OK I am at the point with the lastest set of improvements to my track that I can post some pics again, so here we go:

I wanted to add some video screens to my track much like the jumbo viewing screens you see at tracks like Indianapolis. Well I found these 8" screens at Target and bought a pair, one around Christmas on sale for $139 and the other a few weeks back for regular price (think it was $159).
http://photos.hobbytalk.com/data/500/medium/DSC02518b.jpg

Nice screens but here is the back and where the A/V and power wires go into the unit . . .
http://photos.hobbytalk.com/data/500/medium/DSC02520b.jpg

It would have been nice if they were fed through the bottom, but the bottom stand is removable, hence why they go into the side.

I tried to Lego a housing for this monitor but it was way too bulky, plus I liked the color and style of the monitor as it was. I decided to place the monitors in the table surface and just use PVC pipe cut to fit to hide the wiring. After a trip to Menards I had a suitable size pipe for the job and began to scheme and measure.

I figured out I needed 3/8" cut out of the side of the pipe and after cutting a piece of scrap plywood to size, I marked the edge of my pipe where the cut would go.
http://photos.hobbytalk.com/data/500/medium/DSC02524b.jpg

More in a minute . . .

I then marked how much pipe I wanted to keep at the base of the column.
http://photos.hobbytalk.com/data/500/medium/DSC02525b.jpg

After marking all four of my pipes, I then ran blue tape down the length of the pipe and connected my end marks. I also put blue tape across the base of the column at my mark. Anything inside the taped-off box would be getting cut out of the pipe.
http://photos.hobbytalk.com/data/500/medium/DSC02527b.jpg

I ended up using a Dremel with a cut off wheel to open up the pipe. This was sort of time consuming and created a hell of a lot of dust, but at least the smell of burning PVC pipe is not offensive. A hobby knife was used to trim things up at the end of the cutting process and all in all it worked out great.
http://photos.hobbytalk.com/data/500/medium/DSC02529b.jpg

More in a minute . . .

At this point I test fitted the pipes to edges of the screens and placed the units on the tables to check the look of it all.
http://photos.hobbytalk.com/data/500/medium/DSC02531b.jpg

http://photos.hobbytalk.com/data/500/medium/DSC02533b.jpg

So once I was satisfied with my placement of the screens, I used a pencil and marked the tabletop where the screen base and columns would go, and drilled a pair of holes for my wires to come up through from the bottom.
http://photos.hobbytalk.com/data/500/medium/DSC02534b.jpg

More in a minute . . .

The holes had to be big enough for the plug ends to come up through, although I am sure someone more adventurous could have hacked the ends and done some soldering or something -- me, I just wanted it to plug and play.
http://photos.hobbytalk.com/data/500/medium/DSC02535b.jpg

I used a small bead of clear silicone on the end of the pipe to glue the column to the table top. I went with silicone because I can always pull it up later with little hassle if I ever need to.
http://photos.hobbytalk.com/data/500/medium/DSC02536b.jpg

The next thing I wanted to do was make some caps for the top of my columns. I decided to use clear plastic to make templates for my caps. I cut a little circle of PVC to trace the outline onto a piece of scrap plastic (this came from a 10-pack of Johnny Lightning die cast cars). I used a fine point Sharpie to do the trace.
http://photos.hobbytalk.com/data/500/medium/DSC02537b.jpg

More in a minute . . .

After using a scissors to cut out my traced circles, the next thing I did was hold my circles above the column and use a Sharpie to trace the outline of the screen housing onto the clear circles. After that, I then cut out the outline from the circle. Here is how it looks after cutting the outline out:
http://photos.hobbytalk.com/data/500/medium/DSC02568b.jpg

We're not done tracing and cutting yet . . . For the caps I bought some .030" thick sheet styrene at my LHS and again used my PVC circle to trace an outline onto the sheet, this time in pencil, however, so it can be cleaned up easily.
http://photos.hobbytalk.com/data/500/medium/DSC02538b.jpg

OK So to finish off the caps, I took the clear circles with the outlines removed that I cut out earlier and placed them on top of the white styrene circles. I used my pencil to trace the cut-out onto the sheet styrene and used a hobby knife to notch the styrene. This pic should give you an idea of what I am talking about if you are still with me:
http://photos.hobbytalk.com/data/500/medium/DSC02570b.jpg

More in a minute . . .

I placed the styrene caps of top of the columns and used the hobby knife to trim and massage things as necessary. A little extra material here and there is easy to trim off to get a nice fit.
http://photos.hobbytalk.com/data/500/medium/DSC02571b.jpg

I used a couple of dabs of silicone to hold the caps on after I had everything trimmed up and here is how the final look turned out:
http://photos.hobbytalk.com/data/500/medium/DSC02572b.jpg

I like that it looks modern and in scale it looks pretty good. I will probably end up placing some trees or shrubs around the bases just to further mask what it actually is.

Here's some more shots of what I've been up to --

Added some sponsorhip logos to the "grass" inside of turn two . . . these are RC car decals:
http://photos.hobbytalk.com/data/500/medium/DSC02575b.jpg

More in a minute . . .

Awesome!

hey Doba...I currently own a 73' lemans

If you want cheap and easy Marlboro track signage, befriend someone who works at a gas station and ask them to save you a few empty carton boxes. I mounted these side panels to my Lego start/finish bridge.
http://photos.hobbytalk.com/data/500/medium/DSC02574b.jpg

Here's a couple of side panels and a few end flaps at the first turn gravel trap:
http://photos.hobbytalk.com/data/500/medium/DSC02576b.jpg

The black Marlboro signage in this pic is from price channels, cut to fit. Again, befriend someone at a gas station and ask them to save this stuff for you. Also, the Monster Lo-Carb decals are cooler labels (and I used them because I chugged probabaly a case of that stuff working on my track in the last year or so!).
http://photos.hobbytalk.com/data/500/medium/DSC02593b.jpg

More in a minute . . .

Here are some of the figures from fleabay seller everydaygoodz glued into the chicane grandstands. There were a couple fatalities at the last race but nothing too severe. Also, I have a few electronic name badges programmed with messages that scroll during the races -- found them online for cheap and ordered up three of them -- you can see two in this pic but they are not turned on.
http://photos.hobbytalk.com/data/500/medium/DSC02592b.jpg

I plan on filling all the grandstands with these people -- will need about 3,000 in all -- and it takes about an hour to glue one grandstand, so good thing I don't have a deadline set for myself. I need some cheap Chinese labor!
http://photos.hobbytalk.com/data/500/medium/DSC02591b.jpg

And I also added a F117 Stealth fly-over for the track :woohoo:
http://photos.hobbytalk.com/data/500/medium/DSC02596b.jpg

So other than all this, I been sitting around doing nothing the last few weeks!

more....more....MORE!!!!!!!

Love the photos. What are your plans for the screens? Are you displaying the race results, or have rolling racing footage of real racing cars? GREAT job on the screen build-up. Very innovative!!! You are the MASTER of Disaster. NO!!! You are the "Master of Plastic"!!! Sorry for all the superlatives, but this is excellent.

Are all your grandstand people standing? Or, did you heat bend them for seating? An idea I had when I creat them standing, was to use clear plastic like you did for the screen tower. Cut the clear into strips and glue the people to the strips. then "barely" tack them to the grandstands. Your silicone idea was great. That would work well. If a car was to pile into the grandstand, it would only knock over the group of spectators which could be easily propped back up. Not causing the carnage of individually glued in people. I did that years ago with 1:87 HO people. It was easier to reassemble them...just thinking out loud.

More phots of your track 'Doba!!!! More, more, more. Jeezzz, I sound like an Andrea True song....:freak:

Gar

Awesome "doba. some great ideas wow you got talent..love what you have done with the track..I'm waiting for the editing system now to show replays of cars flying offf the track on those screens..lol...


Dave

Doba, if my track turns out 1/10 as nice as yours, I will be quite pleased! Small wonder Bill said I should ask YOU about digi-screens when I told him about my planned "Drive-In" theater with cars cutting through the parking lot! Those are VERY cool, man! I'll only need one though. That screen can be hooked up to a standard DVD player, yeah? I want to be able to show movies.

Waaaaaay cool Jumbotron Doba!

The new signage really perks things up...fer cheap! ...And of course clean and neat like all yer work.

Lovin the jumbotrons!

Waitin' for the CCD cameras now!

So other than all this, I been sitting around doing nothing the last few weeks!

Ya know 'doba,,,, We can only tolerate this sort of behavior for a VERY limited time.:rolleyes:... We've tried to be patient with you, and I know I speak for many when I say .... :woohoo: .... just a super nice job. nd

What an excellent idea for those jumbotrons. Thinking about buying some mini cameras and displaying live shots of the action?

AWSOME JOB!!!! HEY, ANY CHANCE OF GETTING THAT '73 GTO BODY ON A TEJ JET CHASSIS????????:thumbsup:

Awesome!

hey Doba...I currently own a 73' lemans

S W E E T :thumbsup:

. . . What are your plans for the screens? Are you displaying the race results, or have rolling racing footage of real racing cars? . . .

I run F1 and sports car races on the screens. I can record them on the cable box and then I go back and burn it to DVD, editing out the commercials and saving the highlights.

I also had Jewel sing the national anthem on the screens before the race this past Thursday :D

The screens are pretty fun -- I can see having them on just when I am putzing around with the track or track testing cars even.

. . . Are all your grandstand people standing? Or, did you heat bend them for seating? . . .

Most of the people I got from everydaygoodz are standing, maybe 5-10 out of a 100 are seated. I didn't try heating and bending them -- it's enough work just gluing them down as it is! ;)

That screen can be hooked up to a standard DVD player, yeah? I want to be able to show movies.

YES -- or a TV. The TV-In is on the other side of the screen from the DVD-In.

Thinking about buying some mini cameras and displaying live shots of the action?

Maybe on some other screens -- these will just be for the DVD player. I know FSMRA (?) Mike is in Wisconsin here and has contacted me about some extra LCD screens and mini-cams he is trying to part with.

AWSOME JOB!!!! HEY, ANY CHANCE OF GETTING THAT '73 GTO BODY ON A TEJ JET CHASSIS????????:thumbsup:

I am sure one of our resin casters on this BB could make it work -- it is one sweet casting. Resin casting is something I want to try this year but I haven't got around to it yet.

AND THANKS FOR ALL THE COMPLIMENTS GUYS! :wave:

Here's a shot of one of the screens turned on:
http://photos.hobbytalk.com/data/500/medium/DSC02599b.jpg

For the cost I am really happy with the picture quality, although it is hard to get a good picture of it! :p

Now I GOTTA have one! :thumbsup! Lead the way, Doba!

Fabulous job 'doba. I've seen this done before, but never with so much attention to detail and superb execution. You've raised the bar ... again.

Fantastic!!! You could even hook up a Can Corder for straight away action shots!!! Looks great Doba!!! Even have a drive-in movie!!! Keep it up man!!! ... RM

Some of you guys Doba,Hilltop,Scafremon and Peacefield raise the bar so high that I may never start detailing my track,much less finish it.How would you all like to come to my house to work.I'm starting a new Foundation,SLOT CARS FOR HUMANITIES.I have to get started somewhere.THANKS TOM STUMPF

Doba,

You got skills and a great imagination! I am inspired by all you have done here....Far Out!

The Marlboro tunnel, tv screens, the need for 3,000 more people (lol that is a lot man...nice,real nice!), and all the other stuff you have done...AWESUM!!!:thumbsup::thumbsup: 2 Thumbs up and a :cool: smiley cause this thread is way KOOL!

I spend way to much time checking out the Custom Car forum here on HT and will start to check the track section more now....Woooooah Man this is some fun stuff to look at....thanks for Sharron.

Bob...zilla

Geez, everytime I come to this board, I see something spectacular and all the sudden, my track is promising to become a whoooole lot more expensive. I gotts to get me one of them!

'doba,
Great stuff!!!! I love the "Jumbo-tron". Love the track too :)

This kind of ingenuity and detailing just makes me wanna hurl. :lol:

"Fantastic" doesn't begin to cover it.

Nicely done, way to take it up a notch.
Looks like I need to start putting away a little extra when it comes time for my rebuild.

thats 1 of da baddest a things ive ever seen on a track!nice job:thumbsup:beers toya

I wish my track looked that nice...Now all you need is the interactive pylon.

Thanks for the inspiration.

Doba,
great idea and great job! :thumbsup::thumbsup: rr

Dobe awesome really !

It would be cool if you could get the TrackMate screen replicated on the the billboards. Better yet, maybe put some track level web cams around the track and stream the video to the billboards. Call it Thumb Cam...

It would be cool if you could get the TrackMate screen replicated on the the billboards. Better yet, maybe put some track level web cams around the track and stream the video to the billboards. Call it Thumb Cam...

There is actually a girl who races in the local HO champ car league that did that at her track. She has the mini-cam in turn one and displays the pic on the widescreen TV. It looks pretty cool because the camera is so low it is kind of like the "speed shot" you see on TV all the time with the camera mounted on the wall aimed at the cars as they whip past.

Tired of the orange-ish, cream-ish walls in the cave so started some cave painting this past week . . .
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee75/1976Cordoba/cave2.jpg

This area is done by the big road course and looks better already . . .
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee75/1976Cordoba/cave1.jpg

Cool pic from Sunday morning of the sunlight coming thru the basement windows across the forest and racetrack . . .
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee75/1976Cordoba/forest.jpg

The new color on the wall seems to lighten things up a bit... looks real good. So does that photo of the early light on the the snowy trees -- cool! :thumbsup::thumbsup:

Thanks for this week's desktop background Doba! :D Nothing like the smell of pine trees in the early morning!!! Bummer you missed the fog lifting photo op! :tongue:

I totally missed this thread, as it predated my start here on HT, and I didn't catch it in the archives. Thanks for bringing it to the top. As with all your threads, highly informative with great pics and how to's!!!!! :thumbsup::thumbsup:

great thread. thanks for the pictures.

Great track with great ideas! love the moniters :thumbsup:

A lap er so with a bone stock JL Thunderjet that I got from Slotcarman Joe, as shot left-handed from the far right driver's station. Thought it might be fun to show a driver's view of things.

http://s235.photobucket.com/albums/ee75/1976Cordoba/?action=view&current=DSCN2623.mp4

All I did was swap on some PVT silicones. Think this is one of my better running JLs. At least until I dumped it. :thumbsup:

Let me know if this vid works . . . seems like Photobucket changed some stuff since the last time I used it.

Seems to work fine.Cool track.
>Tom<

Quick lil sucker!! :lol:

Awesome, 'doba! Track looks great in action. Pretty fine sliding action, too!! :thumbsup::thumbsup: