Leggz

Now to the little idea from Phillip Island and District Railway Modellers modular layout, to have the legs being able to screw into the modules.

So I went down to bunnings warehouse, and spoke to a bloke in there about my idea.  Hoping I didnt talk in riddles about my concept...

He put me onto the brand called Leggz unfortunately I cant get a website, but these little furniture studs are fantastic, basically a little nut (similar to) with some grips gets hammered on top of either the underneath or the leg top and then a little screw/bolt gets screwed into the opposite bit eg the leg top, and there we have it a easy screw the legs onto the module when required then all we do is unscrew them once we are finished.

Sorry if thats not making sense ill try and get some more photo up!

A pack of 4 are around $10 (that is either a pack of bolts with the grips, or the screw/bolt rod)

MJ

*Update 2013 May. - I would not recommend these for long legs or at all.. they come loose and wreck the timber. 

Legs Finished!

Ive been busy with routering all 16 legs 45x45mm Pine, to have a rounded edge for safety and a smooth clean finish, setting the amount the router takes away so that we are not creating a lip or edge is the key to get a smooth finish, a little bit of sanding in some spots and these legs are ready!

Next onto the little bits that keep the legs and modules together...

MJ

Painting!

I started painting the first module over the holidays, make sure all the sanding you want to do is done before this.... then purchase either a roller or large paint brush to start painting,

I am using Dulux Vogel which was recommended by Rob from Aust N Rail because after applying grass and other scenery, Vogel looks like dirt and earth colour making any small gaps in grass and/or gravel not stand out, if the board was white, light green or just ply colour.

(Paint Code)

DD 31N

G 5N

M 1N

W 9N

Its got to be smooth!

After putting together the final module, its at the stage where things must be smooth and accurate to enable all four modules to meet (temporarily) when its time to be displayed so tracks align perfectly, allowing easy running of locos and rolling stock. So the orbital sander is used to take off any lip so that  the 12mm ply top fits to the edge of the frame work.

Modules must be able to meet easily for good track alignment when the modules are setup. 

When its track laying time tracks will perfectly join across the modules because the modules butt together with flush accurate edges.

Now just to do the other three..... oh and paint them...

Mark

Modules Close to Completion

Today I completed 3 of the 4 modules, the main task today was to screw the screws into the end pieces of the frame to hold the base down to the frame the ends being 19mm thick and nail the edges into the 12mm thick Pine sides, with a bead of PVA and some nails and screws these 3 are almost ready for track.

Below are some construction photos, note that 3 screws are at each end holding the 12mm thick ply down, one each end and one in the middle, the one in the middle may have to be removed when laying track (just have to see how we go)

Other thing to note is that the ends have to be well sanded soon so they can be clamped easy enough to align the track and reduce gap in rails from module to module.

That is all!! 

Cheers

Mark

Glueing the tops down to the frame

Underneath of one of the four modules.

Construction Underway

Construction of the Modules is underway and should shortly be built, ready for preparation of track. 

Below is a photo of the frame construction of one of the modules. The ends are 19mm thick and a housing joint routered into them to allow the 12mm thick pine sides to be glue and screwed together. 

In the future I would recommend thicker then 12mm for the sizes as splitting and strength is a real worry, although Ive been lucky. 

The 4 tops have been ordered and they are 12mm thick pine sheets ready to be cut to size once modules are completed..

Now to order the track.

Mark  

Model Prototype

Havent posted in a while, with school holidays and many other school and work related things happening.

One of the task was to build a prototype of what we have chosen to make,

below are photos of the prototype case with the modules

Back soon..

Module Set Up

I have been planning the modules so that they will all fit in the storage box. This layout of the modules will allow it to be possible. The skinny length at the back will make it a continuous running layout and will have a couple of tracks on it.

All modules are 1m long by .5m wide.

Mark

Storage

I've been working with Google Sketch Up to draw some of my ideas. The first being the storage box that holds the 4 modules, below is the box, that will accommodate 4 modules, although there is no back or front drawn the idea is to have both, the ledges would be metal making the modules slide into the case easily. 

The below photo is the Phillip Island and District Railway Modellers Module carrying case, thanks to Judy and Jack for supplying the photo! 

Cheers

Mark 

Another Australian N Scale Blog...

I've been thinking about doing a blog after following Rob Carpenter's blog Australian N Scale, mainly to provide people with some inspiration to move into Australian N Scale or to do something with there current N scale collection. 

As a part of my VCE (2011) I am completing Design Tech/Wood Tech which we have to obviously build something out of mostly wood. So over the holidays I began, while others played video games.. I researched Euroa railway yard and station area, searching both the internet and visiting Euroa Historical Society. I hope to be able to demonstrate how I have made Euroa, Victoria in Australian N Scale, 1:160. 

Cheers


Mark