Trains.com

1/32 scale slot car track for town roadbed

2714 views
8 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
1/32 scale slot car track for town roadbed
Posted by Anonymous on Monday, January 8, 2007 1:13 PM

I read that the track is UV resistance and the slot power pickup is stainless steel. Has anyone tried or thought of  using this as a roadbed in a little town GRR?? I can get the cars in this scale, but would like to buy some trucks.

Thought it would look cool to have cars driving around town as the train screams by.....

 

dan

  • Member since
    November 2005
  • From: Blackpool, Lancashire, UK
  • 448 posts
Posted by kimbrit on Tuesday, January 9, 2007 1:58 AM

The main problem with slots is that they fill up with all sorts of flying debri, dust etc and the ants will probably like it as well, don't mention rain! Go for it, try it out and see how it performs, post some pics and keep the feedback coming.

Cheers,

Kim

  • Member since
    January 2005
  • From: Salisbury, England
  • 420 posts
Posted by devils on Tuesday, January 9, 2007 5:45 AM
Dan
My slot car track warps indoors so I'd think it would be a nightmare outdoors. How about looking for 1/32 scale RC cars and lorries at the hobby shop?
A lot of the toy vehicles are 1/32 scale and you can slow them down by putting a resistor in series with the motor to get a closer to scale speed.
Paul
  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Jones County, Georgia
  • 1,293 posts
Posted by GearDrivenSteam on Tuesday, January 9, 2007 6:11 AM
1/32 scales out too small for G scale. ....at least for me to use it and be happy with it, it does.
It is enough that Jesus died and that he died for me.
  • Member since
    January 2005
  • 225 posts
Posted by markn on Wednesday, January 10, 2007 9:39 PM
Give it a shot!  You didn't say what scale/era std/narrow gauge etc you are "modelling" but the rivet counters will say the correct scale for standard gauge using gauge 1 (G) track is close to 1/32, you could fairly easily rebody the 1/32 chassis and get them closer to 1/25 if you model narrow gauge (and invoke the 10' rule).  I won't leave the track/electrics out for extented periods.  I would clear and "pave" the roadbed with a "permanent"  road-say 1/2" to 3/4" of mortar mix dyed black (/brown/grey?), or chicken grit, or PT plywood-painted;  put some cars/trucks/people out for static display. Then clear the roadbed, put the track down for some fairweather running with the slot cars and take it in when you are done.
  • Member since
    January 2005
  • 225 posts
Posted by markn on Friday, January 12, 2007 8:49 AM
I stand corrected.  I stopped by a hobby shop and looked at the 1/32 slot car sets and there is no way you could  easily rebody them for 1/24 unless you are modelling a retirement community and they were all driving golf carts.  
  • Member since
    January 2001
  • From: US
  • 67 posts
Posted by spodwo on Saturday, January 20, 2007 6:38 AM

Carrera makes 1/24 slot cars but as I stated on MLS - you cannot use current Slot car track outdoors - it will warp, crack and go belly up in short order. 

I might also add that the these are not geared for slow prototypical operation either.  In order to get them to "move" you have to give them a fair amount of electricity and the way that they work [the wire "brushes" that touch the conductive slot/rail] aren't exactly conducive to smooth realistic performance. 

As previously mentioned - I have a Carrera 1:24 race track, a couple of Carrera 1/24 scale racers and quite a few 1:32 racers from Scalextric and Carrera. 

 

Stephen "Pod" Podwojski LiZarD AtTiTuDe RailRoaD http://LiZarDAtTiTuDe.homestead.com
  • Member since
    August 2004
  • From: Whitmore Lake, Michigan
  • 350 posts
Posted by markperr on Monday, January 22, 2007 1:50 PM

Saw a layout in Ontario, Canada, where the owner had placed a city street diorama at the back of his layout along the fenceline.  What he did with the street traffic was to hook several cars to a motorized conveyor and hid the ends so that the cars appeared to go out of view before going below for the return trip around.  He raised it up slightly to hide the mechanics.

Mark

 

  • Member since
    February 2005
  • 1,821 posts
Posted by underworld on Wednesday, January 24, 2007 6:28 PM

Have you seen the Lionel K-Line RailRoadster set up?

I know it's only 1/48 but might be an idea for constructing something in larger scale for yourself.

underworldBig Smile [:D]Big Smile [:D]Big Smile [:D]Big Smile [:D]Big Smile [:D]

currently on Tour with Sleeper Cell myspace.com/sleepercellrock Sleeper Cell is @ Checkers in Bowling Green Ohio 12/31/2009 come on out to the party!!! we will be shooting more video for MTVs The Making of a Metal Band

Search the Community

FREE EMAIL NEWSLETTER

Get the Garden Railways newsletter delivered to your inbox twice a month

By signing up you may also receive occasional reader surveys and special offers from Garden Railways magazine. Please view our privacy policy