Hi everyone,
Being a complete novice I need help please. I've just started building my first layout. It is 38x72" which is the maximum space available. I've had marine ply 12mm cut to size by the local merchant and I built an interlocking frame underneath with 11" square spaces and drilled holes for wires. I've screwed the ply down each side of every joint with countersink holes. Can I please have advice on the following
1) should I fill over the screws so I have a smooth surface?
2) Do I also need to cover the ply with cork etc before the track is laid
3) I have a cat, which will also have to use the room the layout is in.
Obviously I want to keep him and his fur off the track. So I would
Like to build a clear cover that could be taken off easily in sections.
Can anyone suggest a design, type & thickness of clear material for flat areas and frame.
All help really appreciated
Many thanks
:thankyousign:
Welcome to the Forum Brenda, great to have you on board!
I know that some of our members have cats - I've seen them in pictures of their layouts so I'm sure you will get some advice on how to encourage the cats away from the tracks.
Hi Brenda,
Welcome the forum Brenda, nice to have another girl onboard, think that makes 5 of us now :claphappy:
You'll find us a friendly bunch and no question is too silly to ask (I've asked plenty!) there's always someone who will come with an answer. Don't forget to use our search function, it can come up with some real gems sometimes to the most obscure of questions.
Sorry don't have a solution for your cover, but you will certainly need to do something as cats and railways definitely don't mix, their hairs get everywhere and can cause big problems for small N Gauge locos and stock.
:welcomesign:
One important thing to think about if you are at the planning stage is before you build a cover make allowance for any structures/scenery.
I would hate to hear you have built an effective cat shield and then have to make another one because it does not clear a structure like a factory chimney or a church tower etc.
Easy way to deal with cats... RELCO ! :smiley-laughing:
If i had a pound every time i had a buzz from my old relco i could buy a real train !
now somebody is bound to me tell cats aren't bothered by it........ ::)
Welcome aboard.
I'm no real expert but :
a) Probably don't need to cover the screws - especially if you are using scenic scatter material etc and/or ballast. And if you cover/fill in the screws it makes them more difficult to unscrew if necessary.
b) Cork is not essential unless you want it for noise reduction. If that's not important, don't bother with the cork I'd say.
c)Yes, as others have said, any cover needs to clear any potential scenic areas (hills etc) and your tallest building (Factory chimney).
d) Not sure how to dter the cat ! Our two tortoises don't cause me a problem !!
Cat deterrent here would be the 2 dogs.
However the big one is not layout friendly,I have a foam board base that suffered.
Hello Brenda - welcome to the forum :wave:
Great to have another lady modeller on board, and a cat lover too :thumbsup:
Apart from being able to see your handiwork, can I ask why the cover needs to be clear please, as that is likely to increase the expense of the cover considerably.
Why not pop back to your builders merchant and ask them the question? I'm sure a suitable material can be found and braced, just like your baseboard. I'm tempted to suggest hardboard but it's been a long time since I bought some so I have no idea of the cost :dunce:
Maybe some clear cloche material is available ???
Brenda, I'd be really interested in seeing the progress you are making with the buildings particularly the 3 storey house that you are building from photographs as I am considering having a go at some scratchbuilding.
What era are you going to be modelling?
Welcome Brenda to the friendly forum :NGF:
There's an article in the December Railway Modeler about layout covers that uses foam boards for dust covers. Weather that can be adapted for cat weight I don't know.
Although I have a cat I don't have a problem because he's too lazy to jump up more than the height of a bed. ;D
Quote from: Oldman on November 26, 2012, 08:11:23 PM
Cat deterrent here would be the 2 dogs.
However the big one is not layout friendly,I have a foam board base that suffered.
If you are not using DCC then a relco track cleaner makes a fun cat deterrent.
Dust! I despised having to dust my layout. I built a lightweight canopy over my layout. It looks different but it has been a real pleasure not to have to dust tracks and all the scenery. I don't have a cat, but I would venture to say that a cat would want to climb on top so it may not work for you.
Regards, Aj
(http://i1326.photobucket.com/albums/u660/t44florida/IMG_1686.jpg)
:welcomesign:
Hello Brenda and welcome, I would second the suggestion to take a look at the article about the foam board cover in the Railway Modeller. The Relco sounds like a good idea as well.
Your cat will be be delighted that your are building him or her a model railway. Most cats are keen railway modellers.
Here's an example of a layout designed specially for cats :D.
http://www.carendt.us/scrapbook/page30/index.html (http://www.carendt.us/scrapbook/page30/index.html)
Regards
Veronica
G'Day and :welcomesign: from Down Under
Best forum around for info, help, advice and occasionally wacky ideas.
I agree with an d get a cover from the same source as the baseboard. My cat never seemed to go anywhere near my layout - however still found her hair causing some problems.
Their whiskers make excellent single fibre paint brushes though ! :bounce:
Nice to have another lady on board.
:hellosign: and :welcomesign: Brenda.
Please ignore all these remarks about cats and relco's - we're not all like that! Honest!
When I still lived with my parents I kept a layout under the bed and had the same dust problem. >:(
It did keep the cat off it though! In the end I found a sheet of polythene to use but it does attract damp.
Until you've determined the height of buildings and things may I suggest a decorators dust sheet.
They're light weight and not too expensive. (And can be reused later if you do any decorating! :thumbsup:)
On the subject of filling in the screw heads, be careful as you still need to know where the screws are when you come to track laying. As you've countersunk the screws I wouldn't bother personally.
As to cork, it's a personal preference. Once it has ballast and scenery stuck to it a lot of its sound deadening properties are lost. I never bother but again its personal preference!
Like others have said, ask any question no matter how daft as someone will have an answer and it may have already been asked before!
I can sympathise with the cats! My two are a bit restricted, only having three legs each, but they still manage to cause mayhem whenever I have a loco in pieces or a similarly fiddly job. My wife is a vet, so we get the factory seconds (hence the missing legs and tails!). This does at least help to keep them off the surfaces and my layout.
For a transparent cover I think it would need to be a DIY effort. If it were me I'd spend some time with some 30mmx30mm pine, 10mm thick perspex sheet and a router. I can't think of anything off the shelf that would do it.
One alternative would be to use a roller blind attached to the wall ~1m above the back edge of the layout which you pull out and hook onto the front edge of the layout like an awning.
Good luck and welcome
Hi Brenda,
Off the top of my head, I thought about garden cloches. My mate has an allotment which I help out on sometimes for free veg and some of the people there have quite large (certainly the length, not sure about the width) clear plastic cloches which look lightweight ish, cat proof and high enough to avoid tall buildings etc. Just a thought.
Welcome anyway. At least (I hope) you don't have a spider problem. (Bottom of link).
http://www.009.cd2.com/members/how_to/spider_page.htm. (http://www.009.cd2.com/members/how_to/spider_page.htm.)
Cheers Weave.
Forget that. Doesn't seem to work. Was something about relco and spiders in tunnels somewhere abroad. I'll get my cat.....coat!
Quote from: Rabs on November 27, 2012, 09:40:51 AM
I can sympathise with the cats! My two are a bit restricted, only having three legs each, but they still manage to cause mayhem whenever I have a loco in pieces or a similarly fiddly job. My wife is a vet, so we get the factory seconds (hence the missing legs and tails!). This does at least help to keep them off the surfaces and my layout.
:laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
Oh and a bit late , WELCOME BRENDA :wave:
Wow what a respose! far beyond what I ever expected... and not one person suggested shooting the cat. I'm affraid my cat is interested in everything I do. I also have a golden retriever dog and the cat follows us on our twice daily walks unless I shut him in the bedroom.
My answeres to your questions
The reason I wanted a clear surround is because I want to be able to see the layout at any time and also it will not block my garden view. If I had a train cleaning the track when un supervised the cat would knock it off!..True.
I am fortuneate as I live alone so can have my layout where ever I wish. to start, I am starting out in the conservatory. but donot have plants and will be building an external frame over the conservatory with a shade cover from late may to september to avoid high tempreature and should we have a hot summer I have an air conditioning unit.
I think 24" high for the cover will allow for anything other than Trafalgar Square on Ben Nevis. My layout is going to be based on the the TV series James Herriot Country filmed in Askrig and further south to Wycoller the other side of the Yorkshire Dales, in the 1930's era.
I am disabled and spend most of my day here so the cover will have to be light. I've already purchased a bath lift to take a part to use to raise the layout up so I can attach wires under the layout. I will post some photos of layout and work to date hopefully in the next few days.
I hope I've answered all the points everone has raised.. again thanks to eveyone
Once you have used the dismantled bath lift to help you do your wiring, you could use it to lift any cover you decide upon.
When Ihad my cats they used to "help" with every job I did around the house, except vacuuming. As soon as I wheeled that out they fled to my bedroom :D
cheers John.
Quote from: scotsoft on November 27, 2012, 04:16:27 PM
Once you have used the dismantled bath lift to help you do your wiring, you could use it to lift any cover you decide upon.
When Ihad my cats they used to "help" with every job I did around the house, except vacuuming. As soon as I wheeled that out they fled to my bedroom :D
cheers John.
Didn't you vacuum your bedroom, John ??? :o :P
Hi everyone,
Well my first attempt was a total disaster, I measured and re-measured to the nearest 0.5mm ordered the polycarbonate, it arrived 2 days late and was the wrong size.. I was madder with the response of the company than the point they had supplied it wrong.
When I asked for the quote I described what I needed it for and how I was going to fix it in place, so it was frustrating.. But I managed to get a full refund as I purchase everything on VISA to guarantee against nasty vendors.
I'm now going to look into the idea of garden cloches and a roller blind, I'll let you know how I get on.
Happy New Year to all :thumbsup:
Very disappointing, Brenda.
Hope you find a solution as shaving the cat would be a bit drastic :o
Hi Brenda,
Would it be possible to post a few pictures of your layout please.
Often when our members can see what is required the ideas flow like rapids.
cheers John.
I may have missed a point somewhere but would it be possible to use the lifting device to raise the layout beyond/above leaping range of aforementioned puss when you're not playing trains working on the layout?
Dave G
Quote from: daveg on January 05, 2013, 10:44:58 PM
beyond/above leaping range of aforementioned puss
There is no such place in the known universe as far as a cat is concerned :smiley-laughing: :smiley-laughing: :smiley-laughing:
cheers John.
Quote from: scotsoft on January 05, 2013, 10:57:48 PM
Quote from: daveg on January 05, 2013, 10:44:58 PM
beyond/above leaping range of aforementioned puss
There is no such place in the known universe as far as a cat is concerned :smiley-laughing: :smiley-laughing: :smiley-laughing:
cheers John.
That is 'perfickly' true - I was just trying to be suggestive! ;D
We miss our super house-trained Misty loads but we're going to wait a while before we seek out a new four legged friend.
:ngauge: and cats - a great mixture for any house!
Dave G
Welcome Brenda. :wave:
I am a complete beginner and have found the folks on here to be very helpful and kind. I hope you resolve the cover problem and wish you well with your build.
Cheers, Ian.
Hi Brenda,
I too have been trying to work out a suitable cover for my layout (it is about 6' x 3'). I have tried most things but nothing seems to work well. If you have something "firm" then it is difficult to remove and anything like a dust sheet tends to droop on to the layout.
My latest idea (well my wife's actually) is to use a suitably sized piece of cloth that has table cloth weights at each corner. Hopefully this will work i.e. be easy to apply/remove and the weights keep it taught enough to be off the layout buildings etc.
Happy New Year.
Paddy
That sounds like a great solution but Brenda has a cat who likes to get onto her layout, I can just picture one cat attempting to make a gentle landing on this expanse of white cloth and then getting that sinking feeling :smiley-laughing: :smiley-laughing:
cheers John.
Hi John,
Agreed but the solid tops I tried were all too unweildly and as Brenda is disabled she may have issues with such a solution as well? We have a cat (Henry) who is also a nosy chap who loves to get in to rooms/places he is not allowed. Basically, I keep the door to the study shut to protect the railway.
Paddy
OK in the interests of "community" I have just ordered some tablecloth weights from Amazon. I will let everyone know how I get on once they have arrived.
Paddy
i must be lucky my cat hates my layout and wont go near it
Thanks Paddy, yes it does get difficult when lifting large objects and I hope to be able to
be totally independant with it.
Please dont gasp but mt layout is in my conservatory, which is the entrance to the garden.
I'm having a false roof buit 12" above the roof (slanting) which will have several layers
of shading to stop the sun,(so it can be removed at the end of the summer - if we have one)
and I already have a air conditioning unit. All this is necessary otherwise I'd never use the
conservatory from May-september. It is very frustrating as I'd rather spend the time trying
to work out which controller to buy.. but more of that in another thread and also how I
managed to incorporate a bath lift in my lay out.
Hi all
I use bin bags to cover the layout cheap and keeps the dust out you can cut them down the middle and they are light so don't wreck any scenics
Kind regards
Dave
I also use bin bags for the same reason. I have a retractable washing line that I drape them over. They don't keep determined cats out though. :)
Hi everyone,
please have a look at how I got over the issue of raising the base board to wire underneath etc.
Thanks Brenda
Titled =
Raised baseboard by bathlift
http://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?board=1.0 (http://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?board=1.0)
G'morning Brenda
I'm afraid your link doesn't seem to work. Just takes you back to the index page of the forum.
Dave G
This is the link
http://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?topic=10549.msg108687#msg108687 (http://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?topic=10549.msg108687#msg108687)