Thornycroft Baseboard

Work on the baseboard for Thornycroft has now been completed. It is built to the exact same dimensions as Cliddesden, and same building technique, taking about 3 hours to make. However this time as the track is lower than the ground (in most places) we decided to use a single12mm MDF board, so that it's height matches that of cliddesden - for when we decide to join them together. This has meant that the board is a bit heavier than Cliddesden, but it has made it more rigid, so we did not need to use as many cross braces as we did before, and taking into account where point motors will be placed.

Thornycroft Baseboard

Debate is still happening about how to attach the ends so they can be easily attached / detached. With Cliddesden we used 2 bolts on each side, but they were a bit fiddly when we had to construct it at a model railway show 1 hour before it opened. So, we are thinking about using hinges, unless anyone can think of a better idea.

You may have noticed from the picture, that there is a slit at the back of the board, this is so we can drop in a 4mm hardboard back scene depicting the rest of the Thornycroft site. Making that is going to be a challenge in itself due to perspective and buildings being part model and part back scene, and trains running through it - I'm sure we'll work it out. We have also marked roughly where the track will be laid.

Ed