Building a Modular Table System for Slot Car Tracks
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 23 มี.ค. 2020
- Our Carrera Digital 132 slot car track was set up on the floor for years. We built a modular table system to get the slot cars up off the floor. The setup consists of four 4-foot x 8-foot tables that can be arranged in a variety of configurations to accommodate different slot car track layouts. The modular system also includes table extensions that are 1-foot wide by 4 feet long or 8 feet long These are optional, easy to install and remove, and can be used on the short edge or long edge of a table to provide more tabletop space. This is especially helpfulwith Carrera 124/132 track which is larger than 1/32 scale track from other manufacturers such as Scalextric, Ninco, and SCX.
Because tables are butted to each other and also may include the extensions, dimensions of the table frames and top sheeting is critical for a good fit. We created a jig to that not only speeds up construction time but also ensures the tables were built perfectly square so they connected to each other correctly without gaps in the tops or frames.
Modular catch fencing was installed around the entire perimeter to keep the slot cars from crashing to the floor. The fencing is constructed of nylon window screen stretched between two stanchions that are screwed the table frames. The fence sections can be easily removed and installed to accommodate a change in the table configuration.
We set up a short track (Carrera Digital 132) on the new table(s) to test both the functionality of the new table setup (namely was the catch fencing going to be effective) and also to perform reviews of some of the newer cars we've acquired. After testing is complete we will build. After testing is complete we will re-arrange the tables to accomodate the club track for slot car club race nights. The design of the track hasn't been finalized but when complete total length will be approximately 125 feet (38 meters).
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Clips used and references: "This is a hybrid … of bluegrass, Kentucky bluegrass, featherbed bent and northern California sensemilia (sic). The amazing stuff about this, is that you can play 36 holes on it in the afternoon, take it home and just get stoned to the bejeezus-belt that night on the stuff.” Carl Spackler (Bill Murray), Caddyshack.
Music used in video: Demilitarized Zone by Ethan Meixsell.
Cameraderie . Sorry for spelling. Very nice job. As a 45 year veteran woodworker I say thank you.
Wall of beer and Carl the grounds keeper planting your “grass”, sweet set up!
Since we couldn't bring the wall of beer with us to the new location it will be the first thing we re-create.
First class explanations regarding the variations of lumber sizes, something most of us would overlook . Your description of the assembling procedures gives us mere mortals the confidence to attempt replicating your build quality. Many thanks for promoting the sport / hobby. Mike, Nottingham. UK.
@3:14 1/8 to 1/4 inch short -
THIS IS BECAUSE THE PERSON WHO CUT IT, OR SET THE MACHINE TO CUT THE WOOD,
DID NOT FACTOR THE WIDTH OF THE BLADE, 1/8" HENCE, YOUR SHEETS ARE SHORT!
MR. FAUSTINE, EL CAMINO HIGH SCHOOL, SSF, CA 1980!
THANK YOU, SIR! ALL THAT YOU TAUGHT ME IN WOOD SHOP
SERVED ME WELL THROUGHOUT MY CAREER!
Thank you johnny hobby for this video. My friend used this video as template and built tables for me. We still need to build retaining walls and put down the “fast growing grass”.
You probably know this by now, but OSB sheeting is short due to the clips that go in between the sheets when sheeting a roof. Plywood, which as you know is more expensive, is dimensionally correct ie. 4' X 8'.
This is exactly the table build I was looking for. Excellent how-to!
Lions fan? Go Detroit!
Brings back so many memories of my youth in the 60's. Had my own tracks and went to many hobbie shop tracks. Great fun, to bad todays kids don't get involved.
Relive those memories buy yourself a kit and have fun I did and I'm 54
That track looks awesome by the way. I'm 73 and in 64 we use to use flip flops to make tires in Riverside calif. And rewinding our motors with larger ga wire and balancing the armeture was a major boost in power and rpm . Great fun.
Flip-flops to make tires? I am imagining them making the noise of flat tires when driving.
Im only 72 and planning to get back in. Finding track clips will be a priority. And like Cuban mechanics we need to improvise.
I used some of your recommendations and techniques to build my table set up, 4 each 4x4 sections and 4 each 4x2 extensions. Thanks a lot!
Cool! Glad we could help.
8:32
As soon as you said, "It was developed by our groundskeeper, Carl." I knew what clip was coming! Classic!!! Can you imagine the reaction a movie such as Caddyshack would receive if it were released today? I can only imagine how many great comedic films we are missing out on presently. It is such a shame!
𝑨𝒉𝒐𝒚, 𝒑𝒐𝒍𝒍𝒐𝒊. 𝑾𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒅𝒊𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎, 𝒂 𝑺𝒄𝒐𝒕𝒄𝒉 𝒂𝒅❓
Thanks guys learned a lot also enjoyed your sense of humor it adds personality to the video
Glad you enjoyed it!
Magical wall of beer...you are my hero.
Just stumbled on your guys videos tonight and loving the commentary. Can definitely tell you guys are a lot of fun. Also, love the idea of using window screen around the side of the table. Looking forward to catching up on more videos!
Cool. Thanks for the comment, and enjoy the rest of the vids.
I want to say thank you for your slot car video tutorials, it has me thinking of purchasing a set, and I will be change from my RC car collection and racing plus a lot cheaper in the long run.
You are welcome. Hopefully the vids prove to be helpful when you go forward with slot cars. Good luck.
Only 2 videos in and already I love this channel. 👍. Great job on the table fellas.
Thanks 👍
Awesome video guys. Getting it done. Great process and tips on building the table. Thanks.
Awesome work guys!
Making good progress boys! Loved Carl's cameo. Can't wait to move back and hopefully join the club. Also, can't wait for "the errors" to be posted. Hey, the double fishtail at the end looked bad-ass! Subscriber #666
much love all yall keep doing what you are doing great vid and you two are funny as well... great dynamic between you two and love the joking rip little billy and suzie
That looks great guys!
Thanks so much!
I waited too late to by the wood. The current price for a 4x8 here in the midwest $45. I'll just have to wait but I cant thank you enough for posting this video. It really motivates me to keep sight of my table in my mind.
Prices definitely got ridiculous. At least in the Northwest they are coming down now. For years and years 2x4s were about $2, then earlier this summer saw them as high as $8, but now about $4. 4x8x1/2 OSB is $22 right now when it was historically about $16. Hopefully lumber gets back to reasonable levels where you are soon so you can proceed. Good luck.
Great video! Thanks for sharing,keep the great work!
Thanks for watching.
Great video! Outstanding humor!
Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for the comment.
Great vid and explanation as to why you did what you did. Love to hear how the catch fencing worked out. I'm thinking a better idea than what I would have done, wood panel fencing as easier on the cars. I was planning on tables, yes plural, for my basement. One each for HO, 1:43 and 1:32 but I was going to put them on casters so they could move a bit for room to get around them. Setups on floor are OK but the older I get the harder it is to setup/takedown and put wayward cars back on track. Great job.
HO, 1:43, and 1:32 all in one place? Sounds like a slot car amusement park. Awesome!
That Carl Spackler clip just killed me!!! hahaha! Cheers from NH!
Glad you liked it. Cheers right back at you from MI.
These guys are excellent
Because of the electric passenger car thing today I'm happy to see people bringing this to screen and for home use, competition is fun no doubt but this is how it begins and is as much fun.
Sweet build Johnnie! New venue?
I like the modular approach for club racing, looking forward to see some fresh tracks!
Also loved the Roadside memorial - too bad for li'l Billy, but good to see Fuzzles got out safely...
Well, this was well written and taken right out of a book thirty years ago
Awesome Idea man I just put you in my life I will be watching, peace from Maine.
Thanks for the comment, and welcome aboard. Peace from Michigan.
Outstanding work! Outstanding explanation on the video.
Thanks!
! Como os castiga la vida! Scalextic , cerveza y amigos !!!
I want a magical wall full of beer...
This comment should have a lot more likes.
Awesome!!!! I did mine in three parts to put on my pool table!
Nice!
great job on the setup.
Thanks. Soon we'll be adding another table so we can use our other 50 ft of track.
I think it’s more likely that little Billy got smoked by chasing Susie’s kitty 😉. Awesome track guys!
Thanks!! I just made my first modular table(s)!! Cool cats!!
Excellent!
Lol is this why wood prices went through the roof? Awesome video.
Great vid just subscribed. Keep the vids coming.
Thanks, will do!
Nooo. Not the magical wall of beer! 😂
Super good construction guide-lines and 'things to think about' to avoid disappointing results and after-fixes. "Standard measurements" vary from board to board and sheet to sheet.
Well done dudes.
JoHo! Just saw the young Bill Murray scene; you guys are fricken funny. Scene from Catty Shack right :)
Yes, that's one of his best roles, portraying "Carl Spackler" in Caddyshack.
Impressive.
lol.....thx for the video and the laugh! Getting ready to build my table soon
Excellent. Good luck.
Lions fan, had to sub!! great job!
Thank you, and welcome aboard.
I did the same thing; I used door hinges with removeable pins to align and join the "tables"
"She got aced by a 599, going sideways"....🤣
sweet track friend great mind work and planning ahead I will be watching
Awesome thank you!
The Best kind of Nerds!!
Correct!
Love your vids, subscribed today. I fully apptove @ 8:54! ;)
Thanks, and welcome aboard!
Hey Salami - not sure where your at, but I hope you, Slater and the whole JohnnieH team are keeping healthy and safe during this covid-19 pandemic.. and still have access to your track.. Or at least a wall of beer!!
Keep those slot hummin' brother!
I have good news and bad news. Bad news is that we are basically in the epicenter of the outbreak in Michigan, so pretty much not going anywhere and haven't for three weeks. The good news is that we still have access to the slot car track and beer, and everybody appears to be healthy. Thanks for reaching out, and hope all is well with you.
Great job guys,al put up a video of me own soon,some good tips gents
Cool. Looking forward to it.
First off, thanks for sharing. I’m thinking of getting into the hobby and this was the first of your videos that I’ve watched. I look forward to the next. What scale are your cars and where were you able to get the GTOs? Is that Carrera track? I’d appreciate any bits and pieces you can share.
The scale shown in this video is 1/32. The track is Carrera 1/24 so we can also run 1/24 cars if we want (and we do).
The GTOs were bought many years ago and no longer in production. You may be able to find them on reseller sites like Ebay, but like most Carrera cars they are limited production and might command a premium price now.
I hung a 16 X 12 table from my carport garage with steel cables and a 12V suv winch
You have a white gardner?? Awesome.
Love the video!!!
Actually, Carl is the Assistant Groundskeeper. Sandy McFiddish, the Head Groundskeeper (Carl's boss) is the Head Groundskeeper who is Scottish, which is even weirder.
You need a 1/32 tractor mower for the grass!
Johnnie exelente información gracias saludos desde México cuidense
De nada.
@@johnniehobby buen día Johnnie te agradezco tus información muchas gracias cuidate
@@johnniehobby viendo tus programas tienes una exelente pista. En México solo se encuentran pistas marca nico. Hay otras marcas en los EUA
@@johnniehobby disculpa Johnnie por contestarte muy tarde más tengo que traducir tus atentas respuestas muchas gracias amigo aron no inglés maiy fren
@@johnniehobby ya me estoy animando a comprar una estoy viendo tu programa de como armar una pista estás con tu hermano el del noticiero muchas gracias por la información cuidense covid19
that's what tape measures are for!
Go Lions!
I used to build HO train and Car tracks on tables made of 'railroad board', I thought they were 9' X 5'. Do they still have that. I really decreased the noise compared to wood. Also lighter and could be cut easily with small rough saw. Looking to build one for the grand kids and was just wondering what's out there. I ended up with 3 of these tables length wise, either 24 or 27' in length.
Very nice. Are you glueing the carpet to the table top ?. What brand of track are you using there ?..
Not sure yet how we are going to attach the carpet. Probably we'll try staple gun first. If that doesn't work well enough then glue may the the answer. This is Carrera 124/132 track (which is basically 1/24 scale). The cars running in the video are 1/32 scale, however.
Young players turn into design engineers, hopefully.
I used to have wood tables but honestly I have no wood working skills so I switched to plastic. Looks great, I'm jealous.
Oh look at that. I think I rolled you over to 800 subs.
Nothing wrong with plastic folding tables. If you ever take the track down you can use them for a bake sale.
What's the source of the white barrier shown around 13:30? A few years ago I bought some that's printed with a thin strip of adhesive at the bottom but don't know where I got it. I need some more and like your setup with the clips.
That guardrail is just posterboard that we printed our own graphics on. There are several places on the track we use those. The one on the banked turn is special, however as a simple straight strip won't conform to the banked track correctly so it has a special shape. We actually have a script already for a video on how we do those guardrails as well as other types. Haven't filmed it yet but hope to have it out in a couple of weeks.
Johnnie Consejos de dónde comprar autopistas autos etc. Soy nuevo en tu exelente canal deseando que estén bien en este difícil pandemia covid19 cuidense saludos desde mexico
Cool, I never seen before slot car in my country. How can all cars move automatic?
what the all cars make move?
Amen to "Phillips Heads suck!"
I'm curious, are you two brothers? And where are you guys located? Looks awesome, love the little details, looks like you guys have a lot of fun!
Yes and yes.
I joined multiple tables with loose-pin door hinges. Self-aligning
Good idea. Solid connection but quick and easy to disassemble. I like it.
The only thing I would have added is adjustable feet on the 4x4. Just in case the floor was uneven. It must be nice to have that kind of space.
That is something that we considered but decided to go with shims if we needed adjustment. It would definitely be a cool feature, though.
I wish that I was your neighbour.buying I slot car digital carrera speed memories.
More please
We'll be able to get more videos out with greater frequency now that our table is built and we have a track to run on again. BTW: you were the first to submit a bracket for our drag race tournament, but we still only have a handful of entries at this point and could use more. Spread the word! Thanks for watching (and participating).
Little Billy got "aced" chasing Scratch onto the track. RIP. Where's the beer wall??
What is the total size of the final finish of the table? Thank you
The large section is 9 feet x 12 feet. The leg on the far side is 4 feet x 8 feet, so overall length is 20 feet, widest part 9 feet and narrowest is 4 feet.
Hey guys great video I have a question I'm 65 and I have a 9 year old grandson and I would like to get started in slot cars I really want Carrera track but I'm on a fixed income but I really appreciate any help getting going thank you love your channel Take Care ✌ 👍
Indoor/outdoor carpet
i m searching for cheap solutions regarding the table ... i wanted it in my PC corner but wehn i do not race track it has to be lifted up ... and now the tricky part : i cannot put pullys and stuff up suspendet on the ceiling because its not a massive good ceiling ... in german we call these "Zwischendecke" ... so my thought was somthing similar to a Post Stand Car lift for workshops ... this in dirt cheap .. because these things they start from thousands upwards in price ... or what could i build myself ? any ideas out there ?
When I was a kid we had a train layout on a ping-pong table (5'x8' I think). It was hinged on one side to the wall so it would flip up to vertical when not in use.
@@johnniehobby could not fold it in with parts attached... it needs somthing like an electric rail on the wall going up and down
Where are you guys located at? I’m looking for a slot car club.
Detroit metro Michigan
The 4 x 4 legs... still good? No bracing? I got my plywood ready to go, just need a couple 2x4's and thinking about either the 4x4 or two 2x4's screwed together. Opinion?? (PS: SUBBED and FULL BELLED, Thank you!!
So 4 x 4 worked fine. Thanks for showing us how to level the track on the floor- that was key today. But that 32" inch would kill our backs, we jumped up to 36" and think it'll be better for us. Thanks for all the tips n tricks!
@@Gale_Force_Raceway Sorry for the late reply, somehow your comment got put into 'held for review' queue. 4x4 w/o bracing still working fine, especially when several tables are butted together. We've even crawled on them to assemble track sections. Let me know how the 36" height works out.
@@johnniehobby No worries.. I initially had a link, so TH-cam may have flagged it? Anyway, I havent gotten around to finishing the second table, but likely tonite. So far it seems like a good move...
What brand is the race track?
The track is Carrera 132/124.
What was the cost to build the table
Approximately $30 per table. Overall about $145 for all four plus two 4ft extensions and an 8ft extension. That doesn't include the outdoor carpet on top which costs about $0.50/sq. ft. However, that was back in January 2020. Since then, probably due to shortages because of COVID shutdowns that created shortages, the cost of lumber has more than doubled since then. Hopefully those costs go back down to normal soon.
Very sad Susie are billy are gone.
I have a super loop slot car set it my yellow car super super super powerful
shave-off the kerf of a blade? You're good!
Can Carl come over??
Carl is currently on administrative leave for violating our substance abuse policy.
@@johnniehobby harsh
@@johnniehobby keep your head up Carl!!
Another great "Johnnie Hobby" video ! Awesome table design and instructions for others to build their own.
BTW: I have placed the STL files and details for the guard rail, catch fence, and lighting solution on Thingiverse: www.thingiverse.com/thing:4262123
I would be willing to help you recreate the "wall of beer". I have a lot of experience and would be a valuable member of the construction crew...lol.
Keep the great content coming and keep on racing and/or crashing.
Cheers,
Jeff (Garage Maker Guy)
Jeff, thanks for the files and the very detailed instructions. I'll give it a whirl and see if I can avoid printing an abomination. Is there anywhere on that page I can make a donation?
Thanks Johnnie...I think I've setup my Paypal.me account correctly. You should now be able to "Tip Designer" on the thingiverse page: www.thingiverse.com/thing:4262123
Let me know if you're able to make a donation and I'll let you know if I receive it.
Cheers,
Jeff (Garage Maker Guy)
Where are all the women at? Haha jk.. looks fun.
I'll tell you this and i havent seen it to The end BUT i bet you make The tables too high