incline

Model Railroader Layouts and layout building
1

HI Is there a easy way or wood recommended for a incline. what is the rule of thumb.

2

What are you trying to do?

3

Are you talking about how or what to use to transition into a grade?

4

Hi both at the moment i am using in a attempt plywood.

Cheers

5

I used 1/4" plywood for my helix and for my transitions since it was easy it manuipulate and get into place. I found it a little more forgiving esspecially for the transitions since my cuts didn’t have to be exactly perfect

Mike

6

I would say it depends on what you are building your layout of. The more traditional method uses 1/2 inch plywood for the sub-roadbed. Sometimes it is cut about one inch wider than the roadbed is that will be placed on top of it. In that case, the transition to the grade can be smooth. The flat section is fastened down, then a two or three foot section is raised up a bit on the end going up, and then fastened. The shallow vertical bend that results makes the transition to the grade or hill. Grades can go down as well by using the same method. But in all cases you want a smooth vertical transition from the grade to the level. Once the sub-roadbed has been bent into the desired position, braces can be added and fastened under it to keep it in place.

7

I

When using plywood for subroadbed/ open grid or cookiecutter, keep any splices at least 1 riser away from the upeasing(transition up) or the over easing (top of grade to level). This allows for the plywood to evenly sweep for the transition w/o “kinking” the roadbed. 1/2" ply does this better, 3/4" can be a bit difficult when not having enough support to curve the ply ( may need risers closer than 16" for this). I feel that thinner than 1/2" and spans of 16" can end up w/ weak base for the track. This is assuming that the ply subroadbed is single track approx 2 1/2" wide. Double track and wider subroadbed can allow the use of a thinner ply to make the span. Whatever you use, it should be a consistant thickness throughout. Tranitioning to different thickness of subroadbed can be tricky and ask for trouble.