Southern Highlands - Construction, August 2021
Construction of the framework continues on the layout. One inch holes were drilled in the frames and top plates of the legs for ⅜ inch (9.5mm) diameter nuts and bolts to hold them all together. Attention could then turn to the timber work for supporting the track. Risers cut from dimensional pine were glued and screwed to the frame cross-pieces, ensuring that each one was the correct height and level as they were installed.
View of the viaduct end of the layout. The layout frames are bolted to each other and to the top plates of the legs. Work has commenced on installing the risers to hold the track bed.
Risers installed to support the track on the Mittagong side of the layout.
Once the risers were in place, holes were drilled for the track power wiring to pass through. The track bed could then start to be added. Plywood sheet 15mm thick was cut to shape and glued and screwed to the tops of the risers. The plywood was cut oversize and will be shaped to suit the track and scenery. The risers and plywood combined will bring the track level to 150mm (6 inches) above the frame to allow for scenery above and below the track.
Risers and track bed installed on the scenery side of the layout.
View showing the track bed installed on the layout. The track bed on the viaduct module has been placed in position so that risers for the bridge can be added to suit. The addition of a plywood piece at the bottom of the frame adds rigidity and acts as a solid anchor point for the risers and a foundation for the scenery.
Shortly after the track bed installation reached this stage of completion, tighter restrictions for the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic came into effect. These restrictions left our Group with no alternative but to suspend work on the layout until further notice. Group members met online to plan a transition to working separately on what was possible in individual's homes, rescheduling items that were planned for the future forward so that progress can continue on the layout.
Work has started on the Mittagong signal box, which is based on a Walker Models laser-cut timber kit.