Hi, the s c a f f o l d pole is 48.3mm OD & 50mm waste pipe is internal size. So i cut 24" of waste pipe & slid it over the tube & gaffer taped it on the tube wile i set it in the ground. This way it can be removed easily if needed at a later date.. You can imagine trying to get them out at a later date & the mess without a sleeve.
So far they feel really solid. The postcrete i am using is perfect for the job, but be warned & be prepared as you only get 5 minutes to work with postcrete before it becomes unworkable & its solid in ten. But a great product to use & not have to mix it. Saves your back. 
Are the posts coming out of the sleeve ok? Might be worth a bit of grease or oil on the bottom just in case any of the Post Crete gets onto/into the bottom of them.Hi, the s c a f f o l d pole is 48.3mm OD & 50mm waste pipe is internal size. So i cut 24" of waste pipe & slid it over the tube & gaffer taped it on the tube wile i set it in the ground. This way it can be removed easily if needed at a later date.. You can imagine trying to get them out at a later date & the mess without a sleeve.
The other reason for the sleeve is that i am using a laser level & want to install the posts & then mark the height with the laser & then take them out to cut them to a dead level hight all around the garden.
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Yep, they are coming out fine. But, i have now oiled as advised & re-gaffered them to stop grit.
Not sure how built proof i am, lol. Have done 39 holes with the hand held 6" auger 24" deep, just 41 to go. The weather in the UK is really sunny & mild for the time of year & i look at it as some winter exercise.Your method deserves some commendations. Talk about bullet proof.....
Hi Phil, i have a chart some ware & it gives a curtain mm gap per 3 meters depending on ambient temperature on the day of laying. Would have to look again, but around 4mm if laying on a cool day to allow for a hot day. The boards i am using have 4 oblong slots & plan to use some plastic/nylon 4" lengths slotted into these holes to join the boards & glue just one side. I have found cheap plastic kitchen chopping boards great for this type of thing.
Hullo Chris,
Hi, was looking at a revers loop where i have the R5 loop if a single track. The only other place is in the middle of the two circles on the right of the plan. There would be room to put a reverse loop with a station or goods yard at this stage. Any ware beyond the station is a no as there is a 2 foot drop & the back of the house. But still up for ideas as i only have 30 post fitted for the two circles at the moment & heading up to the R5 loop over the next week, weather permitting. But any ideas welcome. The one below would enable a 4-5met station IE>
Hi Gerard,Hi Chris,
Nice layout you are building there! Which part is high above the ground? I guess not in front of the three steps
Did you do some strength test with the plastic base material loaded with locs to determine a max alowable distnce between the poles?
I myself build a similar train layout and used a thin plate of TRESPA on top of a stiff up to 3 m (!) long thin U-shaped steel frames, which I also mounted on top of grey tubes in drilled holes in the ground.
I like your system since it is also fast and very flexible.
Wish you luck and hope to hear more from youre project in the near future!
Gerard
My line uses Metposts similar to how you have done the Scafold posts. However to help stop sinking I placed a piece of broken paving slab, a brick would do under the point of the post to give more security to discourage sinking. Looking at the pile of earth I would imagine you are using a bag of postcrete per post. This will work fine but I managed to get away with somewhat less than a full bag on some of my holes. Just depends how clean you can make the holes depending on soil conditions.Hi Gerard,
its not a very scaled drawing & when you get to the top of the steps you can turn right & walk all the way around. The pole's i have spaced at 1 metre apart & 600mm high & works out really well for me to sit in a plastic garden chair & work on things. I have laid the composite decking cross tubes & sat on it in the middle with no problem. The poles are all 600mm in the ground as well. I hope they all stay firm as there will be at least 80 of them.
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Hi,
