Innovative, I'd say.  It's difficult to fit all the terminus facilities in a board 2' wide.

John

I've been flitting from project to project over the last couple of weeks and that's all coming together.

This week I decided to get some progress made on the layout. 

I don't have the sides for all the boards yet but I do have all the material for the largest board so I constructed that:





It defies conventional wisdom by being very wide.  However, the layout will be worked from both sides.

The other thing is that everything is held by fluted dowels, no screws at all.  I added 3/4" x 3/4" "nailer" strips because ply edge is not strong.

Corners are secured with nailers too.  These were planed to match the angle.

It is large, heavy and unwieldy so probably won't be traveling, but we'll see.

John

[user=565]Brossard[/user] wrote:

It is large, heavy and unwieldy so probably won't be traveling, but we'll see.

John

How dare you talk about my wife like that, John !!


Allan.

Any resemblance between my board and Allan's better half is purely in the fevered imagination of Downes.

Anyway, I had to scratch my head yesterday as I mulled over how to mount legs on a board whose sides are not parallel.

I decided to build some subframes:



I'm using legs that were built for my previous layout.  Once I get those assembled you'll see better what I'm trying to do.

John

Legs assembled and installed:



Not too bad I think.  I still need to fit adjustable feet.

Love it when a plan comes together.

John

Hmm. Nothing like my missus, John.

Allan

Nice and tidy John. Always good to re-use something.
Marty

Right, so adjustable feet added and board erected:



My friend is threatening to come round this weekend so I hope to have more material for the next two boards.  Groan!

John

Earlier this week I went round to my friends place and we cut the final parts for one of the boards.

I finished the assembly this evening:



The holes on the right are to get access to the bolts holding the boards together.



I will build raised track on this board.



The interface plate raises the level to the rest of the layout.

John

Is that all the base boards built now John?
Marty

One more major board to go Marty.  Gotta wait for my friend who's a busy guy. (He still works  )  I'll get on with kits in the meantime.

John

:thumbs

This week, starting Monday, I decided to get stuck into the penultimate board.  It's taken all this time because I only have so many clamps and glue needs to dry.  Besides the fall/winter season is starting on TV.

Anyway, here's where I am this morning:



The layout now spans almost the whole length of the basement.  There is still just over a meter (40") gap from the end to the wall.  A final board will be built ~20" long to complete.  That will leave 20" for my ample girth to get round without having to crawl underneath.

Note the piece of track for scale.



…and from the other side.

I do believe I can start planning the track layout now.  It's a branch terminus so the track is fairly standard.

John

I more or less finished another major feature of my layout boards, a sector plate extension:



It was originally 4' long and designed for the 4mm layout last year.  In 7mm, 4' isn't really long enough so it is now 7' long.  Width is 12" and will fit three tracks.  The two mineral wagons on the right were recently built (BR dia 1/108 and 1/109) and are waiting for me to get in a transfer mood.

John

Hi John,

Looking good, looking good….

Nigel

I got two jobs done today.

I put some cork sheet on the sector plate.  I've had this for ages and wanted to use it up.  I didn't quite get the plate covered and I'll have to use foam roadbed for the 6" that are left. 

The other thing was to build a foam core mockup of the raised section:



Not at all pretty.  My idea is to set up a trammel and mark the radii for the embankment.  I will then knock all this down and cut the foam core to shape for use as a template.  I got myself some 1/4" ply yesterday.  I'll have to do some research to see about doing a transition curve.

John

Chicken dance time  :chicken

I got my boards finished today  :pathead





The last one, 20" long.  I can comfortably fit between the end of the board and the wall.



These two pics show the expanse available.



As you might be able to see, there is still work ongoing to get the uprights in for the raised curve.

John

Congrats, that's some solid looking benchwork there sir!

One milestone passed! Always a great feeling. :)

Yes Daniel.  All I have to do now is figure out the track plan.   :roll:

John

[user=565]Brossard[/user] wrote:

Yes Daniel.  All I have to do now is figure out the track plan.   :roll:

John

Have fun, I am sure that you will get further than I have to date. I have had the templates sat on the boards for at least two years….