We're planning an over-ambitious OO layout in our son's small bedroom. It's a little tricky to describe, but the centrepiece is a mountain.
Imagine a basic oval sitting at one level above ground, 3rd degree radius with 2 r600 straights on one edge and 2 points on the other. This is the outside of the layout. Into one point goes an incline which wraps inside the oval on its way down (2nd degree radius) and out the front to a station along one wall - the overall shape is of a question mark. Out of the other point goes an inside rise - currently I'm thinking this could lead to a semi-helix construction, which would join the path of the rise on its way up on the storey above. It would make a half-turn with the track underneath. This semi-helix would ultimately be under the mountain, then the top level come out on top and peel off. This should (if I've worked it out right) be slightly inside the 3rd degree radius, using a combination of bridges and side-of-mountain stuff. It then makes a final 3/4 circle, flying out sideways along another wall of the bedroom. That is all probably inexplicable.... sorry!
I've done some incline tests on this idea using rough supports and the trains can make it up and down reliably, it seems. The problem now is the practical one of how on earth to construct it, if it is possible - the margins are super-tight all round.
My current thinking is to build effectively a 2nd baseboard above the first, which is just a perimeter and hollow inside. This would be the first level. I guess I could use any rigid material for this - the base is 18mm chipboard with a nice 50cm diameter hole in the middle for access, I guess 12mm chipboard for level one would be fine (I'm put off mdf because of track pins). But how to construct the ramps? I guess plywood is best here - what thickness? 6mm? Also, what sort of support? I had a look at the Noch helix which looks like a great design, but not quite the right dimensions in our case. Is it possible to make these kinds of supports and DIY?
All help and advice appreciated!
Imagine a basic oval sitting at one level above ground, 3rd degree radius with 2 r600 straights on one edge and 2 points on the other. This is the outside of the layout. Into one point goes an incline which wraps inside the oval on its way down (2nd degree radius) and out the front to a station along one wall - the overall shape is of a question mark. Out of the other point goes an inside rise - currently I'm thinking this could lead to a semi-helix construction, which would join the path of the rise on its way up on the storey above. It would make a half-turn with the track underneath. This semi-helix would ultimately be under the mountain, then the top level come out on top and peel off. This should (if I've worked it out right) be slightly inside the 3rd degree radius, using a combination of bridges and side-of-mountain stuff. It then makes a final 3/4 circle, flying out sideways along another wall of the bedroom. That is all probably inexplicable.... sorry!
I've done some incline tests on this idea using rough supports and the trains can make it up and down reliably, it seems. The problem now is the practical one of how on earth to construct it, if it is possible - the margins are super-tight all round.
My current thinking is to build effectively a 2nd baseboard above the first, which is just a perimeter and hollow inside. This would be the first level. I guess I could use any rigid material for this - the base is 18mm chipboard with a nice 50cm diameter hole in the middle for access, I guess 12mm chipboard for level one would be fine (I'm put off mdf because of track pins). But how to construct the ramps? I guess plywood is best here - what thickness? 6mm? Also, what sort of support? I had a look at the Noch helix which looks like a great design, but not quite the right dimensions in our case. Is it possible to make these kinds of supports and DIY?
All help and advice appreciated!