RCCrawler Forums

wrightcs77 · 10-04-2006, 06:08 PM

I want to build an indoor crawling course in my basement for the winter (live in MN). What should I build? What should I use to make obstacles? I have about 800 sq. ft. to actually use (basement is about 1,100 sq ft). I bought a fountain pump to make a small waterfall. I plan on having a large cardboard drum (55 gallon) with ends off and do a 180 inside of it (saw on a full size course). I will have some natural rock, at least one bridge. I was thinking of possibly using chicken wire to shape, paper mache it, then cover with cheap spray on bed liner? Think this would work? Thanks for any input.

Casey

gregrocks90046 · 10-04-2006, 06:44 PM

we crawl on a man made course made by RCP tracks. it was carved styrofoam, then sprayed with bedliner. works great!

guywhohatesdishes · 10-04-2006, 07:57 PM

Siouf Falls SD here, let me know when you get your basement set up.

Bronco Fetish · 10-04-2006, 08:01 PM

Coon Rapids, MN here, lemme know when its set up.

If I were you I'd just get a pickup full of rocks and dump em in your basement

LIKES2CRAWL · 10-04-2006, 11:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wrightcs77

I was thinking of possibly using chicken wire to shape, paper mache it, then cover with cheap spray on bed liner? Think this would work? Thanks for any input.

Casey

I think the chicken wire with fiberglass sheet and resin would be better than paper mache, but sound cool let's see some pics. and video when your done.

TLTCrawlin · 10-04-2006, 11:32 PM

find a thing you want to form, maybe a big pile of rocks somewhere, put the stuff they use for casts over it, make it wet and let it dry and it will form it good and you can put it where you want, I want to try it some day, You could always get some firm foam and cut it all up and rhinoline it!!

LIKES2CRAWL · 10-04-2006, 11:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ClodCrawlin

find a thing you want to form, maybe a big pile of rocks somewhere, put the stuff they use for casts over it, make it wet and let it dry and it will form it good and you can put it where you want, I want to try it some day, You could always get some firm foam and cut it all up and rhinoline it!!

Yea cause everybody can go out and buy cast material!

run2jeepn · 10-04-2006, 11:52 PM

Buy about 50 cans of that expanding foam and them crave or do what ever you want to it. Throw some sand on it when it's still tacky and then spray paint it what ever colors you want. Just an idea.

It would cost like 100 bucks to do that.

TLTCrawlin · 10-04-2006, 11:57 PM

anyone can buy cast material.... and where to get the ex. foam?

bobbo27 · 10-05-2006, 12:21 AM

Any hardware store has that stuff. I think its called great stuff actually.

run2jeepn · 10-05-2006, 12:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bobbo27

Any hardware store has that stuff. I think its called great stuff actually.

Thats what I was thinking of. Just couldn't remember the name of it.

Numbchux · 10-05-2006, 01:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LIKES2CRAWL

Yea cause everybody can go out and buy cast material!

plaster of paris can be purchased at any local hardware store, lowes, menards, home depot etc.

but would be hard to make, and heavy

expanding foam would be perfect. can get it just about any of the above listed stores. for less than a couple bucks each. and I bet you'd only need about 5 cans of it. it goes ALONG way. I'm thinking about using it for a small rock crawl display for my offroad models. or styrafoam, but that stuff is a mess!!

wrightcs77 · 10-05-2006, 08:20 AM

I will check today, but is there an off brand of expanding foam that is not as expensive? The weight isn't a huge deal, as long as it isn't a few thousand pounds on my basement floor. I will have some natural rock and boulders, as long as I can get them in my house. It will be built mainly for 2.2 class, as that is what I have. But, I do want to make it difficult so I don't get bored over the winter.

What to people think about the 55 gallon drum? I was thinking to cover the inside with sandpaper or shingles (for grip) and then put 1 cone on the inside that you would have to go around. Seems like it would be pretty difficult, but hey, that is the whole purpose.

Was also thinking of doing some "trials" things, like a teetor totter with a post in the middle that sticks up and holds a tennis ball. If you can go accross and not make the tennis ball fall off, then your good. If the tennis ball falls off, then you get a 10 point penalty. Just a thought, saw this on some RC DVD a while back.

Thinking of making a side hill out of a 4x8 sheet of something, then you can adjust the pitch of the hill as needed. Sounds like there was a lot of side hilling at Nationals, so I need to build something with a good sidehill.

Thanks for the ideas and keep the coming.

Thanks,
Casey

TLTCrawlin · 10-05-2006, 08:20 AM

I know people that make 4' x 8' tracks for TTTT and they arent very heavy!!

mazdaparts · 10-06-2006, 09:26 PM

It all sounds like great ideas. I'll add one as well. If you use the great stuff foam, lay down some plastic drop cloths so you can remove it come spring time. That stuff is stick and will stick to concrete. I used some great stuff on a cardboard box I opened up to lay flat for some testing purposes. It does work great, its cheap and light. Plus you can use a knife or saw to shape it.

speedsport22 · 10-06-2006, 10:07 PM

Wrightcs77. We have a club if you have not found it yet. It is in my sig. We are all ways looking for new members.

Cubman · 10-06-2006, 10:51 PM

Has anyone actually tested the durability of Great Stuff? It seems like it would crumble or flake if the crawler's tires spun at all.

john vevea · 10-06-2006, 11:16 PM

hay it's john the guy that set up the course at the RC X games if your going to use foam their nare some places in mn that sell it for insulation on the bottom of trailers for semi trucks same stuff comes in two parts 5gal buckets and gun to mix the stuff and its a lot cheaper than single cans I live in coon rapids and know a carpenter if you want my help let me know I'll bring the beer

mnrcrockcrawlers.com

freetimecrawler · 10-06-2006, 11:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by speedsport22

Wrightcs77. We have a club if you have not found it yet. It is in my sig. We are all ways looking for new members.

Wrightcs77 is Casey, he's crawled with us before, he was also at the X-games.

john vevea · 10-06-2006, 11:21 PM

will he be comming on sunday

10-04-2006, 06:08 PM	#1
wrightcs77 RCC Addict Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Minneapolis Posts: 1,496	Indoor crawling course I want to build an indoor crawling course in my basement for the winter (live in MN). What should I build? What should I use to make obstacles? I have about 800 sq. ft. to actually use (basement is about 1,100 sq ft). I bought a fountain pump to make a small waterfall. I plan on having a large cardboard drum (55 gallon) with ends off and do a 180 inside of it (saw on a full size course). I will have some natural rock, at least one bridge. I was thinking of possibly using chicken wire to shape, paper mache it, then cover with cheap spray on bed liner? Think this would work? Thanks for any input. Casey

10-04-2006, 07:57 PM	#3
guywhohatesdishes Newbie Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Sioux Falls Posts: 19	Let me know when Siouf Falls SD here, let me know when you get your basement set up.

10-06-2006, 11:16 PM	#18
john vevea Newbie Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: coon rapids Posts: 18	basement crawling hay it's john the guy that set up the course at the RC X games if your going to use foam their nare some places in mn that sell it for insulation on the bottom of trailers for semi trucks same stuff comes in two parts 5gal buckets and gun to mix the stuff and its a lot cheaper than single cans I live in coon rapids and know a carpenter if you want my help let me know I'll bring the beer mnrcrockcrawlers.com

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10-04-2006, 06:44 PM	#2
gregrocks90046 RCC Addict Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Crawlifornia Uber Alles Posts: 1,146	we crawl on a man made course made by RCP tracks. it was carved styrofoam, then sprayed with bedliner. works great!

10-04-2006, 08:01 PM	#4
Bronco Fetish Rock Stacker Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Princeton, MN Posts: 64	Coon Rapids, MN here, lemme know when its set up. If I were you I'd just get a pickup full of rocks and dump em in your basement

10-04-2006, 11:32 PM	#6
TLTCrawlin I wanna be Dave Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Eastern WA Posts: 2,489	find a thing you want to form, maybe a big pile of rocks somewhere, put the stuff they use for casts over it, make it wet and let it dry and it will form it good and you can put it where you want, I want to try it some day, You could always get some firm foam and cut it all up and rhinoline it!!

10-04-2006, 11:52 PM	#8
run2jeepn I wanna be Dave Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: USA Posts: 11,196	Buy about 50 cans of that expanding foam and them crave or do what ever you want to it. Throw some sand on it when it's still tacky and then spray paint it what ever colors you want. Just an idea. It would cost like 100 bucks to do that.

10-04-2006, 11:57 PM	#9
TLTCrawlin I wanna be Dave Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Eastern WA Posts: 2,489	anyone can buy cast material.... and where to get the ex. foam?

10-05-2006, 12:21 AM	#10
bobbo27 Pebble Pounder Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Rapid City Posts: 156	Any hardware store has that stuff. I think its called great stuff actually.

10-05-2006, 08:20 AM	#13
wrightcs77 RCC Addict Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Minneapolis Posts: 1,496	I will check today, but is there an off brand of expanding foam that is not as expensive? The weight isn't a huge deal, as long as it isn't a few thousand pounds on my basement floor. I will have some natural rock and boulders, as long as I can get them in my house. It will be built mainly for 2.2 class, as that is what I have. But, I do want to make it difficult so I don't get bored over the winter. What to people think about the 55 gallon drum? I was thinking to cover the inside with sandpaper or shingles (for grip) and then put 1 cone on the inside that you would have to go around. Seems like it would be pretty difficult, but hey, that is the whole purpose. Was also thinking of doing some "trials" things, like a teetor totter with a post in the middle that sticks up and holds a tennis ball. If you can go accross and not make the tennis ball fall off, then your good. If the tennis ball falls off, then you get a 10 point penalty. Just a thought, saw this on some RC DVD a while back. Thinking of making a side hill out of a 4x8 sheet of something, then you can adjust the pitch of the hill as needed. Sounds like there was a lot of side hilling at Nationals, so I need to build something with a good sidehill. Thanks for the ideas and keep the coming. Thanks, Casey

10-06-2006, 09:26 PM	#15
mazdaparts Quarry Creeper Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Oran, MO Posts: 347	It all sounds like great ideas. I'll add one as well. If you use the great stuff foam, lay down some plastic drop cloths so you can remove it come spring time. That stuff is stick and will stick to concrete. I used some great stuff on a cardboard box I opened up to lay flat for some testing purposes. It does work great, its cheap and light. Plus you can use a knife or saw to shape it.

10-06-2006, 10:07 PM	#16
speedsport22 Pebble Pounder Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Mankato, MN Posts: 109	Wrightcs77. We have a club if you have not found it yet. It is in my sig. We are all ways looking for new members.

10-06-2006, 10:51 PM	#17
Cubman Rock Crawler Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Oak Ridge Posts: 590	Has anyone actually tested the durability of Great Stuff? It seems like it would crumble or flake if the crawler's tires spun at all.

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10-06-2006, 11:21 PM	#20
john vevea Newbie Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: coon rapids Posts: 18	will he be comming on sunday

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