Update - No.14 - 17.07.11

Originally sent via email to friends and family only in July 2011

Hi Guys, it's that time again!

Peninsula baseboards & frame completed

I have spent the whole weekend on my hands and knees applying 3 coats of stone flooring sealer to a couple of hundred slate tiles.  It's been a thoroughly dull and monotonous exercise so I decided I didn't want to suffer alone.....I'd inflict another update on you to even the score - ha!

Peninsula baseboards & frame completed

Peninsula baseboards & frame completed

Peninsula baseboards & frame completed

As you'll no doubt recall, I rather rashly said last time I'd have all the baseboards and frames finished by the end of the month.  Well there are only a couple of weeks to go but I have only managed 4 baseboards of the 12 required so far.  Have no fear, I am still confident I can do it.  The attached shots will show that progress around the room has now reached the full 4 levels on the peninsula end turn-back section.  For those of you who visited the Corkscrew Lines in the early days, it comes as a bit of a shock to see just how large the layout has now become.  Martyn Clemes visited and was uncharacteristically lost for words for a few minutes.....those who know Martyn will realise this normally only occurs when he's eating!  Other visitors included Nick and the lovely Laila who is shown in the shot with Sarah.  If only all the Corkettes looked like these ladies rather than most of them looking more like me.....oh well!  You'll also see Tammy who volunteered to help one day but couldn't really grasp the concept of fetching me some bolts from the box....so just sat in it instead.  Well it's the thought that counts eh?

Nick & Corky enjoy a brew!

Corky, Sarah & Laila

Martyn inspects progress

Tammy

The issue with the layout lighting has been resolved.  I have purchased and fitted 3 double fluorescent tube fixtures which are shown in the shots just after fitting.  Greg completed the wiring and I now have a fantastic level of light just where I need it.  Some sections of the room are still dark because I will be relying on the individual lights attached to the baseboard sections for the illumination of the layout itself.  The fluorescent fixtures on the ceiling will be there just to help me see what I'm doing during the construction phase.  I'll maybe do another brief update next week to show you the difference it has made.  Greg also confirmed my plans to use the high level lighting sockets are fine so I now have 2 independent lighting circuits and can add single lights to each baseboard daisy chain fashion as I go.  Incidentally, I chose "cool white" light fixtures at 4000k light level to replicate something closer to daylight rather than the normal "warm white" which would make the west country resemble California!

New light fixtures installed

New light fixtures installed

New light fixtures installed

I really need to produce some sort of layout plan for you guys so you'll know what's going on once track laying begins.

Taming the Helix - part 2

Take a look at at the attached shots and you'll see my Helix Template board whilst being marked out and then once cut from the board.  The idea is the template is placed over a sheet of ply and using the numerous pre-drilled holes for bolts, the 2 boards are briefly bolted together.  Then the board is marked out as either a simple climbing turn board or as a arrive/depart the helix board and approximately 30 holes are precisely drilled to locate the threaded rods.  Once the board is released from the template it can be dropped onto the helix as the next layer and if all goes well, every turn will be an easy fit.  Once I start producing the helix sections I'll take some shots and show you how it works.....a picture paints a thousand words and all that.  There will be a corresponding template for the outer loop of the helix which works on a similar principal.

The Helix Template Board

The Helix Template Board

The Helix Template Board

It is really handy having a large table which I can place the plywood sheets onto for marking and cutting out etc.  I make sure there are a couple of layers of old blankets on the table top so I don't incur the wroth of my beloved!  The bolts placed all over the template on the table are the rough positions for the threaded rods on the finished helix.  One of the threaded rods is laying on the board so you can imagine the weight of the whole assembly will be pretty substantial once finished, hence my heavy duty construction methods for the helix base as detailed in an earlier update.

Will there be any track laid when the Taming the Helix - part 3 episode is published?.....lets hope so!  Talking of track, you may notice occasionally some Bachmann train set track which I had laying around.  It's really useful to just clip it together and plonk it down to get a feel for how things will work or look.  Don't worry, the finished trackwork will look a bit more professional I hope.New Arrivals on the Corkscrew
The only new arrivals since last time have been the new light fixtures which you can see in the photos.  I know they don't look very bright.....they hadn't been wired up at that stage!In the next thrilling instalment...Next time I'll show you the latest state of play with the baseboards and hopefully you'll see how the lighting levels have improved in the room.......exciting stuff isn't it?

That's it, you can all go back to sleep again now and I'll toddle off and put the kettle on!

Take care my lovelies.....until next time,

Corky