Any tools or ?? to help set a grade?

[Boyd]

The only thing I have seen for building a grade was some foam thing that can bend. Anything else out there on the market for building a grade?

[dwiemer]

Boyd, the foam risers are the only ones I have seen as well.  I think it is pretty easy to do with lengths of plywood and L-Girder, but the main thing is making sure the engines you have can handle whatever grade you make.  You may have some that can't even handle the pre-made foam grades.  Depending on the scenery, you may want to go with the graduated tressle sets that are out there. 
Dennis

[jimhaleyscomet]

The alternative to foam is using wood risers.  Have one piece of wood (3/8" plywood or thin hardwood if straight) going as far as possible under the track.  Stagger the ends of the wood with the ends of any given track.  Then cut a set of risers for putting under the wood base.   Only the last riser height is critical as the rest can be moved slightly up or down the grade to support the wood.  It really is easy.  If you are curving, then use the cookie cutter method on a piece of plywood.  Then just add various height wood risers as needed.  I think it was in a Christmas magazine a while back but can not remember witch one.  Make sure the start and end of the grade taper a tad so your engines do not bottom out.

Jim H 

[laz 57]

If you are to use wood like 2x4s and are going to graduate them up and down a good tool to have is a bevel square.  It will help you in maintaining you angles.

laz57

[Boyd]

What is a bevel square? I went to Menards looking for one and the employee didn't know what I was looking for.

[CNJfan]

Maybe this will help.....

http://www.jaktool.com/Track_Mate.htm

Tim C.

[Fred Bear]

The easiest way I've found to make accurate, easy and cheap grades is from sheets of 1/2 inch foam. The type Lowe's sells for a few bucks for 110 or 12 sheets. Figure out how high you want the grade, the lay the sheets down end to end for the distance the grade will cover, snap a chalk line for the length of it, and cut. Keep the sheets touching end to end when you do this. Keep in mind you'll need four of each piece, as you'll line up the cut sheets side by side and glue a strip wide enough for your track bed plus a little, and you'll need to go back down also. Very simple to do, and cheap. Can be wrapped with plaster cloth, hit with some hydrocal, colored, add rocks, rock cliff, etc, makes a pretty nice piece of scenery for not much money. Jake

[laz 57]

What is a bevel square? I went to Menards looking for one and the employee didn't know what I was looking for.

 

It looks like a square but has an adjustable blade that can be placed at any angle and held there in place with a wing nut.  Hope that helps.  I use them here in the shop all the time.

laz57

 

[dwestrich]

Check out "Basic Model Railroad Benchwork" from MR.  See p. 59 for a homemade grade gauge using a carpenter's level, clamp & a stick.

[Boyd]

Can you post a picture of that bevel square?

 

Which issue of MR are you referring to? 

[csxt30]

Here's the bevel square !

Thanks, John

[Buckeye Riveter]

The easiest way I've found to make accurate, easy and cheap grades is from sheets of 1/2 inch foam. The type Lowe's sells for a few bucks for 110 or 12 sheets. Figure out how high you want the grade, the lay the sheets down end to end for the distance the grade will cover, snap a chalk line for the length of it, and cut. Keep the sheets touching end to end when you do this. Keep in mind you'll need four of each piece, as you'll line up the cut sheets side by side and glue a strip wide enough for your track bed plus a little, and you'll need to go back down also. Very simple to do, and cheap. Can be wrapped with plaster cloth, hit with some hydrocal, colored, add rocks, rock cliff, etc, makes a pretty nice piece of scenery for not much money. Jake

How does the 1/2 foam bend for curves?  Do you need to scribe the foam?

[Fred Bear]

I cut the foam all the way through once I have it marked with a magic marker. You can actually cut all the pieces you need if you stacked them together and tape them together also. Makes a nice uniform grade this way. The 1/2 inch foam bends nicely around a 54 degree turn. I've bent it around a 42 degree curve as well. If you have room to lay the sheets of foam out edge to edge for the distance you want your grade to cover, you can make an extremely accurate cut this way, with a utility knife. If you have the distance you need layed out, and all the foam stacked ( four layers, as you'll need two each side of the rise and fall, ) it's  snap. Hot glue gun for sticking this all together. Keep in mind also that you'll need strips between the uprights ( the pieces cut on an angle ) for the track bed. Use about 1 inch or so bigger. Also you might think about the inside piece of foam will be slightly shorter in length than the outside piece. Might have to do a bit of fudging here to keep the height the same once the turn starts. Still a very easy way to make grades. Jake