Model Railway Forum

Hello Happy Railway Modeller !
I have in my mind a plan for a very large (for me !) layout (dimensions: 4' x 6'). It's not for Hornby trackmat. I drew my own trackplan. But I never built a baseboard like that. I don't need legs because I have a lot of wooden trestles. I want to use 15mm chipboard because it's much cheaper than plywood. All your advices will be extremely appreciated. Thanks.

15mm Chipboard is heavy. Make sure you're able to handle it as 6' x 4' is quite large if in one piece!
It really needs underside bracing to help prevent sagging of the board. Using 2" x 1" (44mm x 21mm) planed timber as a minimum all round the edges as a support and at least four x 4 foot long cross braces too, spaced equally along the 6 foot run. Fix narrow edge to baseboard underside.
Glue (PVA woodworking adhesive) and pin or best is to wood screw the top to the timber as well as all timber butt joints.

You would be much better using 9 or 12mm ply. It is much much lighter and much nicer to work with.

I've used both chipboard and ply. I would strongly recommend ply. R-

Thanks for your help gentlemen. I found a lot of advices here. Very interesting and very helpful. Thanks Brian.

This is my very first idea for my baseboard (1.15 m x 1.80 m). I'm planning to use four sheets of 12mm chipboard. There is a hole in the middle. I'll screw all these sheets on 27x27mm or 27x34mm timbers.

Good first attempt - but you don't have enough crossovers to get from one loop to another and back again. R-

It would be useful to know whether this is going to be a permanent set-up once completed. Your track plan shows four boards, are these being built individually and bolted together, or will it be one board with a hole in the middle? BB

RogerB wrote: ↑Thu Nov 22, 2018 6:37 pm Good first attempt - but you don't have enough crossovers to get from one loop to another and back again. R-

Thank you. I know that ... but I also know that I need more money to buy them.

bulleidboy wrote: ↑Thu Nov 22, 2018 9:09 pm It would be useful to know whether this is going to be a permanent set-up once completed. Your track plan shows four boards, are these being built individually and bolted together, or will it be one board with a hole in the middle? BB

It's something between a permanent and a portable layout, if you see what I mean...And yes it will be one board with a hole in the middle.