Next came the tricky part. I decided to cut the straight side first. Several 70mm wide strips of 18mm plywood were cut from a sheet.
The Mitre block was then set to 15 degrees and the table set to 25 degrees. The way each angle goes needs to be thought through to make sure the angles end up the right orientation after cutting. I did and still managed to get it wrong the first time! One end of one of the above strips was so cut. The overall length being cut at the other end later as this was square to the wood.
The table was then altered to cut the 8.25 degree angle of the curved strip so carefully made earlier. Because the hand was opposite, the mitre block needed to be altered effectively to -15 degrees to obtain the correct angle.
Cross pieces were cut and a dry assembly run attempted. Upside down as usual. Although it may not look it, the pencil line where the screws are is vertical.
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This picture shows the angles rather better. The horizontal piece of ply in the jaws is not fixed, just checking for size and fit. The front edge of this is also cut at 15 degrees to the vertical.
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Two pieces of ply were fitted to support the edge of the top board. The gap was left because there will be a Turnout operating unit somewhere in the vicinity. There are four Turnouts on this board.
EDIT Subsequently reduced to three. END EDIT.
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This gives a better view of the board.
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The baseboard was then dismantled and the straight side and hinge end board were screwed and glued checking that they were at 90 degrees and left overnight to set. The following day the remainder of the pieces were carefully reassembled and glued / screwed into place, including the diagonals paying particular attention to the top levels while things set.
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The observant among you may have noticed the two rows of holes drilled in the top of the hinge board. These were made whilst the hinge board was clamped to the adjacent board and are needed for the hinges seen in this picture. They needed to go where there was no track (obviously).
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There were two options. Either mount the hinges vertical and recess them into the end faces or mount the hinges horizontal on packing pieces on the top surface. I elected for the later. Less work. Two 9mm thick blocks just bigger than the outline of the hinges were cut out and then cut down the centre where the hinge axis will be. The Faux brass hinges themselves had been modified to have the pins removable.
Before they could be fitted, the top board had to be fitted in place.
Inevitably with such an odd shaped board, it was not possible to get one piece big enough to cover the whole thing. I therefore used one of the larger offcuts I had to best advantage.
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To finish this session; the link to the next baseboard was then tackled.
A piece of wood was cut to fit under the extreme end of the lifting flap. The underside of the lifting flap had a dowel fitted in the centre, this was the easy bit. The blemish to the left was caused by a large section of ply breaking away during sanding. B****y cheap far eastern ply. This had to be glued down and clamped while it set. The blemish is excess glue.
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Fitting the other half proved to be more difficult, more anon.
The piece of ply that will become the end face of the next board was cut and screwed to the strip of wood carrying the other half of the dowel.
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The rear face looks like this. The pencil numbers on the ends are the angles. The V marks the good edge. (Some things from my woodwork classes must have stuck).
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The hole for the dowel wandered something chronic and had to be severely modified to line up with the pin half.
So here it is with the top board finished off and the half hinges fitted.
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It was then fitted in place and this is the view down the layout, the skew of the track bed is noticeable down the length
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and here with the drawbridge up.
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Inspiration from the past. Dreams for the future.