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How would you propose to construct the traverser/sector plate when you are using a foamboard base?

Here is a photo of how I did it, but of course it did involve wood work:

post-14389-0-05158000-1426002552.jpg

 

Next time I would add some bracing to the plate itself, even a small one can warp a bit. There are some detailed pics here: http://www.castellybwrdd.myzen.co.uk/#sectorplate.

 

- Richard.

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It's a bit sad to discuss this on a thread for a chap with his arm in plaster, but the Modratec frame is a good design and if you did "metalwork" at school then the fettling and assembly of the parts is an exercise in nostalgia. The finished thing is robust enough to show off to visitors to let them try it out and see how the locking works.

 

- Richard.

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Tonight I cut side & end f-boards for 1 base & wood glued them on. Wrist being strapped up means quality of cut & fit is not great but it exercises hand & we'll see how its dried in the morning. I certainly couldn't have made anything else. May get the 2nd base done at weekend.

 

Now recovering with Tylenol & Big Spruce Mr IncREDible, a fine strong beer.

 

Dava

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After sunny cold weather the last few days there is a snowstorm here with up to 30cm now falling, so not spring yet. We had a trip out to replenish beer, foamboard & other supplies yesterday!

 

I have made progress on the baseboards. The second one has had the top laminated, side & end rails cut. I'll assemble it later today. Using adhesive tape to hold the parts while PVA glue sets is not ideal as it peels the paper off when removed!

 

Pic below shows the first board with some track for testing. I'll add backboards after the track is down. It looks like a simple track layout with 2 sidings on 1 board, 1 serving a loading dock, and a sector plate on the other also serving a short siding.

 

post-14654-0-72573400-1426442715_thumb.jpg

 

Dava

 

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Another snow day today, there was about 60cm by this morning. Crazy weather, we could not go out. We got plowed out mid-afternoon but work was closed so after doing some tasks at home it was back to the foam-boards.

 

Here are the undersides with cross-bracing added & corner stiffeners from cat food card packaging. I will have to devise a baseboard fixing. 

 

post-14654-0-96782700-1426555343_thumb.jpg

 

Then the boards were put on the workbench and some track added. This shows the rough layout with 2 sidings, a point, and track on the right end where the sector table will be. The Sentinel is fine on this little layout, you will be able to fit 3 wagons in each siding.

 

post-14654-0-15853900-1426555030_thumb.jpg

 

Snowing again so we'll have to see if we can get out tomorrow!

 

Dava

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Progress on the layout has really just been gluing bits of foamboard, working out how to fix the boards together - looks like a pair of Walsworth Models spring dowels I bought may be the answer - and shunting a loco up & down. So no photos.

 

Meanwhile the weather has been spectacular with 2.5 storm days since Sunday & a 90cm dump of snow with lots of it blowing. No comparison with UK. Even locals amazed, despondent etc about this. 

 

So looked outside this morning....

 

post-14654-0-29011800-1426809780_thumb.jpg

 

Where's the drive?

 

post-14654-0-51855000-1426809866_thumb.jpg

 

That's the house, dig here...

 

post-14654-0-66907500-1426810369_thumb.jpg

 

Plow me out, big boy!

 

Looks like back to work tomorrow. Mrs doesnt like driving in snow, I can't drive cos of my wrist. Hope the snow holds off Saturday as we need to stock up on Big Spruce Beer & painkillers (& other stuff). Also hope to work on layout with sense of renewed meaning in life.

 

Dava

Edited by Dava
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Any suggestions for bracing/frame method for 3x1 foam boards? Its 5mm thick

 

All I can cut is f-board not wood so considering a 1" laminated frame round the edges with a 9" back scene board & crossbracing every 12"

 

Advise welcome!

 

Dava

I’ve seen foam board braced with strips of yet more foam board on edge and glued with a hot glue gun (from Home Depot). Seems doable with your condition.

I must say however that I have some foam board which has bowed - though I would stress it was not braced.

 

Yeah we’re getting more snow tomorrow too. Just a light dusting of possibly 5 inches, though - we’re 20 degrees f short of normal average temps - must be Global Warming :drag:

 

Best, Pete.

Edited by trisonic
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At work I just sent a couple of our guys to North America. They've spent this week inspecting factories in Portland, Oregon, and Detroit. I do wonder if I was unnecessarily cruel :D.

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Just to say I fitted the baseboard dowel joiners this weekend, as below.

 

post-14654-0-97942000-1427247066_thumb.jpg

 

We'll have to see how these stand up to use as they're mounted in foamboard.

 

Called in at Dollarama & got a corrugated plastic-card 'A Vendre' sign which could be the basis of the sector table, with reinforcement. They also sell foamboard without the card outer covering.

 

Return trip to hospital yesterday got the wrist re-cast for the next 3-4 weeks. No more mobility but the modelling & light tool use is good therapy & keeps muscles flexing even if results a bit iffy. Also managed to start a home brew kit last night!

 

Dava

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Update from Nova Scotia on modelling....no Easter shows to go to here, sunny but lots of slowly thawing snow.  Weekend means progress on the micro-layout with track being laid.

 

Here is the base material for the sector table, a corrugated plastic card sign from Dollarama!

 

post-14654-0-50733400-1428262361_thumb.jpg

 

Back to the layout, quite a lot of track preparation work done since, wire drops soldered to the track sections, alignments and test running done.

 

Everything takes longer with the wrist still in plaster, but I'm learning to re-use hand tools like files, hacksaw, even soldering iron, so I guess its good exercise.

 

Here is the layout from the sector table end, the table has glued reinforcements at each edge and pivots from a bolt in an aluminium tube. The tracks will be laid next on the table with the siding coming off being last. All similar to the design on 'Coney Hill; but in board not plywood.

 

post-14654-0-54789500-1428262414_thumb.jpg

 

From the siding end, the tracks are down and minor fettling & adjustments needed together with point control.

 

post-14654-0-28754400-1428262437_thumb.jpg

 

Finally, the layout now has a name....'Coxheath Sidings' named after the district we live in. Lets assume the sidings serve a loading dock off an industrial railway. What the traffic is remains to be seen. After the track is down the wiring will be next, nice and simple....

 

Dava

 

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Hi Neil

 

I used PVA wood glue & card glue, it seems fine

Track is stuck down with No more nails as pins don't work in f-board

 

I like the coaches on your thread, think we met at Mickleover when I had my last layout there?

 

Dava

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Thanks Dave - will have to give that a go - I've used no more nails before to make the boards for my previous layout but will have to give the PVA wood/card glue option a go.

 

Thanks. Yes we did - didn't we send my Midland 1F for a spin on Coney Hill?

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Update: I spent a couple of evenings track laying, then this evening wiring. A bit too fast as each board has a crossed polarity which will need sorting tomorrow.

 

Dava

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Today I sorted out the wiring errors and completed under the layout.

 

post-14654-0-87877100-1428883265_thumb.jpg

 

Then various bits of attention to the trackwork and at last some test running with the Y3 Sentinel and some wagons.

 

This is the sector table end. Clearances between the tracks are minimal but a shunter and wagons will pass. Each track holds a loco and 2 wagons. We'll be sticking to 0-4-0 locos and short wagons, in the main. 8 will be enough at any one time.

 

post-14654-0-64542400-1428883439_thumb.jpg

 

The sidings can each hold 2-3 wagons depending on their length. This end shows where the loading dock will be.

 

post-14654-0-11390300-1428883506_thumb.jpg

 

I'm not going to pretend any of this is particularly good modelling, even by my standards. What I have found is that in a brutally long cold Canadian winter I've been able to do something creative, and using modelling tools has helped rehabilitate my wrist injury.  I/m hopeful the cast will come off this week. There's a lot to be said for modelling as therapy, not just the quality of the end result. I've gained practice using foamboard and as well as a test track I can use this to work up some simple building construction and scenic ideas. Some simple buffer stops are obviously required next!

 

More to follow.

 

Dava

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Modelling suspended on 14/4 as its my birthday....wont say how old but apparently its got 2 x 5s in it....

 

Am really hopeful that either the Dapol Terrier or Heljan AC Cars railbus I ordered for previous birthdays 'x' years ago may be a lovely surprise from Canada Post...?

 

Dava

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With regard to using foamboard for baseboards, I have been experimenting with a sandwiched construction of foamboard layered with artists mount board as a harder skin. This seems to work okay and as well as giving a bit of extra strength means small screws/pins can be driven into it. Although a single foam layer is fairly firm, two is much better - with a mount board layer between to maintain the sandwich construction. To protect the edges though, which can easily be bashed in, thin strips of mount board are also glued on.

 

What I like about this is the lack of mess. Just a craft knife, cutting board, straight edge, and PVA.

 

Izzy

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Thanks for kind wishes.

 

Plaster cast on my wrist came off today, feels vulnerable & work needed to regain full use.

 

Shunted layout with Ixion Fowler diesel which runs so well.

 

Dava

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