Work on the second baseboard has now resched the smae stage as the first i.e. the tracks are fixed and wired up. The power inconnected via the aignment dowels as planned and this arrangement works very well. Despite some arears of this test track being quite complicated, the wiring For DCC is a simple as possible: no switches and no connecting plugs between boards. The only fiddly part about joining the boards is tightening the M6 bolts with wing nuts- especially the ones near the diagonal brace. I wonder if side latches of some kind would be as effective? There would then would be no need to turn the boards over to join them.
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Now the second photo shows what happens if the track is ballasted across the joint and you do not wrap the ends of the boards with cling film as Tony wilkins suggests! The Quick Shine floor polish had stuck the board ends together in one place where some of the product had dribbled down and spread out. I shall not try and smooth out the damage as the boards fit together perfectly anyway.
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The theory is that these broken edges of ballast will fit like a jigsaw when the boards are joined. Since the photo was taken, the edges have been reinforced with super glue and tomorrow I will see if the joints will still fit. The distressed look of the sleepers on the nearest track has come out quite well, with a bleached 'old timber' finish. All done with the trusty Peco track rubber.
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This last photo shows all three boards on the production line. In fact, the way that the track is being worked on can only really be done on a bench, with easy access to the underside of the boards being a great advantage.
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There is a crossover ot be made and that will have the rail assembies and timbers cut and shaped on the subframe which is resting on top of the nearest board. The crossover will be made using flat bottom rail with construction methods as before, though this with correct length switches from the start. (Unlike the other turnouts!)
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