04-25-2010, 06:43 PM
Matt - you're right, L-girder is tall! I believe it can be a useful system, as I've seen on many layouts in person and online, when the best use is made of the flexibility. Box frame or butt joint takes a bit more planning, perhaps, so that you don't put a turnout throw over a cross brace, whereas with L girder you just move a joist as necessary to avoid such things.
What frustrates me about L-girder, although not necessarily the system itself, is how it's used in the construction of beginner layouts. A Kalmbach video from the 80's with Wayne Wesolowski shows how to build a 4'x6' beginner layout using L-girder. They do a great job assembling girders and leg units, then adding the joists across the girders. Finally they plunk a sheet of plywood down on the whole thing. WHAT? Why go to all the trouble of L girder construction if you're not going to use risers and cookie cutter roadbed in order to take full advantage of the depth?
Granted, they do cut a water feature into one side and need to shift a joist, but I get the impression this wasn't planned. The whole thing looks a little slap dash at first. But a table-top layout doesn't need L-girder. IMO, it will gain more strength from a box frame a la the good 'ole Atlas plan book method.
I'm going to be working on the track plan tonight, and will hopefully get something scanned and posted. My printer/scanner has been acting up so we'll see how much frustration I want to endure to get it done, or else I'll have to do it tomorrow at work.
As for the cutting, well, most modelers can use a scale rule and some even use a caliper to cut very precise lengths of scale lumber. Yet somehow we get into trouble cutting actual 1x4s. Go figure. Measure 10 cut 1.
Thanks for the good feedback!
Galen
What frustrates me about L-girder, although not necessarily the system itself, is how it's used in the construction of beginner layouts. A Kalmbach video from the 80's with Wayne Wesolowski shows how to build a 4'x6' beginner layout using L-girder. They do a great job assembling girders and leg units, then adding the joists across the girders. Finally they plunk a sheet of plywood down on the whole thing. WHAT? Why go to all the trouble of L girder construction if you're not going to use risers and cookie cutter roadbed in order to take full advantage of the depth?
Granted, they do cut a water feature into one side and need to shift a joist, but I get the impression this wasn't planned. The whole thing looks a little slap dash at first. But a table-top layout doesn't need L-girder. IMO, it will gain more strength from a box frame a la the good 'ole Atlas plan book method.
I'm going to be working on the track plan tonight, and will hopefully get something scanned and posted. My printer/scanner has been acting up so we'll see how much frustration I want to endure to get it done, or else I'll have to do it tomorrow at work.
As for the cutting, well, most modelers can use a scale rule and some even use a caliper to cut very precise lengths of scale lumber. Yet somehow we get into trouble cutting actual 1x4s. Go figure. Measure 10 cut 1.
Thanks for the good feedback!
Galen
I may not be a rivet counter, but I sure do like rivets!