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Home
Track
Building
Braid |
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| Constructing the Track
- Braid |
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| Braid |
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The braid was available from
a slotcar distributor; it was
sold in spools of 500 or 1,000
feet and cost about .13 per
foot. The braid width was about
1/4", the thickness was
about .030".
Contact cement was used to glue
the braid to the track surface.
A little over 1 can was required
for the complete track. To make
the application easier, the
glue was put into a plastic
squeeze bottle which had a hole
about 3/32" to lay a bead
of glue in the braid recess
and on the bottom of the braid.
The braid roller was made by
my brother - a steel wheel was
fabricated to roll in the slot
and press the braid on both
sides simultaneously.
The process took a few hours
per section. The glue was pretty
toxic - I would recommend wearing
a mask and working in a well
ventilated area.
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Braid roller, 1,000 foot spool
of braid, and contact cement.
Applying the first coat of contact
cement to two pieces of braid.
The overpass, made of 2 sections,
was joined into a single section
prior to applying the braid.
A section with all four lanes
braided.
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- The braid for each of the
lanes of the section was measured
and cut.
- The braid for one lane was
layed out on a scrap of MDF
and held in place using two
files.
- The first coat of contact
cement was applied to the
braid.
- The first coat of contact
cement was applied to the
braid recess on the track.
- The second coat of contact
cement was applied to the
braid.
- Leaving a 6 inch pigtail
at the left, the braid was
laid from left to right into
the braid recess.
- Using the braid roller,
the braid was pressed to ensure
a tight bond.
- The ends of the braid were
trimmed leaving 1-1/2"
for attaching the braid from
the adjacent section with
a wire nut.
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