RCCrawler Forums

junkxj · 01-25-2009, 07:44 PM

We've been wanting to build an indoor course for a long time. Searched the threads on here for hours looking for ideas. Never found exaclty what we were looking for, however we got a lot of good ideas from those that were posted. We wanted something large that would keep us busy and also allow us to have "small" indoor comps. Also wanted something that would allow us to gain significant elevation with good off camber and climb sections.

We thought about using real rock (we have plenty of river rock locally) but that is just too much work and I didn't want it to be difficult to move (this is located at work in my shop). So finally after a lot of coaxing to my good friend THYROADS (whom also works at my shop) it finally was started...he has done the majority of work on this project.

90% of the materials used we have laying around the shop.

Started with large heavy wall cardboard boxes, pallets, crates and scrap pieces of plywood/boards. All this material allowed us to gain the height we were looking for without needing a lot of filler material

I sell hydraulic extrication equipment which is where we have got most of the course materials from. All of the equipment is packaged using this expandable foam. This stuff has made for great terrain building due to the different sizes and shapes.

After all the sub-structure is complete we be laying a burlap material over all of it which will be soaked in a mortar mix. It measures about 14' on the right side from start to the wall and around 9' on the left leg. The rear corner rises to a height of 8'. Any comments or suggestions, jump in?

JPH Racing · 01-25-2009, 10:33 PM

Looks like you're off to a great start! You might want to think about how your card board and 2x4's will handle the weight? It would suck to have the whole think sink to the ground under the weight!

finishline · 01-26-2009, 12:20 AM

nice start, looks to be pretty difficult in spots

junkxj · 01-26-2009, 01:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JPH Racing

Looks like you're off to a great start! You might want to think about how your card board and 2x4's will handle the weight? It would suck to have the whole think sink to the ground under the weight!

Thanks, The cardboard and boxes are for mock up, we'll be replacing them with cut down pallets.

thyroads · 01-26-2009, 04:54 PM

It'll never work.

champ7times · 01-26-2009, 05:20 PM

i think you might need more support legs

K Riccardi · 01-26-2009, 07:43 PM

You have alot of work to do before the 13th. You may need to hire another Todd.

KR

backroads · 01-27-2009, 06:08 PM

We just built a course at our local track using mortar mix on half of it. The problem we ran in to was the mix didn't like to stick to the sack. And after it dried it started to crack, then if the trucks hit it alot it started breaking and turned it back into a pouwder. The other half of the track we used a stuff called block bond, it has ground up fiberglass and a dry wall looking mix, just add water and start spreading. When it dried it had lots of traction and was hard as a rock. The good thing was it only took one layer instead of 2 or 3 like the mortar.

d-fly · 01-27-2009, 06:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by backroads

The problem we ran in to was the mix didn't like to stick to the sack.

Hate when that happends

junkxj · 01-27-2009, 06:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by backroads

We just built a course at our local track using mortar mix on half of it. The problem we ran in to was the mix didn't like to stick to the sack. And after it dried it started to crack, then if the trucks hit it alot it started breaking and turned it back into a pouwder. The other half of the track we used a stuff called block bond, it has ground up fiberglass and a dry wall looking mix, just add water and start spreading. When it dried it had lots of traction and was hard as a rock. The good thing was it only took one layer instead of 2 or 3 like the mortar.

Thanks for the info...got any pics of the part you used the "block bond" on and where did you find it?

Harvo · 01-27-2009, 09:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by d-fly

Hate when that happends

:-P

junkxj · 01-28-2009, 06:53 PM

Since the mock up was complete we went back and shored everything up so it wouldn't be laying on the floor when we came in tommorow morning

. Also layed some cardboard down to help keep the excess mortar off the floor.

The foam packing was loose in a lot of places so we used a combination on staples, duct tape and great stuff to secure and stabilize them to the base.

Found these at Wal-Mart in the Hunting section. We cut them into manageable sections then saturated them in our Mortar/Sand Topping mixture.

junkxj · 01-28-2009, 07:04 PM

This is where we are so far, we'll see what it looks like in the morning

Also 35TURN has been a huge help and done a lot of work on this project, I'm sure he'll chime in here eventually.

On the funny side of all this we asked ourselves this evening "How in the hell did we get to this point in life"

backroads · 01-28-2009, 07:13 PM

We went to Lowe's and got the block bond but it is probably at Home Depot. It is a little more expensive but you don't have to use as much. After were done we are going to paint it grey and put some sand in the paint for more grip. The piece that we put block bond I built out of expanded metal and square tubing, took the plasma cutter and cut up piece and welded them together to make it look like a big rock with valleys and steep angles. Then we took spray adhesive and glued the burlap sack to it and the guys put the block bond on top of that. We have some pics at www.okrcrc.net/forum.htm under competition in the Enid indoor comp. There isn't any pics of the block bond but there is pics of the mortar mix and how it is breaking up and cracking.

backroads · 01-28-2009, 07:16 PM

That is looking sweet, if it starts breaking up you can put the block bon over the top of it. We put our on plywood that were 4ft x4ft so we could move them around to change the course.

dangoturbodiese · 01-28-2009, 07:38 PM

junkxj, thyroads thats a really great idea i have stared on mine in the shop also and its off to a great start post more pics when its complete

finishline · 01-28-2009, 07:46 PM

looks great guys

Rokpile · 01-28-2009, 10:36 PM

awsome idea, would love to see videos or pics of a couple of crawlers on it. don't forget to get some work done though,

junkxj · 01-29-2009, 08:16 AM

Thanks for all the comments and ideas

We're not finished with it yet, have about 40-50 more square ft of terrain to construct. And as it starts getting used and falling apart we'll try to incorporate some of the other suggestions such as BACKROADS.

35turn · 01-29-2009, 02:02 PM

Alot easier to build than that pile of rocks in my backyard!

01-25-2009, 07:44 PM	#1
junkxj Got Rocks? Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Shen Valley VA Posts: 107	SV4WRC's Indoor Course We've been wanting to build an indoor course for a long time. Searched the threads on here for hours looking for ideas. Never found exaclty what we were looking for, however we got a lot of good ideas from those that were posted. We wanted something large that would keep us busy and also allow us to have "small" indoor comps. Also wanted something that would allow us to gain significant elevation with good off camber and climb sections. We thought about using real rock (we have plenty of river rock locally) but that is just too much work and I didn't want it to be difficult to move (this is located at work in my shop). So finally after a lot of coaxing to my good friend THYROADS (whom also works at my shop) it finally was started...he has done the majority of work on this project. 90% of the materials used we have laying around the shop. Started with large heavy wall cardboard boxes, pallets, crates and scrap pieces of plywood/boards. All this material allowed us to gain the height we were looking for without needing a lot of filler material I sell hydraulic extrication equipment which is where we have got most of the course materials from. All of the equipment is packaged using this expandable foam. This stuff has made for great terrain building due to the different sizes and shapes. After all the sub-structure is complete we be laying a burlap material over all of it which will be soaked in a mortar mix. It measures about 14' on the right side from start to the wall and around 9' on the left leg. The rear corner rises to a height of 8'. Any comments or suggestions, jump in? Last edited by junkxj; 01-25-2009 at 08:08 PM.

01-28-2009, 06:53 PM	#12
junkxj Got Rocks? Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Shen Valley VA Posts: 107	Since the mock up was complete we went back and shored everything up so it wouldn't be laying on the floor when we came in tommorow morning. Also layed some cardboard down to help keep the excess mortar off the floor. The foam packing was loose in a lot of places so we used a combination on staples, duct tape and great stuff to secure and stabilize them to the base. Found these at Wal-Mart in the Hunting section. We cut them into manageable sections then saturated them in our Mortar/Sand Topping mixture. Last edited by junkxj; 01-29-2009 at 07:52 AM.

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01-25-2009, 10:33 PM	#2
JPH Racing RCC Addict Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Rohnert Park Posts: 1,093	Looks like you're off to a great start! You might want to think about how your card board and 2x4's will handle the weight? It would suck to have the whole think sink to the ground under the weight!

01-26-2009, 12:20 AM	#3
finishline RCC Addict Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: CALI "209" Posts: 1,970	nice start, looks to be pretty difficult in spots

01-26-2009, 04:54 PM	#5
thyroads Newbie Join Date: May 2008 Location: H'burg VA Posts: 16	It'll never work.

01-26-2009, 05:20 PM	#6
champ7times Pebble Pounder Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: middle river Posts: 171	i think you might need more support legs

01-26-2009, 07:43 PM	#7
K Riccardi Quarry Creeper Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Sykesville MD Posts: 437	You have alot of work to do before the 13th. You may need to hire another Todd. KR

01-27-2009, 06:08 PM	#8
backroads Newbie Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Waukomis Posts: 7	We just built a course at our local track using mortar mix on half of it. The problem we ran in to was the mix didn't like to stick to the sack. And after it dried it started to crack, then if the trucks hit it alot it started breaking and turned it back into a pouwder. The other half of the track we used a stuff called block bond, it has ground up fiberglass and a dry wall looking mix, just add water and start spreading. When it dried it had lots of traction and was hard as a rock. The good thing was it only took one layer instead of 2 or 3 like the mortar.

01-28-2009, 07:04 PM	#13
junkxj Got Rocks? Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Shen Valley VA Posts: 107	This is where we are so far, we'll see what it looks like in the morning Also 35TURN has been a huge help and done a lot of work on this project, I'm sure he'll chime in here eventually. On the funny side of all this we asked ourselves this evening "How in the hell did we get to this point in life"

01-28-2009, 07:13 PM	#14
backroads Newbie Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Waukomis Posts: 7	We went to Lowe's and got the block bond but it is probably at Home Depot. It is a little more expensive but you don't have to use as much. After were done we are going to paint it grey and put some sand in the paint for more grip. The piece that we put block bond I built out of expanded metal and square tubing, took the plasma cutter and cut up piece and welded them together to make it look like a big rock with valleys and steep angles. Then we took spray adhesive and glued the burlap sack to it and the guys put the block bond on top of that. We have some pics at www.okrcrc.net/forum.htm under competition in the Enid indoor comp. There isn't any pics of the block bond but there is pics of the mortar mix and how it is breaking up and cracking.

01-28-2009, 07:16 PM	#15
backroads Newbie Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Waukomis Posts: 7	That is looking sweet, if it starts breaking up you can put the block bon over the top of it. We put our on plywood that were 4ft x4ft so we could move them around to change the course.

01-28-2009, 07:38 PM	#16
dangoturbodiese Newbie Join Date: May 2008 Location: johnstown Posts: 11	junkxj, thyroads thats a really great idea i have stared on mine in the shop also and its off to a great start post more pics when its complete

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01-28-2009, 07:46 PM	#17
finishline RCC Addict Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: CALI "209" Posts: 1,970	looks great guys

01-28-2009, 10:36 PM	#18
Rokpile Quarry Creeper Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Tumwater Wa. Posts: 345	awsome idea, would love to see videos or pics of a couple of crawlers on it. don't forget to get some work done though,

01-29-2009, 08:16 AM	#19
junkxj Got Rocks? Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Shen Valley VA Posts: 107	Thanks for all the comments and ideas We're not finished with it yet, have about 40-50 more square ft of terrain to construct. And as it starts getting used and falling apart we'll try to incorporate some of the other suggestions such as BACKROADS.

01-29-2009, 02:02 PM	#20
35turn Newbie Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Mount Solon,VA Posts: 9	Alot easier to build than that pile of rocks in my backyard!

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Thread: SV4WRC's Indoor Course