Build Journal: Bennett Crossing
I've built 2 tracks before in a 8'x4' space - our hillclimb rally track and our stadium rally cross track. We used boosters and some gravity to try and make it fun. If you checkout my behind the scenes video, it shows you a bit more about them if you're interested. Even the orginal canyon track was only about 9-10' long but only 2ft wide.
- It is never a waste of time to do the things you love doing... Great behind the scenes vid! Thanks for sharing! — Stoopid_Fish_Racing
- I’ve watched many of your videos, and it is been really interesting to see how you’ve built your track. I didn’t realize how tight of a space you were confined to. Great ideas. Thanks for sharing. — Bossick
- thanks for posting that, great stuff — dr_dodge
- You are defiantly a Master of space usage... I love the detail work in the dioramas and in the tracks. I will be looking for your channel to watch your races... Thanks for being apart of the community and sharing this video... — Desert_Rat_Racing
Put legs on the table with casters on the bottom so I can rotate it/make sure I can gain access to my furnace if I need to.
I promptly got to work on the race track. Final downslope is in place. I put a piece of plywood down so the track should be level with the railroad or pretty close at the crossing. I thought about having cars jump the crossing, but I decided against it.
I plan to get the race track down first then add in the railroad.
Track is complete. I tested two different colored, but same, Hot Wheels cars. Action seems to be pretty decent. In my second turn, if there is still some side by side racing, one car seems to fly off the track below.
I think with that section of the track, I put in some catch netting to try to prevent the cars from falling to the floor.
In the front, between curves 2 and 3, my brother laser-cut and built a bridge. It can be seen in this image.
The diorama will be bit more enclosed on the right with as much open air as I can at literal train crossing and the finish line.
The finish line is at the edge of the table. I plan to run track down to the actual floor after the finish line so it isn't so abrupt.
I ordered a timing/start system from Slanman. Once that is here, I plan to start racing as I start to piece together the diorama.
I'm adding a few more images to give a few more angles on what's built.
The timing system is here, and I really need to commend Slanman on the customer service and troubleshooting on the timer. I've been running time trials for our cars we've had for a long time, mostly my grown kids, some from when my brother and I were kids (some 30-plus years old).
I decided to start the diorama from the bottom up, except for perhaps the train crossing itself. That means constructing the town, farms and train tunnel.
I am thinking of tightening down turns and straights in a more permanent way. Recommendations on how to fasten down CR turns?
One thing I did near the top of the track was to add a very thin piece of basswood under the sidewall lip of the crash racer track between the places where it attaches to curves (between turns 1 and 2). Doing this is preventing some cars from dropping off the track, and it is also stopping the crash racer track from having its side walls from dropping down.
- I have thought about using long strip wood in the crash track straights to help the over time sag. maybe hot glue them in place. Tracks looking good!! — dr_dodge
- Track is looking nice! — ManiacMotorsports
- The basswood is pretty slim. It fits well, but I don’t know if I would glue it in necessarily because the wood may break over time. — Bossick
I began to start the work on the railroad crossing. I had plywood down atop the board and leading to the railroad. I took it out, and put in a thinner board so the race track will be on the level with the rails.
I also cut the fast track to ensure the train can pass unobstructed. It is simply the approach.
I bought several Crash Racer track connectors from Spoolhead, and I put down extra ones where the railroad crossing is to go. I am hoping with the extra connectors screwed into place, it will kee everything stable.
While I am working on the crossing itself, I can still run races and timing runs.
- How do the modern Lionel S guage trains run? Fast? — CanesBart
- You can vary the speed. I don’t want it to whip around the train track, but I also don’t plan to run them super slow. It seems the average speed down the race track is 7 seconds. With that in mind, I think I’m going to try synchronize it up. The train itself can go different speeds. I just need to find the sweet spots. — Bossick
I have an problem, and I need some advice. After the initial downslope, the cars take a 90 degree turn, have a short straight (one Crash Racer length), hit another 90 degree turn (both are rights), then it is supposed to cross the bridge.
We ran some test races and the cars seemed OK coming out of the first turn. But, when the cars get into the second turn, two or three cars would crash and fall coming out of the turn.
The turns aren't screwed in yet, and I see Spoolheads has open track turns. I am concerned about the depth of the turns being too much for my 4x8 space. I don't think it will work.
What are some recommendations?
I also just thought that my main issue could be using open track, and I may need to consider changing the track from the start through the second turn into laned track. Again, what your thoughts?
Lots of progress at Bennett Crossing.
I cut the board supporting turns 3 and 4, and I screwed them into place. They will be atop some escarpments and hills. Between the two is a bridge that was laser cut by my brother (he did the large bridge).
I then began to work on the grass for the town of Bennett Crossing. We had some old matting from a few years ago. I tried to get some roads going, but the foam board I bought wound up too thick for my liking. So the town will be restored once I get that.
The best part is the next one.
That isn't quite all. I recorded some video as time went on, especially the tests. Those are on a playlist.
Here is the link: youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6MLOh1PX4ObzDaY9msvAwK8LdIiLuLO6&si=eAfceixhy-UJ4yIM
- Very cool. I haven’t seen anything like it in the hobby yet — RLoRacing
- Thanks. It is what I was shooting for. I saw some slot cars and trains mixed, but not gravity diecast racing. The diorama is what is left, and that should have some bells and whistles. — Bossick
- Nice progress! — ManiacMotorsports
- nice! — dr_dodge
- Very convincing work on the train crossing!! Would you consider a little extra shim work before the crossing to give just enough lift so cars don't make contact with that intermediary section? Shouldn't take much and I think in filming you can still sell the effect that the cars aren't "flying" across — Chris_Hood
- I think that is an interesting thought. Initially, I was going to have the racetrack go on an incline to a raised railroad because many of the crossings I’ve encountered in real life have that. I was concerned, though, about the landing (because it would essentially be a jump over the railroad). I could have a bit of a lip leading to the crossing. What I did find out in testing is that one of the outside parts of the crossing was too high. It forced the train to lose contact with the track, and it would stop the train a little farther down. Now the train runs free and clear. As for the cars, I tried to make it as level as I could. But again, I think having the train crossing elevated, creating a jump and yet potential for a car-train crash, would be fun to see. — Bossick
I laid out the town along with the road. The road I picked up from Innovative Hobby Supply. I still have some cleaning up to do, including getting some gravel. I may have room to add a gas station. I also need to build a second train crossing just to make the diorama sound.
I have also been having some issues with cars falling off the track. I'm thinking of buying up some flexible slot car guard railing and painting it silver to give it a realistic look. I think this might add in creating the diorama and keeping the cars on the track.
We have our first casualty.
It dropped off turn two and hit the board just right and shattered. I have been doing time trials with my son's, my and my brother's cars (so some dating into the 1970s and '80s) from the buckets they're in. This was a "Cars" race car.
I am still seeing a lot of the cars, testing or in pairs, slide up the turns in one and two, creating the potential for cars flying off. I am leaning more into having lanes through the first two turns so we can have actual racing. I may also just have lanes through the first turn, and that might resolve things.
It appears most of the builders out there have lanes for a length before going to open track. The question is, how much is just right, too little or too much?
Making some progress on the diorama while also getting in time trials of the cars my brother, my son and me owned for a mega tournament.
I used 2x4s to brace the styrofoam that will have the tunnel entrances.
I then framed up what will hold up the key hills on the back side of the track as well as have the location for the tunnel entrances near the finish line.
To resolve the cars falling off in the second turn (near side in photo) I put in temporary screen so I can still run trials or even races as the diorama is constructed below.
I began staining the tunnel entrances. One I night was broke in shipping, and I was hoping to salvage it, but it is now being used as I start to put in the plaster cloth.
Nearly all of the stuffing for plaster cloth is in place. Just need a little more newspaper. Then plan is to put down a good deal of plastic/drop cloth taped down so the pair of tracks are not affected.
- I put a slight coat of the lebelle oil on the top of the rails, too, then wash it off when done. keeps drips/leaks from sticking to the rails — dr_dodge
- it's looking amazing, keep up posted! — dr_dodge
- Just ran across this thread for the first time. Keep up the great work! — Zamak_Speed_Shop
- Great journey, good to see ! Thanks — CutRock_R_Marc_D
Hmmm... I'm sort of in the same kerfuffle. I am planning 7ft length, 6ft ht and the base of three maybe 3 1/2 ft. Garage space. I realize early the drops will not be steep, 15 inches each level, this will not be a fast race but maybe that helps with the cars finishing and not flying off the track. or 2 levels low decline and one big drop to 2 less angled levels. There are so many great tracks, and I came away from all these great builders with this advice as the most important, "Make sure your track works."
Look at Races and fun, he doesn't do scenery but he changes his tracks what seems like every hour and you can see the 'skeleton' of all his tracks. That might help you with some ideas. He also doe'sn't have "fast" races but the track is long and I find the races easier to follow and very exciting.
Sorry I don't have any solutions but you'll get there. Will this be a fixed set with scenery?
Looks amazing so far and I'm a softy for you naming it and using the buildings. Great touch.
Even though the whole job market is not the greatest, I gambled and picked up the train - a Lionel produced S-gauge American Flyer. It was the lowest-priced set, they had. I unboxed it and gave it a run. I felt like a kid again.
I have a bit more track coming - can go 40" on the straights - but I thought I would also take some photos with my son's old Hot Wheels and Matchbox cars for some comparison.
I'm really looking forward to getting the table up and the track built.