I intend making a modular baseboard of 4 x 2 (1200 x 600) units bolted together. They will be covered in green baize or equivalent thereoff and will have various layouts laid out. Hornby Dublo three rail being one, Trix twin another and assorted collected toy trains. The use of 4 x 2 modules means it will dismantle into the car and get through loft door.

Basically it will be 6mm ply on a frame. Around the edge and a piece across the middle. Coach bolts will hold the units together, remember track goes on after assembly. Train Collectors Society style.

My question therefore is the size of timber for the frame. I reckon 1" x 2" (25 x 50) or whatever the nearest over the countyer equivalent is. Dunhelm have a nice green base I will use..

Basically the units bolted together rest on existing tables, or maybe a trestle supported frame.

So has anyone else made a non scenic base board of this type? and What sizes of timber used?

Having spent most of the summer sorting out my motorbike I intend to use the cooler months to get this layout base made.

David.

PS. For other bike afficianados it is is a 19 year old MZ Skorpion Traveller. A new swinging arm and learning how to dismantle forks takes time but today it passed its MOT. Heated gloves mean the cooler seasons are no problem, and less traffic. Great for visiting model rail shows, never a parking problem.

Hi David,

One or two. The depth is usually dictated by what goes underneath. I usually go for 4" minus the thickness of the top. I am a fan of Baltic birch ply for the top and the sides. That said, my latest boards are 9mm top using BB, and 1 x 2 inch nominal Radiata pine sides. Seems to work fine. 

Nigel

I knocked up a similar type of baseboard David - as an experiment in strong but lightweight baseboards.

Ply framework with softwood ends and cross batten.

This is what it looked like on top:




And the underside:



With bottom panel fitted:




It is very strong yet lightweight.  To see it all, go here: 

http://yourmodelrailway.net/view_topic.php?id=15910&forum_id=21&page=1

Hi

I do like that approach, however I think it is a bit too much for my requirements.


This is the sort of thing I need base boards to layout on. I know not the usual thing but check out the Train Collectors Society .

the above is battery powered and probably Z0 or 1/60. I ended up with a small collection of these cheap toy train sets and baseboard with green baize seems the best bet. I also have Hornby Dublo and sone Trix Twin as well. There are also a couple of Pequetren sets from Spain as well as TT gauge cheapos from Works and Poundland.

Anyhow this winter is going to see them all displayed, I hope.

David