Don't Leave A Scalextric Unattended

So I have just learned a valuable lesson. NEVER LEAVE YOUR SCALEXTRIC UNATTENDED!

After all the work on the track recently I thought I would send the cars round the track for a bit in pace car mode with a little oil on the track rails just to clean everything up. The door goes so I rush downstairs not thinking, got caught talking to a neighbour for 5 minutes, return to find a mass pile-up. Not so bad until I realised the Audi was still on the track but boxed in but 2 other cars and guess what..............

IT DOESN'T RUN ANYMORE!

Right, I thought, it must be a burnt out motor so I strip it down.

Take apart an old Austin Martin and switch the motors.

Woohoo an upgrade for sure. An Audi with an Austin Martin engine! This is bound to be fast!!!

Everything back together, ready for a test run and.................

Nothing happens. Turns out the old motor still runs but the wiring loom has got so hot it has welded itself together! The Audi can now sit in the pit garage until another day! On the plus side I did rescue a stronger magnet form the Austin Martin so I can upgrade one of the other cars that refuses to stay on the track.

Making A Race Track

Basics done, it's now time to turn a Scalextric into a race track.

Buildings, barriers and curbs in place and it's getting there. Now time to add a little greenery with some trees.

I'm happy with how it will look but as most of the trees and bushes are going to be hand made this is going to take a while!

I am hoping to get a good balance between the scenic green twisty part of the track and the aggressive concrete jungle of the quick start / finish line.

More trees and it's starting to look like a moving fun work of art. Time will tell but I'm very please so far.

Growing Grass And Laying Asphalt

Time to plant the grass seeds (well lay the fake grass!) and put down some asphalt, but first things first, take up all the track!!

Grass down first all glued in place to stop it moving about. Let's hope little fingers don't peal it off like the wallpaper in their room!!!!!

All done and looking good. Now to see how accurate the measurements are when the track is back down. Please, please let it line up right!

I'm really pleased with the result, now to make it look like a race track again.

Early Morning Visitor

The boys love their new Hot Scalextric track but thought Daddy's work could do with some improvement. Early in the morning the Scalextric track has a visitor!!

Now with all the wooden trees and signs that looks much better! Time to start planting the 'real' grass and trees soon because it looks like the boys aren't going to be patient!!

My Barriers Were Up But Now I've Decided To Be More Open

Do I have my barriers up with you? Well I did. I put barriers all around the track but in the end decided it was too enclosed so I have removed some to produce a more open section of the track so I have more space for advertising boards at a later date.

The twisty section at the end is now completely enclosed for driver safety because hopefully this will end up being the forest section of the track.

I had to modify (I mean cut to pieces!) some sections of barrier and border to get them to fit and in some places I just added a tyre wall just to break things up a bit. I'm fairly pleased with the result and can't wait for the grass to be delivered now.

Test Race

After all this hard work it was time to test out the track, yay!!!! :)

I might slowly add a few barriers and need to add in the lane change corers once I have returned the faulty items but for the next few day it's time to sit back and enjoy out new Hot Scalextric in all it's glory! Trouble is the boys are getting better than me so I must find time for practice! (Very competitive household :))

Grass and asphalt to lay next but I'm still considering the option so until then, if you want me I will be in the play room playing Scalextric.

Building Buildings

Morning comes and the boys are happy with Daddy's progress overnight but it still doesn't look like a proper race track so it's time to add some atmospheric buildings. I asked the boys what they wanted and their suggestion was a tran track that goes down the stairs, a jump and strawberry's or raspberry's so I had the casting vote and decided some proper buildings were in order.

First up was the garage for the pit lane.

I later decided there wasn't enough room behind the pit lane so it has moved but I'm sure we will find something for the pit lane in time.

Next was the grand stands.

Because they are simple push together construction the boys loved helping. They chose the stickers but it was Daddy's job to stick them on (a wonky Fiat may be true to life but may send me over the edge!)

Next up was a Dunlop footbridge. The bridge to nowhere I would refer to it as because you would still be trapped in the circuit but it looks good.

Finally a control tower so I can disqualify any bad drivers for dangerous conduct on the race track and yes this has already happened more than once!!!!!

I'm happy with the outcome so far and it's starting to come together well.