Helix

Model Railroader Layouts and layout building
1

Here are some pictures of our helix. Some members have been asking about helix so since we (dad, and I) are building one we thought we would take pictures along the way and share: http://www.railimages.com/gallery/jeffbaldwin

Brian

2

Thanks Jeff,

I was one of the ones asking about building a helix. That one sure looks solid! Let us know how it goes when finished.

John

3

I am sure that Brian will keep you posted. I wasn’t sure it was going to work, but I think I might be able to stand on it (not going to actually do it). An N-scale train isn’t going to bother it. It is going to get trickier as we go up, since more will be in the way. I think we’ll need to think ahead in order to get things attached when we can still reach them. The joints feel flimsy, but when everything got screwed together it lock up good, so I am trying not to worry.

This time it is really Jeff…

4

I actually built my helix using the octogon method, but instead of using splice plates to join segments, I used 2 thinner layers of plywood, and lapped the joints. You can kind of see this in the second photo.

5

I like that idea. Sort of full length splice plates. That should be really solid.

6

Thanks, I’m working in 3 rail O, so I normally use 3/4 ply. For this project I used two layers of 3/8, one BC on the top, and a CDX on the bottom. It is a lot more work and a little more cost, but if headspace is tight, and many helixes it is, losing the thickness of a splice plate helps keep the overall grade down.

This wasn’t actually my idea. I’m building a very large layout, and friends suggest all kinds of things to me, most of them silly or impractical. However, when I heard this one, I said I have just the application to use it on. I’m very happy that I did. I still have another helix to build, so I’ll be doing this again, probably late in 2006.

There are all kinds of ideas out there, the trick is sifting through them to find ones that are right for you. That’s a big part of what this forum is all about.[8D]