Satisfactory weight

28 March, 2009

By using foamboard I am saving a lot of weight. The basic shelf unit I had made last year weighs in at 18lb. It's made of pine, hardboard (masonite) and celotex (England's version of Homesote but not quite the quality).

After getting the base foamboard units done, their weight is 3lb 11 oz. That's over 14lbs less - you can color me happy. I reckon by the time I do the fiberglass resin and connectors, it'll still be under 5 lbs.

How I am going to do the actual trackwork is still hanging in the balance. I have a lot of foamboard, so could cut out some more sections to use as scenery cores and trackbed. Woodlands Scenics lightweight Hydrocal will handle the rest. One idea is to make the track/scenery base detachable so I could swap layouts and still use the core base units (the more I think about this the better it sounds).

The track plan based on the Wiscasset Waterfront I like, but may move stuff around - in which case it would not longer be a reconizable Wiscasset. I suppose not having a specific topic to work with doesn't help. The mining camp, as it was, won't work on the base units as they are narrower by about 5 inches. I may even go wild and do something radical. What I don't want to do is get stuck in a semi-permanent "planning stage rut".

posted on 22:19   link | comments (0)   . . . . .  

Making it strong

20 March, 2009

Done properly, with decent siding and internal support a foamboard base for a model railroad can be fairly strong. To strengthen further, I have ordered some resin. This is the same stuff they use when making surfboards. It doesn't attack the foam and 2-3 coats should give me the extra support I want.

There are some other pieces to be cut out and glued together yet, so the weekend should see more progression. When the layout is done and running I'll do a write up on it and some of the processes I used. I do not put partial projects online as they are being built (except blog entries) - "under construction" stuff is not for me.

All this is in-between handling client sites and redoing my blog software for download from it's site.

posted on 17:33   link | comments (0)   . . . . .  

Bending foamboard

13 March, 2009

Now that I have the tops cut out for my units, it's tiime to begin on all the stuff underneath. Supports, edges and reinforcement all need to be put together. Back in January I wrote, "I never said it was straight". Well, I meant it. The layout will have no straight edges, except on the vertical. To do this I need to bend the foamboard.

Some sections will be fairly easy as the curves are slight. The ends however are different matter. I did a quick search and found where a model airplane guy is using foamboard and he siimply used water. The outer skins are nothing more than high quality cardboard (thick paper). The first try was a disaster, then I realized that a model airplane more than likely only used 2 or 3mm thick board. Mine is 5mm thick, architectural model grade with another kind of bonding and different kettle of fish (his was cheap Wal-Mart stuff)

A soak makes the card wet, wipe it off, set the bend and let it dry overnight. It should end up just as rigid as the original and be curved. I can see my soak will have to be longer as a 5 minute one did not do the trick. It's now late and I'll have another go in the morning.

posted on 23:29   link | comments (0)   . . . . .  

Started base work

11 March, 2009

The foamboard that's been sitting in my studio for a month or so has begun to be cut up. I cut out the first parts of my base unit the other day and will be assembling it shortly. I've a minor sprain on my wrist so will let that calm down first.

The unit will have three sections that are going to be held together in some fashion. I've not really decided how yet. A guy in Scotland uses rare earth magents for this, but I'm a bit wary of that. The magnets may work well on wood based units, but foamboard ones are different. My concern would be taking the thing apart for exihibitions and the like. So connections will be a watch this space thingy.

posted on 08:41   link | comments (0)   . . . . .