Seaboard Central 2.0

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Wow, you'd never know that it was ever any different.

[davefoxx]

This update is for @Dave Vollmer and anyone else who has a HCD layout with banquet legs.  As those folks know, banquet legs (especially when extended, as I did with electrical conduit) allow the table to shake, especially end-to-end.  The slightest bump against the table is often the equivalent of a 10.0 earthquake.  This problem was minimized when the extension was attached to the original layout, because the extension was screwed to the wall.  Now that the extension is gone, the shimmy is back.

So, while in Home Depot this afternoon looking for some hardware for another model railroading project, I came across some aluminum strips.  So, it occurred to me that four strips could be used as angled braces, like that which you see on layouts built with wood benchwork.  Since I have metal legs, though, I just needed to use some self-tapping metal screws.  No problem.



Here's a second shot a little more up the skirt.  I glued some blocks to the underside of the HCD to secure the other ends of the aluminum strips.  Two C-clamps give away the location of those blocks.  I'm using C-clamps to help secure the blocks until the glue sets up, since it's not really possible to use screws to provide sufficient clamping power to the thin lauan surface of the HCD.  Believe me, I tried.



The table is rock-solid now, and I can still easily crawl under the layout when necessary. That's good, because I have some wiring to clean up under there.

DFF

[Scottl]

Nice solution.  That shake would have derailed trains, no?

[Rich_S]

Dave, Very nice solution to a shaky problem  I'm curious, what size hole saw are you using? Any chance of running a bolt up through your wood block and getting a nut on the top of it?

[davefoxx]

Nice solution.  That shake would have derailed trains, no?

Yeah, it could.  Thankfully, since the shake was mostly end-to-end on the table, cars usually just rolled down the tracks.  But, it was unnerving when my four-year-old daughter would come in the train room and try to swing around the table legs.

Thanks,
Dave

[davefoxx]

Dave, Very nice solution to a shaky problem  I'm curious, what size hole saw are you using? Any chance of running a bolt up through your wood block and getting a nut on the top of it?

I think the hole saw is 1-1/4".  There's definitely enough room to get a bolt through the block and a nut on top, if necessary.

Thanks,
Dave

EDIT: The hole saw is a 2-1/4". 

[Dave V]

This update is for @Dave Vollmer and anyone else who has a HCD layout with banquet legs.  As those folks know, banquet legs (especially when extended, as I did with electrical conduit) allow the table to shake, especially end-to-end.  The slightest bump against the table is often the equivalent of a 10.0 earthquake.  This problem was minimized when the extension was attached to the original layout, because the extension was screwed to the wall.  Now that the extension is gone, the shimmy is back.

So, while in Home Depot this afternoon looking for some hardware for another model railroading project, I came across some aluminum strips.  So, it occurred to me that four strips could be used as angled braces, like that which you see on layouts built with wood benchwork.  Since I have metal legs, though, I just needed to use some self-tapping metal screws.  No problem.



Here's a second shot a little more up the skirt.  I glued some blocks to the underside of the HCD to secure the other ends of the aluminum strips.  Two C-clamps give away the location of those blocks.  I'm using C-clamps to help secure the blocks until the glue sets up, since it's not really possible to use screws to provide sufficient clamping power to the thin lauan surface of the HCD.  Believe me, I tried.



The table is rock-solid now, and I can still easily crawl under the layout when necessary. That's good, because I have some wiring to clean up under there.

DFF

Very elegant solution to a problem that's plagued me for 14 years!

[davefoxx]

The other project I wanted to start this weekend: a two-track storage yard on a shelf that swings under the layout for stowage.  This is based on the design of the swing-out section on MR's project layout, the Winston-Salem Southbound.  I'm just testing the hinge in the following pictures, to make sure it works and clears the table leg.  Obviously, it's not finished, as it needs a spine to straighten and stiffen the shelf, roadbed, track, and Masonite fascia.  Please ignore the temporary leg, as a folding leg will be constructed that swings up under the shelf when stowed.



Here, is what it will look like when stowed out of the way.  Nice.



DFF

[jmarley76]

But, it was unnerving when my four-year-old daughter would come in the train room and try to swing around the table legs.

Preach on, brother! 

The dog thinks they are scratching posts... 

[OldEastRR]

Triangular stiffening braces are the way to go to get stability. I learned that with my Kenner Bridge and Turnpike sets. Best results are when the stiffener starts as close to the floor as possible, but on higher layouts that's a big obstruction to getting under. I'm thinking of doing arches like was in the March 2016 MR. Same stability but much better clearance. Don't think that'd work for portable legs, tho.

[davefoxx]

I got the track installed on the two-track swing out staging section.  Ignore the temporary leg at left.



I'm pleased that each track holds nine 50' cars, which will give the layout some operational flexibility.



I still need to install the Masonite fascia/guardrail and build the folding leg.  I also need to add feeders and power the frog on the section.  I just need to figure out the cleanest way to add wiring and still allow the section to swing back and stow under the main layout.

DFF

[Chris333]

So wait. You tear it down to rebuild, but keep adding on 

[davefoxx]

So wait. You tear it down to rebuild, but keep adding on 

I knew someone would bring this up.  But, keep in mind that this addition stays within the parameters of the HCD, i.e., the swing-out section, when easily stowed, keeps the overall size of the layout to a HCD.  But, I can fold out the staging and temporarily add some capacity to the layout.

Like I wrote earlier, if and when I get the room ready for an around-the-walls layout, I'll sell the Seaboard Central 2.0.  So, I might as well make this thing marketable.  Besides, this is the closest I have ever gotten to completing a layout.  Track and even ballasting are finished.  I just need to finish the scenery and clean up some wiring.  The scenery will be good practice for me, and this layout can continue to serve as a test bed for scenery materials and techniques.  In short, let's face it, a layout with the square footage of a HCD is probably about all I can comfortably build and maintain.

DFF

[wm3798]

I recommend some guard rails on the little yard tail... it's a long way down to that concrete floor!

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Oh yeah. I liked Lee's old screen solution (using some doubled over window screen as a barrier), since it's flexible too. It catches, but it also has some give to it.