August 2023 – Model Railroad Imagineerings

The past few weeks I have been working on building a dark room in our basement for our son. Framing is almost done. It has taken two trips to the local big box store to get enough 2x4s to get this far. I need to make one more trip to get more 2x4s to continue. Project budget is coming out of my model train budget as while I stand to loose a “huge chunk” of model railroad real estate I actually gain a new wall and make an alcove like area to create my new project. I will have to build a new work area and figure out how to make everything fit accordingly.

I am still modeling. I made a baseboard prototype and added subroadbed. The module ended up twisting so I removed the subroadbed and the twist is now out of the baseboard. The project was very insightful as I have made several changes. My stringer girder (cross pieces) will be on 12 inch centers on future baseboards and the risers for subroadbed buildings etc. will be inside of the girder stringer not on one side or the other. On my next off work week I will make a new module for Wiley Station

The prototype module stringer (cross piece) girder to the right with the riser that I cut off still attached and the new revised stringer design on the left that allows for the riser (1/2 inch plywood) to go in the center of the stringer girder

Basement and Baseboards, by H Mathews August 2023