Baseboards and Track :: Fotopic.Net

Shifting Sands - Colin Peake's O9 Railway Modelling

Baseboards and Track

19th December 2005

This collection of pictures should grow over the coming weeks as the project takes shape. The trackplan for the 3 x 2ft layout is shown for reference, this is what the finished article should look (something) like....

The baseboard is something of an experiment. Following my use of a corkboard to carry my test track (see the Dioramas and Test Track collection) I decided to see how the idea could be developed to act as a base for a scenic layout. I have used 'L' section timber to strengthen the board as this will hold the board flatter than strip will allow. Some offcuts of quarter-round material plug the gaps and will allow chocolate block conectors to be screwed into place.

Preperation for track laying has included the modification of points and pre-drilling pin holes to speed things up when work commences. The sleepers of the Peco 'crazy track' have had the ends cut straight to better resemble better cared-for permanent way. I have also pre-soldered DPST slide switches and fishplates to speed up tracklaying.

As might have been predicted, a change in trackplan offered itself up during marking out of the baseboard. With a shuffle in the bottom right hand corner I will be able to incorporate a shed/workshop scene. I have a number of items of workshop 'junk' that will be of use for this so I'm pleased that I have been able to find somewhere for them on the layout.

Update 18/10/05: All track is now laid and the next task will be to complete the wiring and test the electrics before test running can begin.

Update 30/10/05: All wiring is now complete and test running has been successful. I have also installed six MicroTrains uncoupling magnets to the layout, which required careful pining down of the Peco 009 track as part of the inner rail fixings need to be removed when the sleepers are cut away to fit the magnet.

Test running has used my original coaching stock built from Routemaser bus kits (!), as the new stock is not ready yet. This situation should be resolved in the next week or so when the new stock is complete.

UPDATE 19/11/05: Once I was happy with the trackwork, the areas of the layout around the track were built up with scrap cardboard as a basis for scenery, and to give me an edge to work up to when ballasting. Track was spray painted with a Railmatch 'Frame Dirt' spray can, with points masked off and completed by hand. Ballasting is now underway and is a tedious task but has to be done!

UPDATE 19/12/05: Ballasting is now completed and test running continues. Work is now turning to the station platform area, with the platform itself under way and station buildings under construction, which can be seen in the 'Structures and Vehicles' collection.

This is the trackplan of project 'Shifting Sands'. To get this far involved several changes and it could still change during construction...	A view of the corkboard-based baseboard with track laid on the board to check the trackplan will fit and to get an idea of how it will look. Trestles are from Netto!	The underside of the board showing how the board is strengthened with 'L' section strip and some quarter round strip. The small pieces towards the corners hold the board on the trestles.
A view of the join between 'L' section and outer frame. This is carefully cut to ensure the upright section of the 'L'meets the outer frame.	Prior to laying the Peco 009 points are modified by removing the splayed sleeper on the diverging track, drilling pin holes and straightening sleeper ends.	Similar treatment is carried out on the flex track, the length at the top is un-modified.
To get an idea of how the track should look, this is the permanent way of the Cleethorpes Coast Light Railway.	Well I said the plan might change... This is the new arrangement planned for the bottom corner, to incorporate a shed/workshop.	Progress: Day 1. The hidden sidings, curve and station throat points are now in place.
Track is laid on a balsa wood roadbed to allow the point operating rods to pass under the track, a typical installation is seen here.	Progress: Day 2. All track is now laid and point control installed. The next job will be to connect the mass of wiring dangling below the baseboard!	Wiring is now complete (you don't really want to see the underside of the board do you?), four section switches are housed in this little panel under the right hand end of the layout.
After some successful test running, I moved on to locating the uncoupling magnets for the MicroTrains couplings. These two are at the headshunt end of the loop.	Magnets were tested prior to final glueing in place, as seen here with 'Cumbria' and a Black Dog Mining wagon.	Some test running has been carried out using my original blue diesel and bogie coaches, seen here rounding the curve into the station.
A train ready to depart from the station behind the diesel. I may have to create a method of coupling the tiny MicroTrains couplers on this curve.	'Cumbria' is seen in the headshunt. I have placed a piece of foamcore board in the place of the backscene, screening the hidden sidings.	One little job that I undertook was to 'pack' the switches with thin wood or card to stop them wobbling around quite so much!
Switches in the scenic area of the layout have been enclosed in areas of wood an card, which will be bended into the scenery once things progress that far.	Card areas have been built up around the track prior to ballasting and track painting, which used a Railmatch spray paint.	Ballasting underway, I can see one or two spots on the rear line that require touching in to get the effect I'm after.
A view of work in progress, a contrast to the tidiness of earlier photos!	Ballasting completed! Any gaps will be subjected to other forms of ground cover.	A test train headed by 'Cumbria' stands in the platform line.
The headshunt is home to the Knightwing Shunter conversion, awaiting completion of paintwork.	The station platform is made from 1mm ply wood, covered with card and then textured with Green Scenes Concrete texture paint.	This section of the platform will be removable, complete with the station buildings.