07-23-2023, 09:23 PM
Progressing slowly, We've had a heat wave for the past week here (yes we do get hot summers in Canada) and I've been doing all my carpentry work in the garage.
I cut the profile boards for the end tiers, I screwed them together in pairs so the would be cut out the same.
After cutting them out I checked my cuts with the orginal base. They might be a bit short, but the 1/2" steps will be on top of the and any difference after can be fixed with shims or foundations for the trestle bents. At this point I also cut out the steps, they were all 12" long but varied from 2"- 3" wide.
Yesterday morning I attached the profile boards and placed the steps loosly on them. I wanted to check the fit with the trestle before tacking enverything together permenatly. I also cut some cork roadbed to get the correct track height. I'm quite happy with how it turned out. When I added the profile boards, they squared the end plates with the base, giving me the 1/16" the was pinching in before. I also found that the Trestle did have to be shimmed up just a bit which also gave me 1/2" on the bottom so I can add some foam for scuplting the creekbed in.
So I'm happy with how it's turned out so far. When I finished checking I pulled it aparts and started to do some painting:
Another local modeler who built his free-mo module a few years ago painted the underside of his in white. It give a nice clean look and makes things easier to see if you need to check on something at a show. I have a bit more of underside to paint in white, since that includes the insides of the ends
After the paint has cured, I'll attach the steps.
Today I got a piece of 1/2" foam that I'll cut down for the bottom and possibly on some of the steps.
I cut the profile boards for the end tiers, I screwed them together in pairs so the would be cut out the same.
After cutting them out I checked my cuts with the orginal base. They might be a bit short, but the 1/2" steps will be on top of the and any difference after can be fixed with shims or foundations for the trestle bents. At this point I also cut out the steps, they were all 12" long but varied from 2"- 3" wide.
Yesterday morning I attached the profile boards and placed the steps loosly on them. I wanted to check the fit with the trestle before tacking enverything together permenatly. I also cut some cork roadbed to get the correct track height. I'm quite happy with how it turned out. When I added the profile boards, they squared the end plates with the base, giving me the 1/16" the was pinching in before. I also found that the Trestle did have to be shimmed up just a bit which also gave me 1/2" on the bottom so I can add some foam for scuplting the creekbed in.
So I'm happy with how it's turned out so far. When I finished checking I pulled it aparts and started to do some painting:
Another local modeler who built his free-mo module a few years ago painted the underside of his in white. It give a nice clean look and makes things easier to see if you need to check on something at a show. I have a bit more of underside to paint in white, since that includes the insides of the ends
After the paint has cured, I'll attach the steps.
Today I got a piece of 1/2" foam that I'll cut down for the bottom and possibly on some of the steps.