Now and then, we all have to do some maintenance under the layout. One good thing about having a sectional layout is that you can bring 'under the layout' up to you, and work on it in comfort - no bad backs. and you can watch the telly, too - Hot Spots 1, Blue Island. Jon
Excellent point and one of the reasons I am going sectional (not to mention that I have learned that in my life one NEVER knows when one will move again). How is your framework for the sectionals built? John
I built each baseboard using the same method. I got the timber yard to cut up a sheet of 4'x8' 3/8 plywood into a few 3'x18" baseboards and some 8' strips, each 4" wide, to make the side strengtheners. I cut 2 side pieces and 2 end pieces for each 3'x18" top board. the end pieces were 18" long, but the sides were slightly longer - 3'+ the width of the end pieces (ie 2x3/8"). I screwed some blocks of 1"x1" softwood to the inside of each side and end piece 3/8" down from the top, and another block in each corner of the end pieces. I made up the 2 sides and ends, glueing and screwing for rigidity, to make something akin to a picture frame. The baseboard top should just drop into the hole and rest on the blocks, where they can be screwed and glued. I chose 3'x18" as this is a good size for 1 person to lift and fits into the trunk of a car easily, so you can work on it - or show it off - down at the club. It is also small enough that you don't need cross bracing underneath to get in the way of turnout motors and wiring, which also keeps the weight down. If you build your boards sectional, you can even lay your track semi-permanently over the board joints, if you don't intend to move very often, but it will be much easier to move the layout without ruining your handiwork, if you do end up moving eventually. Alternatively, you can cut short pieces of track to bridge the baseboard joints to make it even easier. Jon
John, I can only underline Jon's statement. Building your layout in sections is very good for many points. Wirering, maintanance, moving.... I build my new Westport in sections, too. I had a carpenter to build the boxes. I made the drawings. Wolfgang
If you have any plans I would love to see them. My sections will be 2' by 4'. The "top" will be foam insulation (salvaged from my N scale layout). John
