 
To make the barriers, I use 1/2" thick foam core board. It comes in 20" x 30" sheets. I measure what length I need and cut a 3" wide strip. From the center of the length, I score a line 1" apart towards the ends. You don't have to cut all the way through - cut just enough to penetrate the paper layer and a little foam. Once all of your cuts are made, bend the piece and it will "snap" on the cuts. This allows you to bend it to your diameter as needed. From here you can paint the barriers and add your signage or whatever you want. To attach it to your track, screw the foam core to the track using 1" sheet rock screws and attach at the sides. You only need three or four screws. These can be filled later or hidden with scenery and paint. If you want to add lighting to you track, you can epoxy the light fixtures onto the foam core and hide the wire inside it using a big paper-clip to push the wire through. Tools: A razor knife (really sharp blades are necessary, do not use old ones or they will tear the foam core). A straight-edge, a Tee Square, a Phillips head screw driver and a tape measure. COST? $5.00 for all of my track. Best thing about it? My track no longer looks like it is mounted on top of a table, now it looks like it's part of the table because the barriers hide the edges of the plastic track making it look natural. I also have a problem with cars lifting off my track coming off my bridge. I have an elevated area at the end of the bridge. This was designed to slow cars down. Cars enter a 22 degree corner and downhill. The bad part is my cars tend to leave their slots and fly off the track. I fixed this by adding the barriers and then extending the wall up using hardboard (hardened poster board) so the cars will stay in the track area. This saves the cars from hitting my concrete basement floor and breaking them apart. FYI: My track rules are that all cars must be stock - no super motors. Magnets are permitted. I made the track difficult to race on so cars will run the circuit more realistically. I do want a long run for speed but I am more concerned with making the race more realistic for the drivers. My 13 year old actually beats her brothers and even me when we race. She figured out how to go through the corners so she won't crash. Speed isn't necessary, driver control is. Mike |
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