I started laying down my double mains. Im doing good moving along. I have two mains going up a 2% grade. Im still good. I got the risers all glued down and built up. BUT I forgot that I have to add my double crossover. I have to have it there. Is it a good idea to have a double crossover on a decline like that? Did I just goff up again. I thought I did all the reading and all the research I need before I started.
Oh! one more thing. Should I fini***he track laying completely before I ever start plaster work on the track area?
I feel about as messed up as a football bat.
Thanks guys for your help. When you stop laughing please help me out.[:D][:I]
Ideally, the crossover should be on a flat section, but you can probably put it on a 2% grade without problems.
I like to get down my track before I begin scenery work. Others do it differently, but I think most people get the track down first. Solid track work is the foundation for a good layout, so it usually goes down as the first layer. Run trains for a while before starting with the scenery. It’s much easier to correct track problems before the scenery is there than after.
Okay but I want to do the plaster work for the track.,off the risers to the board. Right?
Because I dont want to glue down all the track to comeback and put the plaster under the track right?
Scenery that is away from the track is fine. No matter how hard you try, you will have to repair some track. If the scenery is there, it can be big time trouble. Make sure the trains run before you plaster around the track. We all fudge on that someplace and are sorry. Have fun. That is what this is about.
The number one rule I follow about scenery and track… MAKE SURE IT’S ACCESSIBLE AFTER YOU PUT IN THE SCENERY! I have one double x-over on my layout, and because, not only is it a switch, but four of them, I wanted FREE and EASY access to this just for maintenance reasons.
My scenery that covers trackwork has access hatches cut and modeled into it. Who wants to cut up a finished mountain because a wire feeder broke? I learned the hard way, make sure that the block that goes under scenery has the feeder attached somewhere OUT FROM UNDER the scenery.
If a section of track on either end is on the grade the crossovers are flat (in reference to the substrate) and there should be no problem. Never put plaster under your track. the whole idea of the substrate is smoothness. The only time I out plaster around track is when I make track in streets or track in station platforms and then the plaster goes down after the track.
i’m guessing you’re using WS risers , or making your own version somehow . the WS SubTerrain manual says to lay a single layer of dry plaster cloth over risers and inclines . butt the ends of the cloth together rather than overlap them . then spray with water or brush it with a wet paint brush , smooth it out with your hands , blending the seams together at joints . then add the roadbed and track .
i suppose you could sand out any imperfections before adding the roadbed
please note that i haven’t tried this , i’m just reading from the manual .
I like to senic as I go along with the track laying. It gives a completed look to at least part of the layout and inspires me to fini***he rest. It will do no harm to anything, just put some plastic over the scenery as you progress along to keep the dust off until it’s all done.