My Backyard Course build
 

Well I've been out of RC for a bit and now that my son is older it's time to get back into things. So before I start dusting off the rigs and ordering batteries I figured I'd better build us a track. It's not a very large area, not sure of the actual size but it's big enough and behind the garage so I have free reign.


I started this project last year and have been working on it in my free time. I've finally gotten some real time to devote to it so I hope to finish it before winter, if winter is still a thing.

Here's the Area. I'm planning a small rally course, rock racing section, crawler area and a mud/swamp area for the trucks. The muddy areas will be drainage/retention areas for rain run off.


http://ripper7racing.com/ripper/myim...ng/flym001.jpg


After quite a few hours of shovel work and pick axe work I had a clear layout.


http://ripper7racing.com/ripper/myim...ng/flym002.jpg

I'm using debris to start the basic shapes of the hills, I want a Utah sort of look.


http://ripper7racing.com/ripper/myim...ng/flym003.jpg



http://ripper7racing.com/ripper/myim...ng/flym004.jpg

The retention pond will be where the scale mud course begins.

http://ripper7racing.com/ripper/myim...ng/flym005.jpg


So I continued to build the hills up with debris and dirt left over from construction. I dug and redug drainage ditches, they will be great for mudding but are primarily for run off. There is 2 small retention areas to help with the run off, it's something you have to deal with when you don't live in a planned community. With leaves falling and weeds growing you can really see time passing in these photos.

http://ripper7racing.com/ripper/myim.../flym00001.jpg

http://ripper7racing.com/ripper/myim.../flym00002.jpg

http://ripper7racing.com/ripper/myim.../flym00003.jpg

http://ripper7racing.com/ripper/myim.../flym00004.jpg

http://ripper7racing.com/ripper/myim.../flym00005.jpg

http://ripper7racing.com/ripper/myim.../flym00006.jpg

http://ripper7racing.com/ripper/myim.../flym00007.jpg

http://ripper7racing.com/ripper/myim.../flym00008.jpg

http://ripper7racing.com/ripper/myim.../flym00009.jpg

http://ripper7racing.com/ripper/myim.../flym00010.jpg

http://ripper7racing.com/ripper/myim.../flym00011.jpg

http://ripper7racing.com/ripper/myim.../flym00012.jpg

http://ripper7racing.com/ripper/myim.../flym00013.jpg

http://ripper7racing.com/ripper/myim.../flym00014.jpg

http://ripper7racing.com/ripper/myim.../flym00015.jpg

http://ripper7racing.com/ripper/myim.../flym00016.jpg

http://ripper7racing.com/ripper/myim.../flym00017.jpg

Re: My Backyard Course build
 

I ran out of left over dirt, so I had 10 tons delivered, we just had the driveway put in so the dirt will have to go in the street. I think you can tell the priority all this time has been in the front yard, but now it's time to really start working on the track and backyard.

http://ripper7racing.com/ripper/myim.../flym00018.jpg

http://ripper7racing.com/ripper/myim.../flym00019.jpg

Here is the latest addition, this was a sidewalk I installed and than changed my mind about, make sure you really want a sidewalk BEFORE installing it.

http://ripper7racing.com/ripper/myim.../flym00020.jpg



Some more added debris piles

http://ripper7racing.com/ripper/myim.../flym00021.jpg

After a lot of roundup

http://ripper7racing.com/ripper/myim.../flym00022.jpg

This is all my loose rock that will be added at the end.

http://ripper7racing.com/ripper/myim.../flym00023.jpg


After a whole lot of dirt moving. Keep in mind it's just me, a shovel, and a very tired lawn mower and trailer.

http://ripper7racing.com/ripper/myim.../flym00024.jpg

http://ripper7racing.com/ripper/myim.../flym00025.jpg

http://ripper7racing.com/ripper/myim.../flym00026.jpg

http://ripper7racing.com/ripper/myim.../flym00027.jpg

http://ripper7racing.com/ripper/myim.../flym00028.jpg


Time for some testing. It felt good to finally drive an rc again. I forgot how much I enjoy it.

http://ripper7racing.com/ripper/myim.../flym00029.jpg

http://ripper7racing.com/ripper/myim.../flym00030.jpg

http://ripper7racing.com/ripper/myim.../flym00031.jpg

http://ripper7racing.com/ripper/myim.../flym00032.jpg

http://ripper7racing.com/ripper/myim.../flym00033.jpg

http://ripper7racing.com/ripper/myim.../flym00034.jpg


Alright back to work, I started doing some basic shaping and dug out around the hills. I also went back and dug out the areas between the hills, just making things more interesting.


http://ripper7racing.com/ripper/myim.../flym00035.jpg

http://ripper7racing.com/ripper/myim.../flym00036.jpg

http://ripper7racing.com/ripper/myim.../flym00037.jpg




The time has finally come, I have some portland and a trailer full of sand, let's pour......


http://ripper7racing.com/ripper/myim.../flym00039.jpg

http://ripper7racing.com/ripper/myim.../flym00040.jpg

http://ripper7racing.com/ripper/myim.../flym00041.jpg

http://ripper7racing.com/ripper/myim.../flym00042.jpg


This is two different pours, we have rain in the forecast so I can only pour what I can cover. Unfortunately the cement leaked into my gloves and I got cement burns on two fingers so it will be a few days before I can pour more.

Re: My Backyard Course build
 

Looks really good, I wish I had that much extra room in my yard for a couple tracks "thumbsup""thumbsup"

Re: My Backyard Course build
 

that looks really good! How did you keep the portland on there, w/o it running? Mix it up really thick?

Re: My Backyard Course build
 

I seem to remember a similar set-up (with poured and shaped concrete) and a nice little water feature from back in the RCD forum days. I kept some pics of it somewhere as inspiration for my course. Did you have one of these previously?

Welcome back BTW!

Re: My Backyard Course build
 

I'll crawl a local drainage ditch with concrete poured similarly. They have big rocks under, in, and loose on top of the concrete too. It works so well I'm thinking of doing the same. Make some forms with heavy cardboard light enough to be moved around.

Re: My Backyard Course build
 

Thanks everyone, weather should be clear tomorrow so I'll get more done tomorrow and some new pics.


Yea it's a thick sand portland mix that I apply by hand similar to troweling.

I will see if I can't get one of my kids to video me applying the mortar, no way for me to work a camera and work the mortar.




Yea I had a small course at my last house.

Re: My Backyard Course build
 

Talk about a sight for sore eyes! Loving the new course! Glad to have ya back.

Re: My Backyard Course build
 

Are you useing bags of Portland ?? If so how many did it take to make that first one??

Re: My Backyard Course build
 

Good to see you to daniel, time flies don't it.


Yes I'm using bags of portland not to be confused with premixed concrete. I'm mixing 1 part portland to 3.5/4 parts mason sand.


So far I have used 1 yard masons sand and 3 bags portland.


Sorry for the delay, my wife fell down a flight of stairs at work on wednesday, so we've been in and out of the doctors the last few days. All looks good, nothing broken that they can see, tweaked ankle and bruised tail bone and pride.

These pics were from tuesday... Started with some basic shaping and than more concrete.

http://ripper7racing.com/ripper/myim.../flym00044.jpg

http://ripper7racing.com/ripper/myim.../flym00045.jpg

http://ripper7racing.com/ripper/myim.../flym00046.jpg

http://ripper7racing.com/ripper/myim.../flym00047.jpg

http://ripper7racing.com/ripper/myim.../flym00048.jpg



Time for some testing.


http://ripper7racing.com/ripper/myim.../flym00049.jpg

http://ripper7racing.com/ripper/myim.../flym00050.jpg

http://ripper7racing.com/ripper/myim.../flym00051.jpg



A LOT more to go.

http://ripper7racing.com/ripper/myim.../flym00052.jpg

http://ripper7racing.com/ripper/myim.../flym00053.jpg


I just picked up 3 more bags of portland and another yard of sand.....

Re: My Backyard Course build
 

Dude that is just flat out awsome... Great work..

Re: My Backyard Course build
 

Great job my friend. Looks like it's going to turn into one hell of a carnage creator. Definitely following this build. "thumbsup"

Re: My Backyard Course build
 

Sorry about not posting, been busy, the wife fell at work again but this time she hit her head on a metal pole, guess she went back to work too soon. So we had a crazy week with ER visits cat scans doctors work releases etc. The good news is she's fine, her ankle is still really sore and she has to be extra careful when she puts weight on it, but all in all shes good.


I did manage to pour two more rocks, which finishes off this section.


http://ripper7racing.com/ripper/myim.../flym00054.jpg


http://ripper7racing.com/ripper/myim.../flym00055.jpg


http://ripper7racing.com/ripper/myim.../flym00056.jpg


http://ripper7racing.com/ripper/myim.../flym00057.jpg

Re: My Backyard Course build
 

That course is really coming together nicely. Can't wait to see it with scenery on it.

Re: My Backyard Course build
 

Looking good!"thumbsup"

Re: My Backyard Course build
 

Wow, the course looks great! Really impressed. Can't wait to see how it progresses.

Hope the wife is on the mend.

Re: My Backyard Course build
 

Looks great! I may just steal this technique for finishing my crawler course! Tell your wife to take it easy and heal up before rushing back...the work will still be there!

Re: My Backyard Course build
 

Need video of it being ran...

Re: My Backyard Course build
 

Yea the wife knows to slow down now.....

I can't wait to get to scenery, not sure how much scenery I can do with 4 english bulldogs, boxer, boston and a pig. So anything built has to be tough. I do have a 3 bridge sequence planned and of course some plants and probably some rally track scenery.


A video will be coming as soon as I can make time.


Well I haven't poured any more concrete, but I have done some shaping and some color tests. So I should be ready for more concrete on monday.

Here are some pics of the whole area.

http://ripper7racing.com/ripper/myim.../flym00058.jpg

http://ripper7racing.com/ripper/myim.../flym00059.jpg

http://ripper7racing.com/ripper/myim.../flym00060.jpg

http://ripper7racing.com/ripper/myim.../flym00061.jpg

http://ripper7racing.com/ripper/myim.../flym00062.jpg

http://ripper7racing.com/ripper/myim.../flym00063.jpg

http://ripper7racing.com/ripper/myim.../flym00064.jpg

http://ripper7racing.com/ripper/myim.../flym00065.jpg

Re: My Backyard Course build
 

Very nice build buddy, I really like they way you made the rocks!