Track- and Layout Works at the Indoor Layout

My Indoor Layout, parallel to the Outdoor Layout at Feldis, are under construction since 2008. Below the layout plan. It can be seen on the left above the planned Coaling Station with Tower, Water Tower, Sanding and Shop. All switches are scratchbuild. (More about that later on this page.)
Top right you see the Trestle, which is already finished. These modules were the subject of my workshops at the 14th Convention of the American Railroadfans in Switzerland in October 2009. The arch, then to Trestle one part of the site created for the tunnel entrance at the Yuba Gap, Donner Pass line (see page "PROTOTYPE RAILROAD", bottom "DONNER PASS")
Down in the line are four modules with the Howe Truss Bridge, of which three are completed for some time.
The left arc of the oval track is located outside of the room. For driving can be a laminated wooden board coming down with nailed tracks. This system I describe later on this page. For questions about this indoor unit, send me an e-Mail: themountaineer@bluewin.ch

Trestle construction site of the left module

For the shell of my modules, I use wood. For 10 mm thick plywood I make a frame in the module size and then connect everything with massive 19 mm three-layer panels spruce. This system has proven itself, is very stable, yet not too difficult, so the modules can be transported.

Here's a picture of the module with the ready-designed site. The left-Trestle-half is under construction. It lacks the subtle planting.

The design of the site depends on the chosen model. For example, Colorado: in the higher elevations of the Rocky Mountains, much of the landscape is very rocky without substantial vegetation. The imitation of such a landscape is very suitable for the model.

Construction progress: it recognizes the "naked" part of the Trestle modul right.

Trestle construction site right module. A rough design of the site structure, I use polystyrene plates, which I stick with a putty on the wooden panels. Then I overlay the whole module with an aluminum fly screen.

For the construction of a Trestle, it is essential to determine the exact course of the track axis. It is based on a book bar, located right in the bow and also determines the height of the rails. Now you can mark the location of each column in the horizontal bar on the book and then measure the height of the columns perpendicular to the site down.

Done right Trestle modul designed. To fine modeling of the terrain, I use ready-cement mortar. I make each of a small bucket and carry the mortar surface by surface on layer by layer. The advantage of cement mortar to plaster cures faster, can be better structured (rock) and has a natural color. Through the "reinforcement" with the mosquito net is also all very stable.

The site with the mortar is structured finish begins Gravelling. It requires:
- Fine, dry sand
- Crushed gravel with a grain size of 0-3 mm
- "Chopped" gravel from very fine to pieces 20-30 mm size

Forbidden: round gravel. This is very unnatural. In nature, one would be a 5 mm round stone on a scale of 1:29, 15 cm in diameter. Something like one finds at most on a riverbank and there hardly quite round.

All sand and gravel is glued with a mixture of white glue and distilled water.

The following two images to identify where the vegetation is discreet. Trees and bushes I shop, from various manufacturers, eg. by the company Exclusive Miniature (see page LINKS). I also collect in nature dried branches, etc.

Track Construction

In track construction, I have decided to wooden sleepers. Although this massive overtime brings, as compared to the factory-track LGB or Lebu, but looks much better! I use larch wood for sleepers, which you mention after bonding with a dark brown glaze. The rails are then nailed. This is a pre-drilling necessary.

As I have in a Do-it Shop found broken granite split in the grain thickness 3 mm, which is sold there during the winter half-blind manner as a litter material for black ice. This gravel excellent fit, is already washed and can be used as needed either loose (on fixed modules) or stick with white glue-water mixture well.

Track construction in the model gravel, sand, crushed gravel. Bushes, weeds, etc. On the picture still lacks the higher grass.

Switches / Turnouts

All turnouts on my layout be prepared in accordance with Mass. Track course, himself. This also requires a great effort. The result, however, convinced all the more! I turn the switch on a mechanical linkage from the module front. A switch is at the heart electrically reversed and a short section of track behind the turnout in each case normally switched so that no short circuits are possible, the accidental cutting of the turnout.

For more information about yourself for points in a forthcoming issue of the article: (See page "SPUR-G- MAGAZIN")

Howe Truss Bridge module right in the shell with the proposed tunnel entrance. Since leaving the railway line to the utility room and goes through a wooden board nailed around with the outside rails.

About a feed-back on this web site, I'm always happy! Every mail will be answered: themountaineer@bluewin.ch

Respect. . ! This website and especially this page is under construction and is constantly updated.