i am building my first “real” layout. It is 10x5 and has an incline which runs from one end of the outside line to the other end of the layout. I purchased the 4 degree woodland scenic sets which are giving me the height that i wanted across the back. where the two high end meet in the center, the track does not want to lie flat because each side comes off the incline. I saw this coming as i was assembling the two halves. I have a theory that I am supposed to level them off, but I do not want to try that without getting advice from someone. Do I just use a level and then slice away? I know I will have to add a bed for the track (Kato unitrack) and I have 3/16 foamboard for that. Please help.
You have identified the problem.
Build a level section between the two incline sections.
Depending upon the incline you may want to decrease the angle of the incline near the level section to ease the transition for joining the track.
Woodland Scenics sells level sections of various heights or it’s easy to make your own from foam or wood. Perhaps more to the point, I would experiment by putting a temporary level section between the inclines to see how the trains ran on it before I started cutting.
i needed a confirmation like that and i did level off the incline somewhat since it was a 4 degree. i think it will be fine. this was my first shot at this and i think will work. didn’t have enough space for the 2% which would have been a little bett, but i’m pleased. thanks.
i did experiment and shaved down the incline somewhat. trains run fine on it. i am pleased for a first effort. the trickiest part seems to be the bottom end trying to get the road bed to subtlely fade out under the adjoinging track. that’s where one car i have wants to derail.
i’m impressed to see a railroader going by the name of harry hotspur. a shakespeare fan, i presume. years ago in college i played in henry iv, part i. not harry, of course, some obscure lord named vernon and some fill in roles here and there.
thanks for the advice on the layout.
"There are more things in heaven and earth, H.O.,
Than are dreamt of in your philosophy."
- Hamlet Act 1, scene 5.
[;)]
more shakespeare–i can’t believe it. hamlet is serious enough, but if i see king lear pop up in a forum i will know i’ve been transported to some other where.