boxing clever?...
Entry posted by bcnPete
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Good evening,
Time for an update on PWIAB. In short, the original idea was for the layout to be exhibited in May 2014...but this was far far away so it has been brought forward to May 2013 
After much sketching again at 35,000ft en route to UK recently for our week in sunny changeable Cornwall, thought was given to the baseboards as I wanted to get these underway before crimble. Particularly, lessons learnt from Kyle when it used to reside in a boxfile. This time a decision was made not to use foamboard as they twisted and were also too light, tending to want to move everytime you slid the dpdt switch for the turnouts. I recall that Anthony Yeates had used 3mm ply on his inspiring Inverneuk boxfile layout so something similiar was sought.
Not being a gifted wood worker and lack of workbench/garage also shaped the decision and I found a product in a model shop here which was wood like in appearance and 3mm thick...and it was reasonably priced. It cuts with the grain with a SM 10A scalpel blade and requires a little more work across the grain but is has allowed me to work on a cutting mat on the dining room table.
Having worked out the maximum dimensions, I knew I had to extend the width by a slither but this was necessary to allow the trackplan to fit. The pieces were cut, numbered and laid out and then glued with PVA. Another lesson learnt from alignment issues was to incorporate a hinge and this will be visible on the front and may/may not be covered by the front fascia. The boards will be then unfolded and bolted through on the inside, again to iron out problems previously arising.
Finally, the last thing was to incorporate the folding section. You may recall that in order to add a little more operational interest a through line has been added the other side of the bay platform and this is provided by a folded section so as to sit within the depth/width of the boxfile. A strip has been formed secured with hinges and Araldite (I may add screws later for belt and braces) and once unfolded this is kept in place by a timber base which has recesses to incorporate switches for the turnout and signals to be added at a later date - More on that in the future as its presently in the sketchbook/my head at present.
In terms of signals there will be a two aspect starter for the bay platform and a four aspect with feather for the through line. I am currently in extended dialogues with Matt from Absolute Aspects (formely Roger Murray) and I must say that he has been extremely helpful in his way of working as we try to work together by exchange of emails with the minimum depth of the baseboards (only 30mm) It may be that the two signals are removable and Matt has engineered the 'below baseboard' stuff to fit with the 'above baseboard' signals potentially 'plugging in'.
Finally, thanks again to Chris (EastWestDivide) for sending some more photos recently which are helping with context and train formations.
As always, a few pics to better describe all the above 
The first is a reminder of the idea showing the through line which folds for storage...
And gives extra width to the boards...
Baseboards folded and located within depth allowing for scenics...
Once removed they look something like this...
And on the underside, this...
The edges unfold to reveal the hinged section...
The baseboads unfolded give this...hinge on front face as not to interfere with folding mechanism..
Looking down and at the rear, we see the through line folded in stored position...
And once unfolded, they increase the width to allow the through line to fold up against the platform face...
Final zoom in showing recess which will incorporate switches and DIN sockets etc...
Next I need to order some more Easitrac components and cut the slots for the signals...until the next time...
-
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