don't forget the 'dead' track section in front of the gap...in case you forget to close the flap........WEEEEEEETHUD
Learning from your mistakes.
When I designed my latest garage layout, I decided it needed a short removable section about 18" wide so that I and visitors could easily walk through to the middle. At 64 I was getting a bit old for all the ducking and crawling under that I had done on previous layouts.
My first idea was a sort of removable tray that would rest on narrow ledges built into the end of each board either side. This was not a success. I made it a tight fit so that it wouldn't wobble and this made it difficult to remove and put back. Lining up the tracks exactly wasn't easy especially as the slightest knock disturbed it. (I could have fitted some locking bolts but never got around to it.) Also I wanted the tracks to have the minimum gap at the breaks which meant that often, when removing the tray, one track would just about catch on another, as it was slid out, due to slight curvature.
In the end I despaired of the process, and so started ducking and crawling under again. Eventually I got fed up with this and decided to use an alternative. I have now changed it to a lifting flap permanently attached by hinges at one side and resting on a ledge the other side when in the down position. This is so much better! No danger of pulling the track out of its chairs, it lifts at the flick of a wrist, and the tracks line up first time every time, so far anyway.
I am going to have to find some way of hiding the hinges in scenery, which luckily I haven't yet started. Since the centre of the pin of the hinge must be at, or slightly above, track top level, it means that they are set several mm above the baseboard. However, this is a small price to pay for the convenience. But guess what - the first few times I approached the new lifting flap I ducked down and crawled under!
My first idea was a sort of removable tray that would rest on narrow ledges built into the end of each board either side. This was not a success. I made it a tight fit so that it wouldn't wobble and this made it difficult to remove and put back. Lining up the tracks exactly wasn't easy especially as the slightest knock disturbed it. (I could have fitted some locking bolts but never got around to it.) Also I wanted the tracks to have the minimum gap at the breaks which meant that often, when removing the tray, one track would just about catch on another, as it was slid out, due to slight curvature.
In the end I despaired of the process, and so started ducking and crawling under again. Eventually I got fed up with this and decided to use an alternative. I have now changed it to a lifting flap permanently attached by hinges at one side and resting on a ledge the other side when in the down position. This is so much better! No danger of pulling the track out of its chairs, it lifts at the flick of a wrist, and the tracks line up first time every time, so far anyway.
I am going to have to find some way of hiding the hinges in scenery, which luckily I haven't yet started. Since the centre of the pin of the hinge must be at, or slightly above, track top level, it means that they are set several mm above the baseboard. However, this is a small price to pay for the convenience. But guess what - the first few times I approached the new lifting flap I ducked down and crawled under!
1 - 10 of 10 Posts
QUOTE (Robert Stokes @ 22 Jun 2008, 18:22) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>When I designed my latest garage layout, I decided it needed a short removable section about 18" wide so that I and visitors could easily walk through to the middle. At 64 I was getting a bit old for all the ducking and crawling under that I had done on previous layouts.
My first idea was a sort of removable tray that would rest on narrow ledges built into the end of each board either side. This was not a success. I made it a tight fit so that it wouldn't wobble and this made it difficult to remove and put back. Lining up the tracks exactly wasn't easy especially as the slightest knock disturbed it. (I could have fitted some locking bolts but never got around to it.) Also I wanted the tracks to have the minimum gap at the breaks which meant that often, when removing the tray, one track would just about catch on another, as it was slid out, due to slight curvature.
In the end I despaired of the process, and so started ducking and crawling under again. Eventually I got fed up with this and decided to use an alternative. I have now changed it to a lifting flap permanently attached by hinges at one side and resting on a ledge the other side when in the down position. This is so much better! No danger of pulling the track out of its chairs, it lifts at the flick of a wrist, and the tracks line up first time every time, so far anyway.
I am going to have to find some way of hiding the hinges in scenery, which luckily I haven't yet started. Since the centre of the pin of the hinge must be at, or slightly above, track top level, it means that they are set several mm above the baseboard. However, this is a small price to pay for the convenience. But guess what - the first few times I approached the new lifting flap I ducked down and crawled under!
Hello Robert.
Any chance of a photo to see how you did it ?
My first idea was a sort of removable tray that would rest on narrow ledges built into the end of each board either side. This was not a success. I made it a tight fit so that it wouldn't wobble and this made it difficult to remove and put back. Lining up the tracks exactly wasn't easy especially as the slightest knock disturbed it. (I could have fitted some locking bolts but never got around to it.) Also I wanted the tracks to have the minimum gap at the breaks which meant that often, when removing the tray, one track would just about catch on another, as it was slid out, due to slight curvature.
In the end I despaired of the process, and so started ducking and crawling under again. Eventually I got fed up with this and decided to use an alternative. I have now changed it to a lifting flap permanently attached by hinges at one side and resting on a ledge the other side when in the down position. This is so much better! No danger of pulling the track out of its chairs, it lifts at the flick of a wrist, and the tracks line up first time every time, so far anyway.
I am going to have to find some way of hiding the hinges in scenery, which luckily I haven't yet started. Since the centre of the pin of the hinge must be at, or slightly above, track top level, it means that they are set several mm above the baseboard. However, this is a small price to pay for the convenience. But guess what - the first few times I approached the new lifting flap I ducked down and crawled under!
Hello Robert.
Any chance of a photo to see how you did it ?
I'd love to show you pictures of it (and the rest of my layout) but I don't know how. I have a digital camera and I can get them transferred to the computer but that's as far as it goes. You should hear what my sons, who are both computer programmers, say about me!
QUOTE (Robert Stokes @ 23 Jun 2008, 06:20) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>I'd love to show you pictures of it (and the rest of my layout) but I don't know how. I have a digital camera and I can get them transferred to the computer but that's as far as it goes. You should hear what my sons, who are both computer programmers, say about me!
Hi Robert.
No problem.If one of your sons has time ask them to set up a Photobucket account for you.You can them upload pictures to your Photobucket account online.It's free & easy.
Keep us posted on how things are going.
Hi Robert.
No problem.If one of your sons has time ask them to set up a Photobucket account for you.You can them upload pictures to your Photobucket account online.It's free & easy.
Keep us posted on how things are going.
Hi Robert,
Sounds like you have solved your access section. Where abouts in N. Lincs are you? If you want, I can offer you some help with posting your pics, PM me if you like and I will give you my number or if you are free on sunday I will be attending the swap meet at the Lincoln show ground (doors from 10 I think) with my brother.
Or pop into Caistor Loco for contact details for Caistorail MRC (not a member but used to drop in when I was living up at Barton) They usually stand at the Lincoln swap meet. They are a very friendly bunch
Brian
CME Milldale
Sounds like you have solved your access section. Where abouts in N. Lincs are you? If you want, I can offer you some help with posting your pics, PM me if you like and I will give you my number or if you are free on sunday I will be attending the swap meet at the Lincoln show ground (doors from 10 I think) with my brother.
Or pop into Caistor Loco for contact details for Caistorail MRC (not a member but used to drop in when I was living up at Barton) They usually stand at the Lincoln swap meet. They are a very friendly bunch
Brian
CME Milldale
I covered a similar hinge by making the hinge on a level with bridge abutements....just slot on a bridge!!
Phil
Phil
You could try a swinging gate section as in this Model Railroader article. http://www.trains.com/mrr/objects/pdf/e0407_bonus.pdf
Thanks for the reference Poliss. I've alrady made my and fitted my lifting flap. It is the same sort of idea as the gate but working in a vertical direction. It has the advantage of being deeper front to back so can contain more in the way of scenery eventually.
To Philg, I shan't use a bridge as I don't think it would look right in this situation. Actually hiding the hinge isn't going to be too difficult. The lifting flap is close to where the line goes through a scenic break into the storage area. This will be a tunnel mouth (as they usually are) and so the land should rise either side of the track at the approach to the tunnel mouth.
To Philg, I shan't use a bridge as I don't think it would look right in this situation. Actually hiding the hinge isn't going to be too difficult. The lifting flap is close to where the line goes through a scenic break into the storage area. This will be a tunnel mouth (as they usually are) and so the land should rise either side of the track at the approach to the tunnel mouth.
QUOTE No problem.If one of your sons has time ask them to set up a Photobucket account for you.You can them upload pictures to your Photobucket account online.It's free & easy.
When that's been done, direct them to this topic in the "About this Bulletin Board" section for instructions on how to get the pictures to appear in your posts.
David
When that's been done, direct them to this topic in the "About this Bulletin Board" section for instructions on how to get the pictures to appear in your posts.
David
1 - 10 of 10 Posts
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