QUOTE (Al @ 25 Feb 2008, 08:40)
<{POST_SNAPBACK}>Remagen is likely to be a portable layout for a few years until it finds a permanent home. This means I'll need to fit track joints over the baseboard joints. On my old OO layout I fitted copper strip along the joint edges and soldered rails so that when the boards were bolted together the rail end matched up. However, in N gauge I don't think the alignment would be accurate enough for he rolling stock.
What would people recommend...?
***For really good alignment you really need two things: the copperclad at the baseboard ends as above PLUS baseboard alignment dowells which are far more accurate than bolts.
The Dowells should be put in place as the baseboards are built. I've included a picture of some I had made in quantity that are really easy to use and very accurate. I use these on my own large layout.
My usual procedure is:
build baseboards
* Clamp together in proper alignment and make 1/8" pilot hole for dowells and drill clearance holes for bolts.
* separate and complete drilling for dowells/install dowells (18mm spade bit for shallow counterbore on face of end board then bore * through with a 13mm for dowell base to be a tight push fit.
* push boards together / bolt together, lay trackbed across joint and when in place permanently cut at gap
* lay track across joint and install copperclad sleeper at each side of gap.
* Then cut at gap
This way alighment is always really good.
To help describe it better I removed the brand headings etc (due to list rules) and included an attachment / segment of one page of my catalog below that shows what they look like and describes the installation of alignment dowells in more detail.
Regards
Richard