last topic about the track... IT LIVES!!!

[waaytoomuchintothis]

I found the problem by accident.

In the old days of power tools, you learned quickly that you must vary the grit of sanding paper to compensate for the speed of the samder as well as the usual decisions about sandpaper for the job you are doing. Then variable speed sanders came along, and it really wasn't important anymore. I forgot. I was using 120 grit to cut a smooth transition from one side of the joints to the other, and the additional heat from friction of that relatively fine grit was melting the latex and embedding it on the belt, which was sticky and shredded the latex it encountereed next, making a big rough mess, and never really doing much sanding, as the grit was covered with hardened paint that was embedded in it. When I took the ruined belt off, I suddenly remembered, and I used 80 grit. Smooth as silk, no latex sticking, the little sander does everything I hoped that it would- and fast. I have sanded all the joints that were ready for sanding and smoothed them with Rockhard. The finish sanding should be quick and easy. The rest of the joints will go faster, indeed. The next picture I take will be the finished smoothing operation, ready for paint.

Oh yes, the paint. I wasn't happy with the way the paint settled, even with a smooth roller, so I dug around in my paint stuff and found a 10 year old bottle of Floetrol I used when I sprayed latex paint on some exterior trim during the remodelling years ago. There was just enough, and after blending it in with a power stir, the paint is much thinner and will settle smooth. Its been a good day.

[ListerStormGT]

Rob, it really is too bad you are having so much trouble with this. I know you want to get it up and running but at this point it really looks like your best bet is to sand the joints down as even as possible and then just fill them in and reroute those sections like Harry suggested. It is a lot of extra work but its beats beating yourself up like this and not seeing any progress with your efforts. Hang in there buddy , you will get it soon enough and it will all be worth it in the end. :)

[Ember]

Did you find the Mylar tape?

Glad you got the sander sorted. Those things do make life easier. I hate sanding.

[waaytoomuchintothis]

[ListerStormGT]

Oh no problem, I didn't see your last post while I was writing mine. We must have crossed paths at some point, either way good to see you got things sorted out. :auto-driving:

[waaytoomuchintothis]

Started taping today. Got about 100 feet done, 300 more to go. When I tested it, the test car flew down the track smooth as silk. I'm using a Greenwood Vette, so you can imagine how satisfying it is to see something that smooth and fast run down 4 brand new lanes on the long straight. Perfect. Except as always, I forgot how sharp the edges of the tape is, and sliced my finger open... again. Its fine, just embarrassing to forget the same thing so many times.

[waaytoomuchintothis]

[scatman]

Looking good. :banana-dance:

[waaytoomuchintothis]

HOORAY!!! The new wiring block is in and done. I have a working track again!

It makes no sense at all, but apparently, the solid state circuit breakers are not bridges that parallel the power circuit, they ARE the power circuit. When they failed to reset, it was just dead.

[HomeRacingWorld]

Good, glad it worked out.

[Ember]

Congratulations!

[waaytoomuchintothis]

Yeehah! I've got one lane running all the way around

[dreinecke]

Looks like a ton of work has paid off. Now, stop goofing off with the one good lane and get it done LOL!

[waaytoomuchintothis]

[ListerStormGT]

Very cool Rob, glad to see all your work paid off and you got it up and running again. It is a nice track layout and looks like a lot of fun!