My layout in the making

[dynamite25]

Well i only built the frame today and fitted it as i was to tired to do any more work and my back was hurting abit to but i have some photos of the frame.

[Guest]

thats about two weeks work at the speed i go at !!

well done m8, coming along a treat

[dynamite25]

That frame took me an hour to build but the 6x3 took me a few days to build plus i still need to build the removeable section too then build the upper level on them when the ply tops are fitted at the weekend.

[Guest]

Coming on nicely now Steven and a lot of work clearly gone into that.

Bet B&Q are making a fortune out of you with all that wood....!!

Keep us posted as it looks very promising.

Regards........Mark

[dynamite25]

They'll be making more money from me this weekend when i buy yet more timber plus i'm buying more track that is need to complete it.

[dynamite25]

Well today i remove the 6x3 baseboard to sand the brace for the 6x4 baseboard as i will need it when i cut i hole through the side of the frame for the track to the lift,also i thought the track going to the lift would just be all straight track across the 6x3 baseboard then a curve section but know i forgot that the brace isn't a complete 3ft as i had to cut about 3" off for the screws holding the leg onto frame to beable to be removed.

so now the track will have to cuvre across the baseboard about 6" using 2 R.606 and 1 R.600 so the track will be inline with the hole for the track to the lift,but it's just good that i found out now and not after i had glued the brace onto the frame.

And also the 6x3 baseboard slides in better now i have sanded the brace abit more.

Heres a photo to show what i mean about the track also that part of the board where the track is will be cut out and lowered from 0mm to 60mm below the main baseboard but will be 6ft long and not just where the track is in the photo.

[dynamite25]

Couldn't wait till saturday so i got my dad to take me to B&Q tomorrow after he finishes work for the timber then saturday i will get the track, plus i started to dismantle the cross members of the 6x4 frame work ready for tomorrow here some pics to see the bare frame.







the pile of wood you see on the train set boxes are the cross members that i used for the layout and now i will replace them with 3x1 timber for added strength.

[dynamite25]

Got the wood today and have put new cross members in and refitted ply tops here's some photos of the new cross member from underneath the layout as i decided to take them after fitting tops on.









And heres 2 photos with the plytops refitted and the other bareframe refitted too and the 6x3 has just been place in postion for now as i need to hover the floor and it was in the way.

[dynamite25]

Well today i got the ply top completely screwed down here's some pic of the finished baseboard tops.





And i also got this done today aswell which is the incline towards the lift just needs to blocks fitted under it to hold it in place here's some pics of it.

This one is of the hole i had to cut through the frame of the other baseboard frame work so i could carry the track throught it towards the train lift.



and these are from different angles

[dynamite25]

Today i got all the upper level done apart from afew supports and the removeable section which will be built tomorrow i have done abit of it today by fitting two side rails to support it,i will have some photos tomorrow as i need to clean the layout up after a hard days working on it.Also the incline is in too which looks better the way i did it which is the same way adrian has done on his and karls layout,tomorrow i will also start glueing cork down for the diesel depot area and engine shed area too.

If i can get the layout cleaned up after i will try and take some photos of the upper level and the finished incline, the return incline will be built when the track has been pinned down as it will be easier to do it then.

[dynamite25]

Started laying track down even though the cork isn't glued down yet as i needed to know if i would need any more cork an boy do i need more,i've tried to salvage as much as i can but i think i will need another two packs atleast but the problem is i don't get paid for another week and half :-( so i will have to wait till then to get some more.

Plus some of the cork needs tobe cut to size as it is slightly wider than the ply here's some photos i took tonite.

[dynamite25]

Here's some latest pics of the layout with more track layed out, but some parts of the layout i have to cut R.600 track section to fit in where need.Plus the cork on layout that isn't glued down needs to be cut to size and i have just layed down the cork just so i can lay the track on top of it.

[dynamite25]

Started pinning track down this morning but yesterday when i cut the cork the track wasn't in the right place so i ended up cutting it to short so i have had to cut an extra 26mm wide piece to add to the other cork so the track when layed will have a 10mm shoulder at the side, and this afternoon i will be for the first time on my layout soldering the rails to brass screws and solder dropper wire to the underside of the rails for power.

[dynamite25]

Well the soldering begins tonite as i have just glued the edges of two cork sheets to hold them in place when i drill the holes for the brass screws to hold the rails in place,once i get into the swing of things it shouldn't take me long to do it all but i will cut the track rails once i have done all the lower level and then check each join that power is being transfered throught the wires.

[dynamite25]

Well i did the first two soldered rails just so here's some pic's







When i drilled the a holes for the screws i think i should used a 2.5mm drill instead of a 3.2mm drill as the screws went in on a angle instead of straight so i will have to use a smaller drill for the rest of them and make a better job of them than that one.