aflyer FWRIGHT, Thank you for that insight, I may not have been using the term cookie cutter 100% correctly. I have been struggling with fully decking the lower level, not only because I see it as a waste of plywood, but it would also make wiring the upper level much more difficult. If I am reading your suggestion correctly, and looking at my plan I will just need to deck the lower level where the track and buildings are. For the upper level on the long leg the deck will be cut out roughly in the shape of the track with a 1- 2 inch overhang to allow for cardboard webbing and plaster cloth. This gives me the scenery base for the upper leg. Again if I am understanding your suggestion, I think I can follow the same process for the shorter bottom leg following the track with a 1 - 2 inch overhang for webbing and plaster cloth. Thank you, Aflyer
FWRIGHT,
Thank you for that insight, I may not have been using the term cookie cutter 100% correctly. I have been struggling with fully decking the lower level, not only because I see it as a waste of plywood, but it would also make wiring the upper level much more difficult.
If I am reading your suggestion correctly, and looking at my plan I will just need to deck the lower level where the track and buildings are.
For the upper level on the long leg the deck will be cut out roughly in the shape of the track with a 1- 2 inch overhang to allow for cardboard webbing and plaster cloth. This gives me the scenery base for the upper leg.
Again if I am understanding your suggestion, I think I can follow the same process for the shorter bottom leg following the track with a 1 - 2 inch overhang for webbing and plaster cloth.
Thank you,
Aflyer
Using the 1/2" ply you would really need the added width, this is not only for attachment of scenery, but you may need the extra strength of the plywood strips. Getting down to less than 2 1/2" wide using 1/2" ply can start to get weak on 16" centers. You may also find that cutting radius pieces where the "outer ply graining starts to go close to 45 degrees, the subroadbed could be made wider as the plywood looses it's strength cut w/ outer crossgrains. As long as you don't need to have elevation start a quick drop trackside, you can allow the subroadbed to be strips as wide as practical. 3-4" should be no trouble. For construction like this, I would use 3/4" and not have to worry about sag or deflection of the narrowed strips of birch 1/2".
This is a mix of pine spline and 3/4' ply wider pieces are for trackside structures etc
Modeling B&O- Chessie Bob K. www.ssmrc.org