What is the best way of creating a hinged section for a return loop?

Hi Everyone, this is my first new topic as a new member so please be kind!

I am planning my layout which is to go in the garage but I am limited to a depth of 30" maximum against the back wall where I would like to put a return loop.

Has anyone any experience or suggestions on how to incorporate say a hinged section that folds back to the main board thus allowing a return loop? For example, what would be the best hinge arrangement and track alignment across the break? Or has anyone come across a better method, perhaps a removable section rather than hinged?

Thanks for any help

Kind regards

Steve

Hi Steve,

What scale are you modelling?

A baseboard 30" wide is getting towards the limit. Anything wider than  that and you may not be able to reach the back for maintainance or  sorting out derailments, etc.

Instead of a hinged section, you might be better off considering a  separate baseboard that can be connected to the main one whenever you  want to operate the layout.  This would get it completely out of the way  if you needed to work on the main baseboard. A hinged one may well  still obstruct your access.

A detachable baseboard can be attached with locating dowels and clamps. These are the sort of dowels I use:



And these are the latches:



The rails can be soldered to the heads of brass screws driven in to the  baseboards either side of the join before cutting them, thereby ensuring  accurate alignment.

I hope this gives you some ideas.

Perry

Hi Perry

Thanks for quick response, your suggestions make much more sense than my previous thoughts about a hinged section!

I am modelling in OO so 30" would be the absolute maximum width but now I can plan on a removable section, the main board width can reduce a little; also as the car will not be in when operating the layout so I can now allow for a bigger removable section for a better minimum radius loop.

Thanks for the images of the dowels and latches. I can now get on with mastering AnyRail and finishing the design!

Cheers

Steve:thumbs

The 'standard' baseboard with is usually accepted to be about 24" - especially if you can't get all the way around it.

I'm fortunate in being fairly tall with a long reach. I have a couple of 36" wide baseboards but they're a bit of a stretch for me.

Perhaps you need to be aware, if you're not already, that a lot of locos will not go round minimum radius curves, so your return loop will need to be at least what Hornby call 2nd radius; 438mm, and preferably greater than that unless you are only using 0-6-0 shunters or something similar.

If you use sectional track for the loop it might be easier to lay a consistent curve than if you just used flexible track.

This table might be useful when working out the trackplan: Hornby to PECO Track Conversion Table

Perry

Good advice Perry, thanks. I am pretty tall as well but will keep the design down to 24" where possible as the boards will be against a wall so accessible from one side only.

Thanks for link on radii

Cheers

Steve:thumbs