Building an elevated passinger station platform - problem

[DADA1043 BRIDGEBOSS]

I use 1/8 inch baltic birch plywood for most of my curved bridges. This can be used w/o soaking it in water. Another product that works great is sintra (foam type PVC) which is very plyable and comes in several colors.

 jim r from bridgeboss.com

[dwiemer]

If the curved section does not have to support any weight, you may want to use Matt Board, the stuff used for mounting and framing pictures.  Use some framing behind it to make it structurally sound, then tack it up and paint as desired.  It is very easy to work with and so long as you don't have to get it real wet as in adding too much scenery, it should work fine.  I plan to use this with 1/2" extruded insulation board behind it to make a viaduct.

Dennis

[kpolak]

I've been using 1/8" plywood.  I found it at a local lumber yard.  About $20 per 4'x8' sheet.  That's an O-31 turn. 

Another idea is to use Evergreen styrene over a solid 2x base, and cover the seams with styrene angles to simulate the reinforcing steel.

Kurt

[hielsie]

You could try a formica type product. It bends easily. Another option is poster board from an art supply or office supply - cheap and available in colors.

[dsmith]

Try the 1/8" or 3/16" Masonite hardboard.  It's inexpensive and will easily bend in a 4' diameter.

[Civil War]

 My diameter is 4', not the radius. Sorry, it has been a long time since I had to think in these terms. I think the masonite will work perfectly based on what I see you have done. Thanks for the tips. Your project looks great by the way. Hope mine comes out nearly as well.

 

[Civil War]

 I found the price of Wiggle Board. It is $118.65 for a 4x8 sheet. I'm thinking of trying 1/8" Masonite but I'm still afraid it might crack. Any other suggestions. Later this month I might have a strip of paneling that I can try also.

 

[fifedog]

Got an old piece of paneling setting around...?

[Civil War]

j.t.

At the lumber yard ask for "wiggle board". This is a 1/4" plywood that is made to bend. It is used to make rounded cabints and trim parts. Larger lumber yards that supply to contractors should have it, I doubt Home Depot or Lowes would.

 

 

I found a web site for wiggle board  http://www.alliedbuilding.com/products/productDetail.aspx?ProductID=93480620

 

I clicked on locations and found a store near me. I'm going to get a sheet and try it out. Will let you know how it goes. Might even send a picture of the finished platform if it doesn't look too bad.

Thanks for the suggestions. 

[Texas Pete]

 If I were dealing with this situation I would probably give a long, hard look at plexiglass/acrylic sheet that is thin enough to bend easily yet thick enough to stay upright without additional support. Somethin' like this:

http://www.eplastics.com/Plastic/Plexiglass_Acrylic_Sheet?gclid=COzOjZiahp8CFQEhDQod3mlfNQ

Pete

 

[j.t.]

At the lumber yard ask for "wiggle board". This is a 1/4" plywood that is made to bend. It is used to make rounded cabints and trim parts. Larger lumber yards that supply to contractors should have it, I doubt Home Depot or Lowes would.

If you can't find it, you can make a series of relief cuts about 1/2 to3/4 of the way through the plywood you already have. This can be done with a table saw or a cicular saw with the blade set to only cut to the depth you are looking for The cuts should go the width of the board perpendicular to the way you want to bend it and spaced evenly apart 1" to 1/4" depending on how tight a radius you are trying to make.

JT

[jmkk]

Try thin tempered Masonite also called hard board. I think its tempered, for some reason its in my head. Home Depot and Lowes in my area sell it.I have used it to form a "concrete" wall on the inside radius of O-72 curves.Good luck!

[Civil War]

  Normal 0 Hi all and hope you all had a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. I spent yesterday trying to build a platform for my passenger station. Basically it will raise the station and passenger rail line enough to allow a freight line to pass under the passenger track. The platform is 4 feet wide and about 1 1/2 feet front to back. Just enough room for the station and track. My problem is in trying to form a curved wall that runs parallel to the passenger track. I tried to use 3/16 inch plywood, but it cracked when I tried to bend it.   I cut another piece and soaked it in hot water for about 2 hours but it also cracked.   Do any of you have a suggestion for a material that will bend into a nice 180 degree 4 foot radius without cracking? This is my first dimensional application on my layout and I'd like to get it right before I tackle other areas. Thanks so much.