The priority was to fabricate two sets of beams which would serve to join the two outermost boards to the centre one, ensuring that they were level and accurate enough for fitting the required male and female carpenters dowels, which it is essential to fit at this early juncture .
Once achieved, the rest of the (three) frames could be built.
So in time honoured fashion, blocks of the required sizes were cut for the central part of the Barry Norman style beams, together with a collection of henge-like stanchions (I lost count in number in the late forties or so) on which the track bed would be carried. These were glued and screwed between the outside strips, shown earlier on the thread.
Now, I’ve read that the Norman beams are prone to warping, and mine were no exception:
That said, the screws still proud of the wood surface as in the previous shot, didn’t help, and after letting the whole dry for twenty four hours or probably more (it really is a piecemeal approach these days), the screws were countersunk, which for some reason slightly improved matters:
So, attention tenuously turned to fitting the dowels and bolts to hold the boards together.
Ensuring the assembly was as flat as possible on the bench, they were firmly clamped together:
Long screws purchased for the task were then used to screw then together so that the clamps could be removed for ease of drilling (screwing everything together is so long winded as I’ve yet to purchase a decent impact driver for the purpose, and despite the odd hint or two, my brother in law was reluctant to loan me his de Walt version….). Anyway, with the clamps removed, I reached for my drills…….only to realise thy weren’t long enough. So a day was spent hunting round for a specialist to supply a 7,5mm long drill, as the usual retailers only stock discrete sizes (B&Q alleged they did, until they cancelled my click n collect realising they didn’t) - I also picked up one of these:
….a 10mm brute for a tenner, to drill the holes to receive the M10 bolts, but what a palava trying to get it to drill through without a struggle. On the second hole, I managed to rip the back out of the rear ply strip after the scrap block placed beneath for the purpose, slipped during the wrestling match that ensued……….
So it was back out to Toolstation to pick up a spade drill for a reasonable fee, although it still didn’t prove an easy job, but better than the last.
Anyway, I managed to address one set of beams, although, for some reason, the holes for one set of dowels was oversize - same drill used and pilot hole - so I’ll drill another next time I’m at the bench:
Shown together with M10 bolts attached (appropriate washers were purchased in addition, and a set of wing nuts which are out of sight in the next shot):
I’m also going to fit another bolt just as belt n braces.
Incidentally, the boards will also be linked by split hinges fixed to either side of the joint externally.
Now, it’s on to the second set.
Cheers,
jonte
) the path of a loco facing the terminus buffers, that backs out onto the mainline, runs round the ‘loop’, and finally back into the terminus facing forwards (in order to depart at the head of a train) again:
