Building laminated sub-roadbed on a flat surface
The DAP Fast ’n Final spackle (top left) is spread along the sub-roadbed. This will fill all the grooves. With the sub-roadbed clamped from the side (top center), the cork roadbed is laid down and a ¹/₂″ hole is drilled for the throw rod of the switch ma- chine. Next the rail, including the switch, is laid down (above right). The section of track is now operable (left). Shay No. 31 drifts down grade toward the mill. The un- finished scenery base still has the red rosin paper and cardboard strips. The scenery is still a work in progress (bottom).
shelf portion of the railroad made this method undoable. The switch machine buss is hung on the front of the support brackets by cup hooks screwed into the wood portion of the support. The two wires are held together by zip ties. The DCC buss is supported the same way, about three inches back from the front. Both the DCC and the switch ma-
chine busses are 12 gauge solid wires. We use solid wire because it is so much easier to strip and solder. The places where the busses are tapped to provide power to the switch machines or the track are separated by at least four inches to preclude short circuits. Every length of track between expansion gaps has at least one set of feeders. To a lover of small engines working up six percent grades with empties up and loads down, the Big Trees branch is a joy to behold. Next came the fitting of the fascia, hot gluing the cardboard in place, and working on the scenery. All this had to be done on stools. Oh, my aching back!
76 JUNE 2014
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