Hi,
I’m going to build my next layout using easy spline. I’m also going to use double track on the layout. So my question is. How think do I need to make the easy spline and should I make two separate or on large easy spline roadbed?
Could I use thicker masonite strips instead of many, many layers?
Magnus
Double tracking and adding sidings using spline is a lot of work, Magnus. I found that out the hard way. Fortunately my layout is rather small. If you are contemplating a medium to large layout that will have sidings and twinned track, you have a major project on your hands.
I wonder, if this seems daunting to you, if you couldn’t just use cookie cutter for some of it. When there is to be no appreciable grade change, maybe just use cookie cutter. Although, cookie cutter methods can make really good grade changes as well, of course…just a different technique.
To answer your qestion about thicker material, it will be very difficult to work with. It won’t want to bend as easily in either azimuth or altitude. Also, it won’t torsion well, which is necessary to get the superelevation…unless you don’t mind sanding and planing to get the superelevation. Another problem could be (don’t really know) that the thicker material will tend to split or fracture more easily. The flimsier, thinner stuff is that much more pliable.
I am a firm believer in the eclectic view. I enjoy marrying a little of this and a little of that. Rigidly adhering to a standard or an approach often gets a person into difficulty that is entirely unnecessary. Mix up techniques to suit your purposes. Cookie cutter here, splines there.
-Crandell
Edit - added - I just thought of something that could help. Electrolove and others use small blocks of wood between layers of the splines. That speeds things up because you don’t have to layer six masonite slabs together to make a monolithic spline. I did make mine monolithic, but for a passing siding I did also use blocks as spacers and then fastened the next spline to those. When you scenick, you’ll have to figure out how to fill the gaps because you will want ballast between the two tracks. But some folks build their splines with
Thanks for the sugestions Crandell. I was considering using straight pieces of lumber where their will be no significant curvature or horizontal changes. Most of the places will be on curves where I think looks easy and good to use. It will be a multi deck design and 12*25 feet so there will be a quite a lot of track to do. So any sugestions to keep the hard work done is great. I’ve already planned to use strips of masonite cut to the proportions of the masonite boards that i will use at industry locations and yards. I to believe in mixing different techniques to get the cheapest, assist and best result.
I think you are absolutely right about thicker pieces being to rigid to work for this.
I’ve also considered skipping the double track at those points where I will be using the most easy spline. In a way it would make operations more interesting and since those point is mostly on the top of a peninsula that would save some much needed space.
Magnus