Planning an indoor railway and trying to convert from 1960s UK 00 to 16mm in the US!

[Chris Vernell]

... He didn't use 'hardboard' as it is almost unknown here in the US.)

Maybe you know it as masonite?
Utterly unsuitable for baseboards, anyway.

 

[Chris Vernell]

I have a plan. A cunning plan.

Did somebody call my name?

 

[Chris Vernell]

At the moment I’m planning on getting the Swift Sixteen turntable if it’s still available.

Has Swift Sixteen resumed overseas shipping?
TT is still on its website. 100 squid.

 

[Martino]

Has Swift Sixteen resumed overseas shipping?
TT is still on its website. 100 squid.

They appear to be doing overseas shipping, but I can always get it delivered to a friend in the UK and they’ll onward ship.

 

[Martino]

Jim, a friend of mine in the FGRS (Florida), built a decent size 3-level indoor layout, in an industrial condo with a/c.

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Don't make any assumptions about materials until you check your local Home Depot/Lowes. Jim found that regular 4x2 studs were much less expensive than anything else [figures - they use a lot in each house.]

I don't know what he used for the surface, but I'm sure I can ask. I could even put you in touch so you can ask him directly what he did? (P.S. He didn't use 'hardboard' as it is almost unknown here in the US.)

View attachment 334085

I’ll probably use 1/4” birch plywood. This will be well supported and will do for my purposes.

 

[dunnyrail]

I’ll probably use 1/4” birch plywood. This will be well supported and will do for my purposes.

Hm I think I would go for 1/2 inch with less support, will likely work out cheeper.

 

[PhilP]

6mm (1/4") is a bit thin..
It will 'drum', so be noisy, and is too thin to reliably take a fixing..

I would use 8mm (3/8") personally.

PhilP

 

[Fred2179G]

I think I would go for 1/2 inch with less support, will likely work out cheeper.

Perhaps you underestimate the low, low cost of 2x4 studs over here.

 

[korm kormsen]

6mm (1/4") is a bit thin..
It will 'drum', so be noisy, and is too thin to reliably take a fixing..

yes. valuable points.

yes,but...
... 6mm (1/4") is a bit cheaper.
... against the "drumming" i used styrofoam sheets glued upon the ply. - they tone down the drum effect and give an easy way to "plant" vegetation or integrate some surface undulations.

 

[dunnyrail]

Perhaps you underestimate the low, low cost of 2x4 studs over here.

I still think 1/4” ply will be on the thin side for G scale trains. Ok for 0 gauge.