Ok am I making this to difficult. I am in the process of building my layout which has grade track of 2%. What is the best way to raise the track off the table top at a gradual rate. I plan on building the scenery to blend in the rise in track height. I have herd of the cookie cutter method of accomplishing this. But my question is how do you cut the plywood to the exact shape of the track without laying it out 2 different times? If you look into my past posts you will find my track plan.
If I understand what you are asking, then you want to know how to transition from 0% grade to a 2% grade.
If your trains were the real deal, then we would calculate a parabolic vertical curve, but since they are only toy trains it is not that critical for the transition. You are going to need about 300 inches of track to obtain a vertical rise of 6 inches at a 2% grade. (2% = 2inches/100inches = 6inches/300inches)
I understand the principle of grade I have that all figured out I just need to know how to build it The best and most effective way. How do I get the plywood to follow the track path and rise?
The plywood will bend up, & in a 2% grade, it only has to bend up a quarter of an inch, per foot .
Thanks, John
I had thought about using foam board on top of the plywood rather then homosote. But I plan on using atlas track and it does not stay together as well as fast track. I was not sure how well it will fasten down to foam board? Has any one used atlas track on top of foam before and if so how did you secure it?