Connolly Shed + my bedroom circuit

[Flying Snail]

1 hour ago, josh_ said:

It came to me that with movements and extra weight of landscape and other extras that it would be prone to crack especially when there would be DCC wiring under the board for the tracks 

Yes, exactly - thats why bracing/framing is important

[Mayner]

I don't bother sealing or painting a baseboard before tracklaying its not really necessary unless you use a water/moisture absorbant material like MDF

I wouldn't worry about movement/weight of the scenery affecting the track wiring, the most important thing is to make sure the trackbase/baseboard is adequately supported/braced. Stripwood possibly 75x25 planed all round is probably the best option for baseboard framing for a 1st layout.

I would recommend 12mm ply B Grade (min surface defects 1 side good) as a minimum for a baseboard though I used some 9mm A Grade I had surplus from a job for this layout, it looked good was of adequate strength and free!

The ply framing on this layout was ripped using a powered table saw with the fence set to ensure the ply was ripped to a consistent width, I bought the saw when I was a jobbing builder.

All ply baseboard North Wharf layout started 2021, dense foam ground sheet used as track underlay.

Peco track laid on PVA(school glue!) loose ballast applied

Loose Ballast scattered on track, weights should then be placed on track to prevent movement until glue sets (a board with metal weights on top)

DCC wiring track bus/feeds black and red remaining wiring to Stationary Decoder used to operate Peco point motors.

 

I usually cover the baseboard edge with a painted hardboard fascia sometimes contoured to the profile of the scenery/landscaping.

Ground cover ash, ballast and grass is basically woodlands scenics scatter glued to a foam track underlay some on a bed of glue or dilute water/pva/washing up liquid using an eye dropper, embankments formed expanded polystyrene carved to shape with a knife

Edited 15 hours ago by Mayner