Example of a standard baseboard with braced legs (also features corner protectors and edge tape).

Example of benchwork or frames

Over the years many materials have been tried in model railway baseboard construction. Recently construction foam and fibre boards have seen use particularly in America, however we prefer to use traditional timber. When manufacturing baseboards we take into consideration how they are going to be used with reference to size, shape and weight. It is also very important to consider access to the layout room - what is the route like to the railway room, door size, access to a loft, loft height, shape of stairs - these may all be critical when selecting board size and shape. The following is a guide to surface materials most frequently used or requested:

	Plywood - our preferred material for baseboard surfaces. It is strong and durable and will withstand changes in environmental conditions that other materials will not. When using a timber outside exterior grade plywood should be the chosen material, when sealed correctly it will outlast most products. Two types of plywood are generally available: Far Eastern Plywood (FE Ply) - Generally the plywood sold by the DIY 'sheds'. Depending on thickness it is usually composed from a central thick core laminate with two outer thinner laminates and a finish laminate on the outer surfaces. Can be a white or red finish. This is a low cost plywood but is better than some materials. Some reports of woodworm in this grade of plywood. Birch Plywood - If you wish to use the best then Birch Plywood is probably it! Composed of roughly equal thickness laminates throughout this material is extremely tough and durable. Track pins may need pre-drilling but the extra effort is worthwhile as birch plywood will offer many years of trouble free use. Usually a natural white timber colour. This is not cheap, but if it was good enough for the RAF, its good enough for a model railway! Ideal for making open frame and airframe boards with little softwood required.
	Sundeala - Often recommended in publications as Sundeala is light and easily takes a track pin but proceed with caution. This high cost fibre board is best used for notice boards and that's where it should stay - on the wall. Sundeala is prone to swelling by absorbing external moisture, sagging and also curling at the edges. Our advice is use only for table top single board layouts where weight is paramount. Do not exceed 12" centres for a supporting frame under a Sundeala board as it is likely to sag. Not suitable for use in attics, sheds or garages where environmental conditions may change.
	MDF (Medium Density Fibreboard) - This particle board originated out of a need for a 'timber' constructional material with no grain that machines and finishes to a high standard - hence its use in furniture, particularly kitchen units. MDF is quite hard to fix a pin but for many it is a neat material although a little heavy. Do not use for baseboard frames in open frame or airframe construction, or where high strength is required. Not recommended for use below 12mm in thickness.
	Chipboard - ideal for train set boards as low cost. Not considered by the serious enthusiast.

Not included in this section are items classed as Specialist Joinery e.g. Spirals and Traversers, Backscene Boards, Diorama Boards, Folding Baseboards, Control Panel Draws and Lifting Sections. Click here to visit Specialist Joinery.

	Traditional. The most popular construction method best suited to layout with a high track density. Simply constructed from a sheet material top surface (usually plywood for the enthusiast, and chipboard or MDF for those on a more restricted budget or children) with a soft wood jointed frame on the underside. These baseboards can be produced to most sizes and shapes. Click here to view our price list for standard size traditional baseboards.
	Open Frame. This method of construction is often preferred by the railway modeller that has evolved their design concept to include gradients and a greater proportion of scenery than is possible on a traditional layout. The layout is constructed from a softwood jointed mesh (similar to the frame of a traditional board) allowing 'risers' to be fixed to the frame to lift the track bed to the required height. The timber track base is therefore cut to the shape of the track and any trackside buildings, leaving areas open for scenic development. Track beds are usually plywood as this material has greater structural strength where only a small proportion of material is supported by the risers. The frame and the track bed can be used as anchor points for the scenery support, often chicken wire. The level of the base frame should be the lowest point on the layout (datum), usually a water feature. Very complex shapes and sizes can be produced using this method of construction.
	Air Frame. On some of the most developed scenic layouts, the scenery may dominate with bridges carrying tracks over deep valleys and track passing in tunnels through hills and mountains. The change in height between datum and mountain tops may be several feet requiring a more advanced baseboard construction. Air frame construction uses plywood formers cut to the required profile to support the track and scenery. Softwood is used only to brace joints in the plywood. Huge structures can be produced using this method of construction. . BASEBOARD SUPPORTS - LEGS & FRAMES Again we will manufacture baseboard legs or a supporting frame to your design or our standard design. Some of the most popular layout supports are: Cabinets or Base Units - Where model railway layouts are a permanent structure in a building or room it is worthwhile giving consideration to the overall appearance of the completed model railway. Standard braced legs or trestles offer a low cost solution whilst a carrier frame is very useful if the model may need moving, however storage cabinets can be more than useful to store stock or other household items making use of what otherwise may be wasted space or a mass of boxes. The solution below shows a layout in a garden summer house that features simple sliding doors to tidy up the underside of the boards rather than a curtain. Other solutions can include bespoke furniture or kitchen base units. Braced Legs - The most popular supports are braced legs shown in the images below. These are made to the requested height from softwood and feature a simple diagonal brace from the bottom leg cross member to the layout frame using a backflap hinge at each end of the brace. These legs are permanent/semi-permanent feature. These legs can feature an adjustable foot allowing adjustments of up to 40mm to allow for an uneven floor.

 

Trestles - Traditional trestles are a simple answer to baseboard support. They are ideal for table top train sets, layouts in occasional use/semi-permanent or exhibition layouts. We will manufacture wood trestles illustrated below to your requirements or supply steel trestles as illustrated right.

Carrier Frame - The ideal solution to the single board layouts Can be made from one board for access but usually not larger then 120" x 60") causing a problem if permanently left erected. The layout is supported on a carrier frame on castors to allow movement. Ideal for the garage when a layout has to be moved for access or to actually allow the car into the garage! Also ideal in the home to allow the board to be moved for cleaning or when not required.

	Castors to allow a board to be moved.
	Adjustable layout feet.
	Engineers dowels for accurate alignment of two or more board.
	Corner protectors/edge tape - particularly useful on table top boards where children are involved. Edge tape helps reduce the risk of splinters (risk still remains).
	Cable holes - easier to drill at the frame stage.
	Undercoat finish to protect the surface timber and provide a base for scenery.