BASEBOARDS
I have built many baseboards over the years in various forms but I still return to the old traditional style of 2" x 1" with cross bracing which has never given any trouble. Luckily for me my father was a craftsman joiner and I served my time as a mechanical fitter for BREL; British Rail Engineering Ltd, I now run a joinery manufacturing business yet still I produce the traditional design although tweeked a little, admittedly with all the facilities at my disposal the quality is of a very high standard - probably over the top!
Whatever you do please do not simply knock the baseboards up with a few nails and a bit of glue, remember the baseboard is in model terms 'The Permanent Way'. A bit more time and effort and admittedly money spent well at this stage will give you many years of reliable operation as poorly constructed baseboards will inevetably either warp, split, sag, or even collapse.
T
his is the baseboard set for Bermuda Road as manufactured.
The baseboards all measure 4ft x 2ft and this is the erected formation. This common dimension also assists in transportation to exhibition.
Below are details of various construction methods:
Basic Half Housed Tenon. Bracing Bar detail
Outer frame is 70 x 20 Inner bracing is 45 x 20 9mm WBP Plywood is used for top
Underside view showing cross bracing Boards A & B showing Oak alignment spline
View showing boards coming together Multiple board joints made with spline joints
Leg detail showing adjustable Oak spigotts Sliding solid oak spigot allows 40mm adjustment
Leg housing at board corner, note captive nut All bolts are 8mm with surface washer
No alignment problems here! As sturdy as you will ever need
The whole layout is asembled with a 13mm socket and ratchet or 13mm box spanner - easy one man operation. The captive nut used at all bolt locations saves you fiddling with loose nuts and washers.
The transportation method will be featured later in the build process, keep visiting!
If you wish a quotation on the manufacture of model railway boards or any other bespoke joinery product please contact me at:
HELDENS JOINERY MANUFACTURERS LTD
Station Approach, Pasture Road, Moreton, Wirral, Merseyside. CH46 8SD
TEL: 0151 604 0549
FAX: 0151 677 7949
e-mail: heldensjoinery@hotmail.co.uk
Website: www.heldensjoineryltd.co.uk
If you wish to commission a replica railway sign please contact:
Warrington Totems (Colin Daintith)
81 St.Davids Drive, Callands, Warrington. WA5 9SA
Tel: 01925 245029
I have no connection to Colin other than he has provided me with exactly what I wanted, he has no website at present so I have offered to place this information here.