available to us at the time was close to the proper width. (It was more than a decade ago and we no longer have that track...