Ideas for track walls please.

[bobbyraz49]

In the process of making a 1/32 wood, 3 lane analog track. I am looking for suggestions for walls around turns. I will probably have them far enough from outside lane to prevent "riding the rails". I was/am considering "O" gauge train cork bed. That way if(WHEN) a car de-slots it wont hit anything hard. The rail bed is 2 3/4' high so I could glue and tack the borders around the turns.

Thanks !

[HomeRacingWorld]

[WB2]

That cork will get brittle over time. A speeding car would probably go right through it.

[manchvegasracer]

[Half Fast Slotter]

I have used dry wall shims before. They are flexible gray cardboard about 40 inches long an 1 1/2 inches wide. About a 1/16 inch thick, but stronger than you think. On an ho track you can use double stick foam tape to hold them on. On the 1/32 track you can support them with nails or screws like Harry showed. They can be cut with a good pair of scissors. I slant cut the ends to show smoother transition to the straights. Purchased at the big box hardware stores.

[RichD]

Most of the Shoreline Model Raceways tracks have walls made of Sintra.

[bobbyraz49]

Thanks for all the advice ! This gang rocks !
I did order the "O" gauge rail bed. It's one piece and is 24 feet long. I plan on painting it "Watkins Glen blue" LOL

[bobbyraz49]

[smithspeedway]

[BARC 1]

I use plastic trim from the building supply store. Look for the stuff around where they keep all the door casings and trim. No cutting into strips you just have install it. Being made out of plastic it bends easily and can handle the abuse of a car hitting it. I install it use finishing Nails like posts. You don't need many as the stuff follows a curve well. A little flex in your barrier is easy on the cars as well.

Here is a picture of it installed

[Fathead59]

Planning on. building a track using Scaletrix track , the set that I have will run cars wirelessly . Will use foam poster board as an apron round the track , might also use the foam board as a barrier . to keep the cars from flying totally off the track . I figured if you come into the curves a little hot you would ride the outer edge .

[Broman62]

[smithspeedway]

The gutter guard looks great. Is it metal? We tried the plastic stuff once drove a car right through it.

[chappyman66]

My track looks like Broman's..... bamboo skewers and gutter guard. Effective and cheap.
But my table is only 31" tall, so it catches on clothing. I will be going to smooth plastic eventually.
A taller track that you don't have to reach over might be ok.

[waaytoomuchintothis]

Cork just isn't a good idea. It tends to catch on sharp parts of the car and tear them off. The various PVC flexible products are the way to go. If you want big time realism, use 3/4 inch tall quarter inch Lexan on posts a quarter inch high. Looks dramatic, does the same job as much cheaper PVC sheet. Don't forget posters and ads all along the rails, it adds a lot. You can get decal sheets full of perfect signage. We had an HRW member who used aluminum flashing pressed into a wood form to make perfect steel highway guardrail if you are doing a race course on regular streets.