Join the discussion on the following article:
Olympia Logging Series: Part 6 - building a sector plate
Great segment on a little-used feature of larger layouts, but it did give me a good idea for my layout, thank you David. BTW, you’ve got a nasty bow in that styrene backdrop when viewed from the front that I suppose will be corrected by the facing of the diorama. Great work guys.
David, you continue to amaze us with your carpentry skills. I hope you resist the temptation to go to This Old House In the fall. Great video, nice job. Can’t wait for your episode.
I’m really enjoying this On30 project. But did no one notice the ooops! (boing) 22" x 23" is not a square - its a rectangle!
Some of the Model Railroader staff still seem like they are not completely comfortable in front of the camera, but not David Popp. He is a natural. His videos make you feel like you’re hanging out in your buddy’s workshop. Keep up the great work David!
David and team,
I truly enjoy this and so many other of your video series. They are fun to watch, and the expertise of the ‘performers’ is pretty exceptional. You have brought life into MR from an interesting perspective, and introduced the staff to us on a personal and professional level. It’s one thing to read (very important) the projects, but now enhanced with this additional resource.
Thank you all for the work. As a fellow Milwaukeean (transplanted to Philly), former MSOE member, and decades long fan or trains, you guys really hit the mark!
David, the out takes are as enjoyable as the instructions themselves Thank you. “POTTS”
Very informative and the descriptions David used are really quite clear, even for a novice. These are really well done and instructive videos.
Will the longer selector plate hang out the side of frame?
I also enjoyed the fact David half admits planning errors by not having all materials on hand when he started the project. Specifically the 1/4 brass tubing he said was back ordered. We all run into that problem of forgetting something and have to wait to get our projects finished.
Keep up the good work David and gang.
Kurt K
Oklahoma City
David, it looked like the front of the sector plate has a slight bevel. I assume this is to allow it to swing through the arc. How did you work out what angle the bevel needed to be?
Really enjoying this series. Have a small HO logging railroad in mind.
Kevin
Brisbane
Interesting video and layout series. I considered a sector plate for my portable railroad, but decided to go with a cassette so I could reverse the directions of the locos. I look forward to seeing how you operate this layout.
Hello all,
Yes, the front of the sector plate has a very slight bevel in each direction from center. Sorry I did not mention that in the video - it was an over site. However, even if you don’t include the bevel, the plate should work just fine providing the corners of the front of the plate do not scrape on the curved plate bridge. The rails can easily span the slight gap between the plate and the plate bridge.
Square or…? Yes, the plate is a rectangle. Sorry about that. I was an English teacher and worked in construction during my summers, too, so I should know better.
Backdrop bow: Once the plate was installed, I placed another 1 x 2 support behind the styrene backdrop between the openings for the lumber camp and staging. Now that all of the scenery is in, the backdrop is very solid, but if I had it to do over again, I’d place another plywood panel behind the styrene on the sector plate end, just like the opposite side has. It would make a simpler support structure. I’ll keep that in mind for building the addition to the Olympia some day.
Thanks for the comments, and enjoy the rest of the layout series!
David