Hi Team,
I have permission from SWMBO to begin construction of my alternative history version of the NSWGR in our in-law ( outlaw? ) accomodation. Currently it looks like I will have a folding 8" x 4" that will mate to a shelf section permantly attached to the adjoining wall.
I am thinking sneaky thoughts about the folding 4x8 in that SWMBO has not specified that it be attached DIRECTLY to the existing wall. This would allow an additional shelf section and expand the working area of the folding section to perhaps 5"6' x 8", and allow for greater height of buildings, etc., on the folding section when it is stored.
The folding 8x4 is a hollow core door that is a relic of my ( vastly ) younger modelling days, already fitted with hardware to fold against a vertical wall, and I plan on using it as it is a quick and easy fix for my need for a baseboard. The shelf section will be about 10 inches wide and 12 feet long running at 90 degrees to the main axis of the door. The folding section will mate to the shelf along one of the 4 foot sides as well as the 'stolen' 18 inch area along the 8 foot hinge.
Planned ( imagined ) industries to be supported will be a small scale mine producing coal and a rare heavy metal ( Niptonite or Unobtainium ) and a locomotive servicing/garaging area ( I have TOO MANY locomotives ) also a passenger facility ( perhaps at the mine and the loco point ). Through traffic with notional start and end points not modelled will also be an essential feature.
I am probably being too ambitious in my plans for the operational side of the layout, but as it is all still in my head at the moment I can probably afford to be. The size and scope of the layout indicates that point to point will be the major feature of operations, but I will be having some sort of loop for running in etc.
So...
Minimum angle for crossing a hinged point in the baseboard? A 90 degree cut is probably ideal, but it will leave me with 18 inches maximum to complete a 90 degree turn, with a high possibility of unrealistic appearance and highlighting the 'break' in the landscape.
What do you think?
Have a cut right in the middle of a curve is probably asking for trouble. Hoever, if it is straight track, there is no reaon it can't cross the gap at any angle. In fact an angle might be BETTER than goign straight across since while one side would be crossing the gap, the other side would have solid rail, and vice-versa.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Here's a link to a recent PDF in MR's "articles section" on a swinging gate...
http://www.trains.com/mrr/default.aspx?c=a&id=1100
...with some pictures of angled cuts across tracks that may be helpful for perspective.
Conemaugh Road & Traction circa 1956
The common advice from most people I've read about is, "no duck unders and no swinging gates." But go to any train show and you see dozens of modules with sectional track that seems to work flawlessly.
My new layout needed a walk through. I wanted a swing gate. I found about a dozen examples of them with reasonable pictures and some with excellent drawings.
Unlike Crandall, I thought I had above average technical skills. So I built one, er, tried to build one. It seems there are a few basic requirements necessary to make a gate 'easy' and straight forward. They include, but are not limited to:
Like I said, I'm no novice so I ignored rules 1, 2, 3 & 4. After two days of work building the thing, at least a month thinking about how I would actually make it work, and another day and a half trying to make it line up reliably, I abandoned the whole thing and redesigned my layout to not require a walk through at all.
Conclusions.
Just my 2 cents, not worth a cent more!
Joe
Simon Modelling CB&Q and Wabash See my slowly evolving layout on my picturetrail site http://www.picturetrail.com/simontrains and our videos at http://www.youtube.com/user/MrCrispybake?feature=mhum
My two removable yard throats have a total of nine break-line curved crossings, at angles ranging from 10 degrees to 65 degrees. They're all solidly anchored Atlas code 100 flex, pre-curved to eliminate any tendency to shift sideways. In addition, I have used straight guard rails on the inside of each crossing, and `battered' all of the rail ends to eliminate any potential flange climbing points.
The key is to align both sides of the break within a few thousandths of a millimeter, both horizontally and vertically. Any significant deviation is an invitation to disaster.
Chuck (modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
If your choices are duckunder, liftout, or swingign gate, the gate is by far the more desireable choice. Properly built it will be plenty reliable AND gives you full access. Liftouts can be reliable but are more of a pain to get through. AN dduckunders, well, I like the top of my head. In a non-traditional layout design, such as a mushroom, you can do thinks like have a step or two down at the duckunder point and increase the clearance.
Dr. Frankendiesel aka Scott Running BearSpace Mouse for president!15 year veteran fire fighterCollector of Apple //e'sRunning Bear EnterprisesHistory Channel Club life member.beatus homo qui invenit sapientiam
Hi John! Hope all is well. I'd certainly like to see and read more about how you did what you did so well!
Oh, and I ran my first train around my new 220' mainline last night!