My Big Shed layout

[cmaceeepc]

Hi Guys

Sorry for the delay in posting - all the normal reasons work, life, wife
Anyway during my break I have decided to build a new layout in my big shed.

At the rear of the shed I will have an area 3.1m x 3.4m.

With this area in mind my first idea is as attached


This layout consists of 2 levels connected by 2 helix (shelf level approx 400 above main deck)
Main Deck


Upper deck


With some free time I have been able to start on the first of my helix's.
Firstly to find out how to build one, Xtracad gives some details but in the end used "Helix Calculator" to get some measurements.
http://ezbizwebsite.com/helix calculator

So it began with cutting the rings - full rings - three and a half
Cut rings and joined with biscuits
next I built temporary frame and started spacing - not once but three times to get it right - 1. Not enough turns 2. I forgot to allow for thickness of the ply on three legs 3. Still got it wrong on one leg
Once this was right I added some spacer bars to keep from warping and it is now as you see in the photos




Next I will start the benches

Please any advise is welcome

Be good

cmaceeepc

[Burlington Bob]

Nice and ambitious project, but the biggest concern I would have is the grade percentage and curve radius. What scale is this, N? The addition of a tight radius curve to a steep grade is a recipe for trouble and will be compounded by longer trains. Before you get too far along you should test your helix design to see if it is workable. I have never built one myself, but the grade does seem very steep to me from the pictures. Pictures can be deceiving though! Good luck!

[cmaceeepc]

Burlington Bob

My idea of fun is N scale
This is my largest layout so far 1st 6' x 4', the second 4' x 3'

This layout will combine a lot of ideas I have seen

Details of the helix's are
The operational radius is 350mm
Grade of 2.1
Length of Helix 7m
seperation 114mm


I await your advice

cmaceeepc

[railfan]

Nice looking helix.....and who doesn't like biscuits?

Mike

[Larry]

Burlington Bob is right about that Helix. It's way to steep even for HO. Most Helix's I've seen are only 4" apart for HO on ea. level. For N they would probably only be about 2" apart or less. That Helix might be OK for O scale if it was 6ft across.
Just my thoughts.

[WCWBrassHat]

Your math on the helix doesn't seem right. Let see if I understand correctly. Your radius is 350mm or 13.78". The distance between the layers of the helix is 114mm or 4.49"

%Grade is defined as rise (114) over run (2 x PI (3.1416) x radius(350)) x 100 = 114 / 2199 x 100 = 5.18%

Your radius is a bit on the tight side. You need to consider what engines and cars you plan to run. Large articulated steam engines and 80' or longer freight or passenger cars may cause some problems.

A grade over 5% will not be workable as an engine will pull very few if any cars up the grade particularly in conjunction with the 350mm radius curves. A grade of 2% may not give enough clearance for all rolling stock.

If you cut a slot on your uprights at 50mm spacing so that it catches the edge of your helix subroadbed you won't need the support under the roadbed. You will need to add additional uprights on the inside of the helix.

Hope this helps!
Glenn

[cmaceeepc]

Guys

Your valued advice has proved enlightening.
Following your advice I rechecked and my calc's and asumptions and they were flawed.
As such I attach some new calcs

Please advise if I am on the right track before I rip into any more ply


cmaceeepc

[WCWBrassHat]

cmaceeepc,

Your calculatons are now basicly right except the grade should be calculated on the track center line not the outside circumference. It bumps your grade up to 2.2%.

The larger radius will make a big difference in your operations.

Glenn

[cmaceeepc]

Originally Posted by WCWBrassHat

cmaceeepc,

Your calculatons are now basicly right except the grade should be calculated on the track center line not the outside circumference. It bumps your grade up to 2.2%.

The larger radius will make a big difference in your operations.

Glenn

Had a closer look at the calculator and found it was set for G scale
revised the base equations to suit N scale and hey presto same rise, grade 1.83 (at track centre), seperation 2.75", 5.5 rings

I will do a mock up on the weekend and let you know how it goes


cmaceeepc

[cmaceeepc]

Wow this is proving to be a big fiddly job, but so far after some advice from those most learnned, I have designed my helix, created a jig, marked up and cut enough segments to build the rings required.

I have biscuited and glued 3 full rings and one drying in the jig, a couple of days to complete the construction of the rings and to start the assembly.

Yes they are bigger than I had originaly concieved but isnt that the same as all layouts!

here are a couple of pictures of the process line

The jig


The segments


the rings (the builders square is 600mm long)


Will post again when I have done some more

and thanks for the advise on the Helix calcs - it really helped sort it out


cmaceeepc