Choose the right location

Just like the real thing Model Railways have a problem with track buckling and bending. This can be caused by one of three main things, either the temperature is too high or too low and you have an insulation problem,the boards have a tendency to warp with too much moisture in the atmosphere Or the boards and track have had problems with construction. This can be best avoided by choosing the right location for your model, and constructing the track and boards in the correct way.

The best place obviously is to position it in a spare room or a room where it can easily be stored without damage. Many young modelers choose to situate it under a bed. This can be problematical in that the underside of a bed is one of natures best dust traps and nothing can mess up your railway and stock like dust can. It will dry out lubrication and seize up gears and cogs and gets into points and switches like nothing I know of, in addition positioning it low down is asking for it to be damaged. The best location is either on its own in a room which in many cases is totally impractical for most of us, or secured some way against a wall with legs that support when it's down, and yet can be folded away up to the wall.

Taking care of course that any structures and posts don't get squashed when the board is folded up. The loft is one of the favourite places and it's best to make sure that your loft is insulated to accommodate this with the correct type of flooring to walk upon. It's best to take advice from a qualified expert as to whether you may require planning permission to undertake a conversion, for that is essentially what it is.

Choose the right construction

The most popular material used for baseboards used to be chipboard but this has proved to be a bit on the heavy side, as is MDF, and unwieldy too as well as too hard to push pins into. So we recommend using Sundeala board, which is usually held in stock in quantity along with a selection of screws and fittings to make your board. We also stock a very lightweight plywood called Italian Poplar which is very white in colour and a good strong multi-ply. It's finish is very high quality and makes for a strong framed board of open type construction. Or, if you have real problems with making boards, you can ask for the services of Little Swindon Model Workshops who will gladly quote you a price to sort them out if possible.

. We do not recommend you place your board in an outside shed or garage unless you can ensure that it can be suitably insulated against both damp and extreme swings in temperature. Wherever you choose to situate your model railway make sure you take all measurements and be sure in what you want before you build or ask us to build it for you.

For more information on baseboards please call us on 01454 32 21 21 or email: drew_andmar@yahoo.co.uk