I’m a little confused as to exactly how Woodland Scenics starters, inclines and risers work. The risers and inclines I understand, but not the 'starters. Do I need the starters to do the following on my layout.
I want to put in a track that has a 4% grade (I’ll eventually get a Shay for logging operations) starting at about the number 1 arrow below…
, run approx. 8 feet to the curve at arrow 2, the run about 12 feet to arrow 3…
I picked up a couple of boxes of the WS Incline 4% starter but now I’m wondering if I need them at all , maybe just the incline. The ‘starter’ goes from 0 to 1 inch in 2 feet of run and there are 4 pieces per box for a total of 8 feet of run. I think my other mistake in getting this is I’m using 2 inch blue foam and I should have bought something that went from 0 to 2 inches? I think what I’d have to do, if I keep this, is buy 1 inch foam and gradually step it up. Is that the way it works?
Thanks for any help!
Jarrell
I’m making a guess here, but I believe the starters are a transition grade. Going from 0 to 4% can be a problem with some locos, especially coming down. A transition grade gives the train a vertical easement so-to speak to ease into the grade.
Chip, I guess that would be like looking a staircase from the side, …up… level off for a ways… up again and repeat. I wonder if they make starters 2 inch height as well as the 1 inch. Have to check out their website again.
Thanks Jarrell
Another question on inclines…
It’s easy to see how the transition from flat area to incline begins ,using the starter inclines, but how do you handle the incline to flat area?
Jarrell
one word;
SANDPAPER
Just like at the bottom, slow transitions.
Or maybe someone else has a better idea?
Starters are just that - the first part of the inclien set. The incline set is composed of 4 pieces, each starting off at the ending height of the previous section and going up the next increment. The lowest section of the Incline set is exactly the same as the Starter of the same grade percentage. Each addiitonal section of the incline set is like a Starter with a Riser already attached.
For example, to get to a total of 2" high with the 4% pieces:
With Inclines: Just use the first two sections.
With Starters: First one of the starters. Then a line of 1" risers with another Starter on top, for a total at the end of 2".
–Randy
[%-)]Pictures please[4:-)]From table top too first riser how do you do that with out a wierd bump?[%-)]
JIM
Jim, here are photos of the product. The first one shows how very thin it is on the thinnest end…
and in the one below you can see that you ~may~ need to put a very very thin sliver of cardboard or other material under it, but I doubt you would… we’ll see…
The next picture shows the entire length of the 2 foot piece. This particular incline is a 4% grade so it goes from 0 to 1inch within 2 feet…
There are 4 2 foot sections to a pack so that makes an 8 foot run if you put them all end to end… OR… you could put a 1inch piece of foam as long in length as you need it and THEN start another “starter” that would go up to the next piece of 1 inch foam. It wouldn’t have to be foam but I think that is the easiest to work with for me.
Now, the weird bump at the top would have to be dealt with and I guess if you’re using foam you could very gently cut away a tiny bit on the edge to ease the transition from incline to level.
Jarrell
I’ve used them extensivley on my “N” scale outlet. I used the starters as is from the box. I bought Starters in 2-3 & 4 % and then used combos of them plus the risers from .5" through 4" to make the grades I needed. At the transistion from grade to flat I used my Stanley shaper to ease the transistion. If there was a problem at the begining I let the track go where it wanted and then slid thin cardboard, thin foam or even paper to ease the transistion. Either way I find them much easier than the cookie cutter way. Glad to try and answer any questions. Dave
Jarrell, I have lost track of why you have elected to go with a 4% rise. I don’t know about you, but that top picture with the hopper and the edge-o-da-wedge looks like your loco will need the five-digit gear at times.
Thank you for the information, Dave… you also gave me a idea on making the mountain area track more appealing.
Jarrell
Hey there Crandell! Hopefully… if the money holds out…[;)]… I’ll have one of these…
to ride that 4% grade, pulling 2 or 3 log cars.
Hopefully!
Jarrell
[^]Thanks never throught of that if I take it real easy I think I can get rid of the"weried bump" will work . A
nd by the way I biding on some log cars on E-BAY[:-,]
JIM
Ebay! Jim, are you getting a good deal? I was looking at the Walthers log cars the other day in the LHS. They’re nice, if a little pricey at $30 each.
Jarrell
NOTE : sale price , today only !!!
Right, Jarrell, and thanks. I had forgotten about your dream-loco. And, yes, it IS real purdy. [:D]