Starting out
Back to baseboards Baseboards and track-work are the foundation of all railways, be they prototype or model, write Bernard Gudgin and Michael Watts.
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ou may have been following our series of articles aimed at beginners and returnees. If so, you will know we strongly encourage you to start small. By starting small you will gain handson skills experience, acquire greater knowledge and, as a result, considerably enhance your confidence. Prompt completion of your first small model allows you to get to operate some trains and enjoy the success of your efforts. Whatever you model (main line, branch line, narrow gauge, etc) is almost immaterial. It is the learning, experience and short-term success, melded with the enjoyment of driving your first trains, that really matters. This is not an article describing how you should build your first baseboard. There is already much written on this topic, most of which is traditional. In our opinion this is not necessarily helpful to newcomers, doesn’t address newly available materials, adhesives, or the major issues of rigidity, weight, and the lack of practical skills and experience of many would-be-modellers. We discuss here the baseboard materials for a small model railway. However, we also recommend that these same materials and principles apply equally for a set of baseboard modules for a larger model of your aspirations in due course. Baseboards and track-work are the foundation of all railways, be they the prototype or the model. We will address the baseboard issues now, and those of the track-work in due course. If you follow our philosophy of small is best at first, then your first baseboard need not be a challenge in itself. In addition, it will not cost much, or take ages to complete, let alone have the complications
of inter-baseboard joins or multi-levels. It could well be as small as 1ft x 4ft or, at the very most, 6ft x 4ft. There is a great deal to learn from starting with the smaller size, and working in N gauge or maybe OO gauge. With a smaller first model you need only buy minimal used stock from eBay or exhibition stalls. This will then not commit you financially to the same gauge, region or era for your next model – a further opportunity for learning from experience. At this point we need to talk about size! Many beginners think in terms of a board 6ft x 4ft – that is about the size of a double bed. If you have ever tried to move a double bed you will know that it takes at least two people, is very heavy and doesn’t go around corners. Now imagine the bed covered with delicate scenery. How are you going to move it? You may be fortunate enough to have a dedicated room where the layout can be permanently housed but most people will have to move it at least occasionally. The largest board that one can move singlehandedly is 4ft x 1ft or possibly 4ft x 1ft 6in. This is why we talk about a single small board of 4ft x 1ft! Consider the 1ft x 4ft dimension, or perhaps just a little larger. What board material is suitable? It can be a simple sheet of your chosen material provided it is sufficiently thick not to bend too much, twist easily, or need to incorporate additional support. Too much bending and twisting upsets track-work
alignment and causes derailments. You can, of course, lay your board on a small flat table, or even the floor as a support! There are many materials for a baseboard: chipboard, plywood, MDF (medium density fibreboard) block-board, shuttering plywood, or even expanded polystyrene. While all these are quite practicable and available as low cost off-cuts, we think that there is much to commend MDF. It is available in a wide range of thicknesses, both surfaces are very smooth, there is no grain, and the thinner sizes can be cut with basic hand tools. It also accepts a variety of glues with good adhesive effect so that screws or Right: Samples of MDF of several thicknesses – from top to bottom 2mm, 4mm, 6mm, 12mm. Usually brown or buff in colour, but MDF with a green tint is a moisture-proof version that is a little more expensive. The 6mm sample here is an example of this type. MDF is also available in thicker formats – 18mm, 25mm, 30mm etc, but these sizes are not appropriate for model railway baseboard application.
Bendy MDF (above) is ideal for the curved edges of baseboards. It comes in 2ft x 4ft (600mm x 1200mm) of 6mm thick sheets. It will bend readily, either way, down to a radius of about 12in (300mm) and maybe smaller still according to the suppliers. The grooves are about 4mm deep.
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