This section shows the frames I've been making. I'm using 100mm x 25mm PSE throughout, the extra depth giving the strength required for this open frame. The components are all jointed, Lap or half Lap, and will be glued and screwed. When I retired I bought a small table saw (actually a "site saw") by Bosch which has been a Godsend when making all the cuts and I also made a small cross slide box to help make the lap joints. This slide really helped - the base is a piece of old formica covered chipboard with the PSE timber raised to aid clamping. The underside showing the guides - these I made from oak.

The first timber on my Mitre saw being cut to length from the 4.8m lengths supplied. The cutting list is taped to the saw to help avoid any costly mistakes.

Here is the frame layout, I produced this in SolidWorks (3D CAD Software) which then allowed me to create scaled drawings of all the parts required.

The frame components, once I had cut the PSE to length, I used the table saw to cut the lap joints and then finally I used a forstner bit ( 35mm diameter) to drill holes for wiring. I also used a small palm router to run a rounding over bit around the holes to remove any sharp edges - I thought this might take ages but I had completed all of them in about 30 minutes.

The rain is pouring down at the moment so I thought I'd put these few images together and post now. I'll update this entry as I assemble the frames. I've finished clearing and cleaning following the backscene painting, glad to get that out of the way. I bought some more timber yesterday with a view to putting a frame around the backscene - this may form part of an idea I have to aid access - and also some timber for creating a "pelmet" to hide the overhead lighting units and the LED strip.

With the weather so bad I'm inside working on some vehicles - modifying some Oxford diecasts, adding drivers and a passenger. Here is my TR4, I wanted people in some vehicles as they will be moving using the Magnorail system and would therefore look a bit odd without people in them.

Bye for now.