Small Big Box Shelf Layout - 20"x29"

[M.C. Fujiwara]

While I still love Free-moN, I've given away all my modules except Shoofly, meaning my only "home layout" is my 1'x6' Alameda Belt-in-a-Box shelf switching layout.
I really miss my 23"x41" Mt. Coffin & Columbia River layout:



& the fact that I could just fire it up & zone out or work while watching trains roll round through scenes.
[Crappy trackwork subverted the rolling, thus the scrapping]

A year ago or so, inspired by the small layouts of David K Smith & Chris333, I built some 10"x29" module sections that could be paired back to back to create a table-top roundy round layout:



Or end to end to create a linear switching layout:



Why 10"x29"? Because most important, I designed & built them so they could "stack" & fit into a standard IKEA shelving unit:





Because I know two certainties in life:
1) I will be moving (again) at some point, &
2) at least 1 of the kabillion IKEA shelving products my kids' mom has had me assemble over the last 15 years will probably make the move with me.

So here's the rough design I came up with:



Am currently building only the far left pair, but planning for expansion.
Each pairing would fit on another IKEA shelf.
The far right pieces would allow for a longer roundy round layout, an "L", or an interchange option, along with two clamp-on staging/tail tracks.
And here's the long switching shelf option:



Will be DCC:



[plate will be mounted from the interior to reduce profile]

And somewhat modular, being connected with alignment nails & 1/4" bolts:



spaced by this high-tech jig:



Next: Handlaid curved 3-way turnout? Why not?

[Chris333]

Love it! Can't wait to see it come to shape.

I read all the time online about Ikea stuff, but since there is no store in my area I've never seen any of their stuff in person.

[M.C. Fujiwara]

Gorilla Glued GapMasters at the boundaries:



Two ties on each side is probably enough, so I can cut them in half.

Put down some cardstock to layout the turnouts:



Will need one 3-way turnout with two curved diverging routes, so I mocked it up on AnyRail using 8 1/2" radii & then "easementing" the section through the frogs a bit to create a template:



For the other side I darkened the rail tops with marker, turned it upside down, & pressed into position to create the diverging route.
In between used Fast Tracks templates:



Building this as all one unit:



Got the ties secured with spray adhesive, then started with the long, straight common rail.
Filed & grinded down the point rail notches before installing--you can see two notches for back-to-back point rails here (between the dark-grey bars indicating where the throwbars will go):



Am tackling the tough 3-way first, and starting from the through rail "up":





Then filling in the mess in the middle:





Trucks run through fine, though I'll probably replace the top guard rail with one that extends right another tie.

The fun part will be cutting the iso gaps & wiring the slide switches not to short stuff out.
Should be fine (I had a 3-way on Mt. Coffin & Columbia River that worked relatively great), though I might have to use a jeweler's saw instead of a Dedeco cutting disc (too big & cuts into neighboring rail).
And the fact that a 3-way turnout has some very short point rails, so the AdaFruit slide switches might throw too far.
Might need to do the z-bend, or cut a channel in the throwbar to take up the travel.
We'll see 

Fun to work on own project again, & outside comfort zone.
Thanks for looking.

[Dave V]

Oh, boy, this is gonna be good!

[Chris333]

I made a similar turnout once, but much longer:
https://picasaweb.google.com/ErieChris333/NScale#5124035669800488066

What radius are you using?

[M.C. Fujiwara]

I made a similar turnout once, but much longer:
https://picasaweb.google.com/ErieChris333/NScale#5124035669800488066

& much prettier.
 

Dr. Dave: Thanks! I hope it looks good too.
If this 3-way fails then I'll probably just chuck the whole project 

[Dave V]

If this 3-way fails... 

Just make sure you have a "safe word" and everything'll be OK...   

[M.C. Fujiwara]

Just make sure you have a "safe word" and everything'll be OK...   

As "Rerailer" can be confused as a command, I usually go with "Code 80" 

[M.C. Fujiwara]

What radius are you using?

I think about 8 3/4" on average.
9" theoretical.
Gets funny as flubber around the turnouts.
 

[eric220]

I think about 8 3/4" on average.
9" theoretical.
Gets funny as flubber around the turnouts.
 

I see we're not going to be running my centipedes on that!

[M.C. Fujiwara]

I see we're not going to be running my centipedes on that!

Maybe yr decipedes.
Or unipedes.
Or former Oakland A's Cespedes.
(STOOOOOPID TRADE!!)

[basementcalling]

Hammer time.   

Looks coolio!

[davefoxx]

It could always be the photograph, but I swear that I see a misalignment in your turnout.  Coming from the points into the sharpest left hand turn, when you get to the first frog, it looks like the right-hand rail (the curved closure rail) is about a railhead's width off, so that wheels would catch the point of the frog (your guardrails may be preventing this, although that would mean the gauge is wide before the frog).  On second glance, it appears there may be a similar problem at the second frog of this same route.

Hope this helps,
DFF

[wazzou]

The first frog definitely looks like it sticks out too far towards the points.

[M.C. Fujiwara]

Thanks for the feedback.
Looks ugly, but trucks run through pretty well.
So it must be the photo's fault 

I've left a lot of the rails unsoldered, and am tweaking little by little as I go.
Already replaced one point rail / wing.
I intentionally made the frogs a little longer, as it's easier to file back than try to grow longer 
But sometimes just heating up the solder & nudging a rail a micron over makes everything run rockingly.
Definitely taking a long, slow time on this one.
& if I eff-up I'll throw this project back into storage, build a new x-mas tree layout for my parents, and then come back to this later