In a message dated 10/15/2006 6:19:26 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,
[EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
It sounds like the top "platform" is a separate piece from the "supporting
framework". Is this correct? Rick, my RR and carpenter buddy, is suggesting
3/4" furniture grade plywood and I am wondering if there is a less weighty
method that will work OK. Did you follow a magazine article? If so, could
you refer us to it? Any thought given to using 2" thick insulation foam (blue
or pink?) as the table top with supporting framework beneath it? I could
glue the flextrack to the foam and then paint the whole thing a neutral
tan/green color. And, of course, what technique did you use for joing the
sections
together? Splice pieces of flextrack about 6" long? Or just butt them
together?
Ed,
In order to facilitate transportation, the layout sets on a separate frame
work, 4" high, 16 ft long and 51" wide. Sits on saw horse bracketed legs for
quick set-up and tear down. The reason for this was to utilize exisiting
tops, which are all 4 X 8 ft. There are also perimeter legs which are
attached
at intervals for edge support. The framework is made up of doubled 3/4 "
plywood, 4'" wide, glued and pinned, cross braced at 4 ft intervals. The tops
are all 4 X 8, with 2.5 inch rails of 3/4" plywood, single on the side,
doubled cross members at 24" intervals. Next time, the cross pieces will be
single
3/4 plywood with 2" wide (T) tops on the cross pieces, should be lighter
and stronger. The sides could be drilled out to release some weight, there
are
charts, tables etc and your carpenter buddy probably is the best judge of
hole sizes. The tops are bolted together with 3/8" machine bolts, two at
each
juncture, ALL from the same manufacturer so we can use the same wrenches
every time we set up. 2 of the tops are plywood framed, 2 are 2 X 3
dimensional
lumber, the plywood frames are lighter and more "stable". Tops are
currently 1/2" HOMOSOTE, which adds lots of weight.
Probably learned something from a magazine, but my father started building
these layouts in the forties and I learned and adapted from him. My cabinet
maker buddy and I adjust as we go.
Next layout will probably be 36" wide, 72" or 96" long modules, foam tops
are a real possibility. CLASSIC TOY TRAINS did an excellent feature on SHS''s
5 X 9 foam layout.
Pink and blue are colors, nothing else, AVOID white pebbly foam as you will
have little foam balls rolling around the house for years. Foam is easily
painted with a NON oil based paint.
Track could be glued down with silicone caulk. I would use short track
sections at the joints, with slip joiners such as HO to make it easy to set
up.
SHS track is neato. WE use RADIO SHACK multi-pin connectors, available in a
wide variety of pin numbers at the RADIO SHACKS that still have merchandise.
Most Mall Shacks don't have the goodies. I can get you the numbers if you
wish. We "Stupid-Proof" the connectors in the way we use and orientate them
from section to section. We currently have a two track main line fed from a
dual transformer, using common ground and two separate feeds in a four pin
connnecter, one pin not used. Next is the "Accessory Feed" in a 2 pin
connector
and 6" from that is a reversed 2 pin connector for the lighting circuits.
Indiviual accessory feeds are combined in 6 and 8 pin connectors. The wires
are threaded thru screw eyes and pulled up tight, then ends are put on, the
wires are at least 8" long when "pinned". Jeff didn't even bother to tape
the
splices because none are close to the next. We ultimately "painted" them
with plastic insulation. This year we are adding controlled switches, a step
up
from just having them in the track plan.
We do have the advantage of the fact that this layout will be used one place
for several weeks and then dismantled, stored and then changed for the next
set-up. Our host didn't inititally understand the appeal of toy trains and
forfeited a great opportunity to capitalize on our presence. Was interesting
to watch the store manager watching us from one plate glass window and the
owner from another, at least what they could see thru the crowd watching us.
By 10 AM the first morning they knew they had "Blown It" big time. Actually
we attracted a crowd when we started to unload the vans and trucks at 7 AM,
before we walked into their restaurant for breakfast and watched people
walking in and stopping to look when they realized they were looking at train
tables, then looking around for us.
Ours is a small group of couples, women as involved as men at the
appropriate time in the project. We have no qualms about calling on the
talent we have
among us.
Hope this helps,
Jim Lyle
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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