The strips are 4" due to me cutting down a sheet of 4x8 white oak plywood in half to make my main planks / strips for shelf layout. Some of the left over pieces I cut down to 1/4" thick. Save wood, and money... Now I also thought about running the cable the length of the layout. I have not cut it yet into 4ft sections. Now these pieces ive come up with are only for the straight sections. I have several curved areas in layout.
Wood curves are cut to match the track. But if I go Premier with the engine I want to run, I may redo turns to O-72, as O-54 is the minimal. I don't want large amount of overhang. So i havent started making strips for the curved sections quite yet. Trying to pick between Imperial and Premier MTH Southern Pacific Daylight. Have same loco in HO...
Anyways...
Top pic... trying to show the installment of the next strip. Left the gap there for visual. But really, close the gap, then have correct 4" spacing between posts. Also a new MTH ES44AC i got from the LHS. Sound and pulling power!
Posts are 1/4" x 48" dowel rods I got from Lowes. Cut them down to 2" each. Then drilled the post holes with a jig and drill press. 1/4" down for top hole, 3/4" down for lower hole. From the ends of the strip, start out with 2", 1/4" hole for post, then 4" after that for the length of the strip. That way, when i join up the next strip, my post spacing is the same. Oh and the offset from edge of wood to center of post is 3/8". Then ill cut these down to 3/4" width and install on my layout, butted up against the cork.
I thought about the plexi glass idea... back when I was trying to get ideas... but little on the expensive side when I was pricing a sheet of it.
Lower pictures... idea on what it looks like on the layout, and my next obstacles.. the curves.
Forgot to add: posts are held in place with wood glue only. Add to end of post and the hole, wipe away excess. Once glue dries, its a solid hold.
