At the beginning of last year, I found an article concerning the turning up of cars.

In it was mentioned the use of a test bench, the basic idea being to provide a completely flat surface to ensure that cars will sit correctly on the track, to provide the ability to run the motors insitu, either to run them in, or to round the tyres. I read this article with interest, and thought that I would explain the two test benches that I have since made.

Prior to building these I had a of piece track hot wired to a transformer that sat in my garage. Whilst I could check that a motor worked, it had a number of problems:* It was not long enough to see if a car could run properly, yet having a number of pieces of track together was not practical. *It was not flat enough to see if there were any problems with the wheel alignment or guide height

Now I know that I could have used a better piece of track, or placed joined track on a board, but I didn't. Anyway back to the test benches. After having a new kitchen installed, I kept back some of the off cuts from the work surfaces, having finished the tiling and decorating, I finally got around to looking at them. I cut two lengths, one 10 inches the other 26 inches long, both 5 inches wide.

A groove was routed out along the length of each part in the centre, which was a couple of millimetres deeper than a guide blade. On the longer part, I placed copper tape along both sides of the grove, and at one end inserted two screws into the end of the wood, and wrapped the ends of the tape around each screw . A blob of solder was then added over the join.

Using crocodile clips attached to the screws, I can connect a variable output transformer.

At the other end, I placed a small length of plastic across the width, and drilled two holes either side of the guide slot to take two small dowels

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. Cars can now be placed with their nose up against the dowels, with the rear wheels hanging over the end, and the chassis resting on the cross plastic leaning forward.

.Cars can now be set up and left to run for periods of time to smooth in the motor and gears. For truing tyres, I just hold sandpaper across the middle of the bench, and lift the car up and down on to this by hand.The benefit of the length, is that I can run a car for a couple of feet, (carefully catching it at the other end), to check that it seems OK before climbing up to the loft to check out on my track.In the past, I would often find out I had a problem, and would have to climb back down again.

For the smaller block of wood, I have just left this with a guide slot, and use this just to see how a car is sitting. Being much smaller, it is easier to lift up to eye level, and move around in the light.I believe that both these benches have made a difference to the preparation of my cars, although the results do not bare this out!

I have the rest of the real of copper tape available, if any one fancies a go.