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I have my layout ready in Viso. I can print it out "full sized" (many sheets of paper). I would like to trace this out to the roadbed (flat plywood).
The books I've been reading suggest tracking out the centerline, I have the layout printing the width of a HO track ...
In either way, any suggestion on how to trace the layout from paper to wood ? I could just tape the paper down but then I have to glue the cork over the paper (not good ! )
With pumpkin carving I'd use a pin and poke holes along the lines which would show up as dots on the pumpkin ...
Maybe I need to cut down the paper down the centerline of the track and then trace from there. I'm sure this is a common problem and there are brilliant easy solutions I'm missing !
You could tape together your track plan and carefully but firmly trace over the center lines of the track on the paper. It should leave some sort of visible holes in the subroadbed (Plywood in your case).
I ended up cutting out all of the 'track' from the 39 sheets of paper I printed off to get my track plan onto the plywood. (Pain in the BUTT).
You could tape together your track plan and carefully but firmly trace over the center lines of the track on the paper. It should leave some sort of visible holes in the subroadbed (Plywood in your case).
I ended up cutting out all of the 'track' from the 39 sheets of paper I printed off to get my track plan onto the plywood. (Pain in the BUTT).
Great idea ! I think this is the trick for me (bought or made)
I need something to "mark through the paper into the wood"
I already have a full-color full-scale printout taped over my roadbed ... (my case only 12 sheets ... its small) ... but I want to "transfer" that to the wood ...
Carbon Paper would be nice but do they even make that anymore ?
I suspect even a heavy carpenter's pencil would do the trick.
Thanks for the suggestion.
I've seen people who do layouts based entirely on measurements, and draw out their track directly on the wood .. but thats not for me. I want mine drawn out in visio or some other layout program then overlaid ... maybe someday I can be as good as professional carpenters who can just "visualize" a cabnet and buld it without specs ...
Yes I do remember mine being quite a pain also. If you get a general idea and start a thread (if you haven't) there should be a few people who can help you for sure
I discovered my wife had a whole box of carbon paper.
I taped together my layout (6' x 1' ... 12 sheets of paper 2x6 sheet layout) into 1 sheet.
Then I taped "hinges" on one end so I could lift and replace the template without moving it.
I took 4 sheets and laid them out under my taped together layout and traced out 4 sheets at a time, then slided them over.
Untaped the template and there was my layout perfect
Worked fanstic !
Next time, however I'm going to change how I printout my layout.
I used Visio and created a "line" with the width of HO rails. That worked OK but was missing 2 thigns
1) Missing the centerline. I ended up making a simple wood tool to help measure out a centerline but would be better if I could have traced that too.
2) Missing the width of the cork roadbed. That was a bigger issue. Once I started laying out cork I realized I didnt have enough room everywhere so had to tweek it. Good learning experience but next time I want my layout in Visio to accomidate the roadbed so I can visualize it better before printing it out.
I just tried it on some wood for a test. I have to plan out my layout first. Which I am finding really hard.