The spacings between the block walls guarantee the correct horizontal dimensions. The height of the block walls provides a vertical ruler in the third dimension and the blocks also act as temporary retaining walls while the four vertical 2:1 shoulders harden with the cement so they can stand on their own. Same way they make sidewalks and curbs. This is a 3D build.
Tomorrow, when the Grade 2 slopes are dry, I remove the blocks and add a 2.6 mm level Grade 2 ballast between the two shoulders I just built and this prototype model is complete. The tracks are the only thing left to install but that is not part of this build as I mentioned previously.
One last comment about the height of the level ballast. Since the blocks will not be in place when I put the ballast down, I will know I have built up the ballast to 2.6 mm because I will be designing 7"x9" cross-sectional ties. Everything below depends on everything above.
Also, an interceptor ditch cannot be built until my vertical scenery contours are built - also not part of this thread.
So I'm performing music downtown nightclubs tonight so you won't hear from me until tomorrow.
OldSchoolScratchbuilder The spacings between the block walls guarantee the correct horizontal dimensions. The height of the block walls provide a vertical ruler in the third dimension and the blocks also act as temporary retaining walls while the four vertical 2:1 shoulders harden with the cement so they can stand on their own. Same way they make sidewalks and curbs. This is a 3D build.
The spacings between the block walls guarantee the correct horizontal dimensions. The height of the block walls provide a vertical ruler in the third dimension and the blocks also act as temporary retaining walls while the four vertical 2:1 shoulders harden with the cement so they can stand on their own. Same way they make sidewalks and curbs. This is a 3D build.
Rich
Alton Junction
richhotrain Did you fabricate these aluminum blocks yourself, specifically for this project? Rich
Did you fabricate these aluminum blocks yourself, specifically for this project?
OldSchoolScratchbuilder richhotrain Did you fabricate these aluminum blocks yourself, specifically for this project? Rich No. You can buy them at any stained glass hobby shop or probably online. They are called Layout Block System and are made by Morton Glass Works, Inc in Morton, Illinois. Comes with the pins.
I have removed the L-blocks and took this closeup before filling in the final ballast that goes under the track. The L-blocks did a nice job of supporting the shoulders while they dried.
Final ballast laid plus temporary track and some Scenic Cement. A little tidying up still to do with a fine brush and sponge. Now I can say this railbed is an HO scale replica built to the Canadian National Engineering Specifications for Industrial Tracks, produced by the CN Office of Chief Engineer Structures, Design and Construction, Revision date November 15, 2015.
First CN locomotive on the new track hauling a real load of Nova Scotia coal. This is the end of this project! Thanks for your interest.