11-19-2014, 10:46 AM
There seems to a be a bit confusion on this thread between modules and sectional baseboards. Maybe it's just semantics, also there is a continental language divide (I'm in the UK)
To my mind there are two main types of layout benchwork.
Layouts that are built in-situ and are fixed in place, with no thoughts of portability
Layouts with sectional baseboards, design to be moved, whether for transport to exhibitions or simply for moving house or if there is not room to have them up permanently.
Modular is a sub-section of sectional. A module follows whichever standards the builder chooses (Free-mo, NMRA, NTrak, Fremo, etc), but are designed to be joined, in multiple configurations with other modules. A module can consist of multiple boards/sections, as long as the ends meet the standard for joining to other modules.
Svein's layout is a hybrid of a permanent in-situ layout (the outside staging) which has some Fremo modular standard ends and some sectional boards with Fremo modular standard ends that don't meet Fremo modular standards due to curve radius and a curved Fremo spec single section module and two multi-section Fremo spec modules. The multi-section modules can be removed and taken to modular meet-ups, or even put in store and replaced with other modules (providing they fit in the space)
I do like the concept, It combines the best of both worlds. In some ways it reminds me of the RS Tower layout <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://rstower.wordpress.com/">http://rstower.wordpress.com/</a><!-- m --> which is built as a 27′ x 11′ sectional portable exhibition layout, but has a junction at each end with board ends built to Freemo (UK spec) modular standards, so can become part of a modular setup.
To my mind there are two main types of layout benchwork.
Layouts that are built in-situ and are fixed in place, with no thoughts of portability
Layouts with sectional baseboards, design to be moved, whether for transport to exhibitions or simply for moving house or if there is not room to have them up permanently.
Modular is a sub-section of sectional. A module follows whichever standards the builder chooses (Free-mo, NMRA, NTrak, Fremo, etc), but are designed to be joined, in multiple configurations with other modules. A module can consist of multiple boards/sections, as long as the ends meet the standard for joining to other modules.
Svein's layout is a hybrid of a permanent in-situ layout (the outside staging) which has some Fremo modular standard ends and some sectional boards with Fremo modular standard ends that don't meet Fremo modular standards due to curve radius and a curved Fremo spec single section module and two multi-section Fremo spec modules. The multi-section modules can be removed and taken to modular meet-ups, or even put in store and replaced with other modules (providing they fit in the space)
I do like the concept, It combines the best of both worlds. In some ways it reminds me of the RS Tower layout <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://rstower.wordpress.com/">http://rstower.wordpress.com/</a><!-- m --> which is built as a 27′ x 11′ sectional portable exhibition layout, but has a junction at each end with board ends built to Freemo (UK spec) modular standards, so can become part of a modular setup.
Tim David