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Brighton 75A: Today's post 130611: Disaster strikes!

NorthHighlander

Entry posted by NorthHighlander

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blog-0314795001370945135.jpgA somewhat frustrating point has been reached :O

Here's the problem. In order to make the baseboards a) a manageable size b') have as few irregular or curved sides as possible c) fit each other precisely, I drew what I thought would be suitable shapes on the original 1:2500 OS plan. However, when I get to the actual model, I realise that, to avoid the point switches and crossings on what is a very tight track layout, the planned baseboard edges run through one or more switches or crossings, or don't provide enough clearance between tracks so that a converging pair of tracks would be touching the baseboard edge - not a clever idea.

The other problem is that my original idea to use watered down PVA to stick the templates (printed on cheap 80gsm paper) was a VERY BAD IDEA. The water expanded the templates making alignment well nigh impossible. Owen's recommendation to use kiddy glue has been much more successful. Even then, laying the templates on the third board by aligning the first set to the edge of the ply sheet has resulted in misalignment further into the sheet.

The lesson is simple: don't try to reinvent something that someone else (in this case Martin Wynne of Templot and other modellers who have gone before me) have already spent time inventing. Trying to save wood has been a false economy and I may well start again (fortunately I didn't spend a great deal of money on Beech ply), this time using the datum marks that Templot already provides for alignment.

Here's the problem:

blogentry-14375-0-91107800-1370944181_thumb.jpg

The gaps between the boards (remember these are only the tops) allow for the 6mm end members.

I already trimmed around 6cms off board 1 (on the left) and attached it (A) to board 2 to provide clearance for the converging tracks. Now I find that board 1 is around 6mm too thin, and the track plan doesn't align from board 2 to the plan for board 3.

 

The conclusion is that this is a disaster as it stands. Get it wrong at this stage and all the problems will multiply later on, so I shall Start Again.

 

Lastly today... Chris from the Glevum Group has been in touch and offered some excellent advice, for which I thank him.

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  • RMweb Gold
martin_wynne
  • RMweb Gold

Hi,

 

Try printing on thicker paper -- 160gsm recommended. This is almost a thin card. Much less cockling from the adhesive, and thick enough to be butted together like tiles. That makes them much easier to align than thin paper pages.

 

Martin.

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  • RMweb Gold
Metr0Land
  • RMweb Gold

At least you've found out early in the process, so a good result of sorts!  One of the great things about this board is people are willing to show their mistakes as well as the good bits so hopefully others gain from your experience.

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