Studholme 7 - The quadpod

DB Says:

This blog post was started six months ago, but a other projects and a mental block have kept me from making much progress on the modules.

The first module that I started had some primer belatedly applied onto the bits that aren't tracks, and the single track arriving in from the north was cut square(ish) with the faceplate using an unruly dremel by your half-blind correspondent in the dark.

Results: Not completely terrible, but also, not as perfect as had been expected. Might need an expansion gap added yet on one side and its rail pushed closer to the edge. Having said that its probably fine as long as the adjoining module isn't similarly afflicted. I suppose cutting it a bit long and filing/grinding it back would have been more sensible.

The other tracks remain extended beyond the layout edge so they can be glued down to the neighbouring module in due course and then cut.

Another disturbing development at the north module set end was disclosed by the arrival of a passing set square: 

I think this is because the track isn't perfectly in the centre of the module at the very end. It might need to be swerved out to the right at the bottom of the picture. Fortunately it's only lightly tacked down.

Also fortunately, I haven't drilled the holes at the outer ends of the module set yet. Measure 8 times, cut once I think the old saying goes. 

....Then things stalled for six months with the mental block.

This is because at least one of the three modules needs to have two sets of legs, ideally the middle one, which would give me a setup like this:

But fitting two sets of legs, folded/stacked on top of each other into a thin module was going to be tough to fit, and Then Mr Pythagoras gets in the way when it comes to the angled braces, which I wanted to have attached and foldable for transit, but they should ideally be as long as possible.

So after putting off this task for months, tonight I went down to the garage and hammered out a thinner set of legs that fold up OK.  I even have a 'rest' for the lower legs to sit on (so they won't crush the upper ones) and will add a little twisty-movable 'key thingy' into it so everything stays locked in place during transport. As these three modules are intended to be stacked, I don't want the legs crashing down onto the buildings and scenery of the module below it.

It works! (not enough hands to take a picture and hold the legs at 90 degrees).

I then mounted my first angle brace (below). Just need a thin bolt with a wingnut to complete that, and then I'll build more using this idea for the other three leg sets.

A few thoughts on my spindly legs. They seem solid enough, but the proof will be when this is set up and used. Too much pressure on the wrong place could be a problem, with the holes drilled for the hinge pegs obviously the weak spots. We shall see. The thin legs have kept the modules fairly light, although this centre one with two sets of legs is getting heftier than expected. Still, it's completely self contained (carrying legs, braces and all).