NTS&B The rising of the Helix

Here is a summary of pictures and blogs entries made along the way during the construction of the Helix.

I used this pattern to get the most usage out of 1 sheet of plywood. My helix took a total of 2 sheets. For smaller radius tracks, especially fast track, you can lay the track on the plywood and draw it directly. I used a yardstick with a pin hole in 1 end, and 2 holes in the other end at the inner and outer radius points, then used the yardstick as a giant compase

Top view of Helix before legs are attached. Its pretty big (60 inch Diameter).

Bottom view of helix before legs attached. For assembly, I started on the top piece of roadbed, track side down. Then I spliced in the next piece, and the next, which eventually overlapped the first layer. I made sure not to have any splices under the top exit point, so that the slope could be lowered to create less of a hump to the upper level track, and still allow clearance.

Trying to attach legs. Like handling a 6 foot wide 'slinky' toy. Layers are 8 inches, which turned out to be too much.

Roadbed is connected to 2x2 risers using 2 or 4 scew L Brackets

Final result, with layers 6 inches top of track to top of track. Notice how crooked the legs look. Because of all of the grades involved, there is no way to 'eye ball' the verticals. Each leg was plumbed on all sides with a carpenter level.

The unit was tested on the floor for clearance and operating characteristics, BEFORE it was positioned on the layout, which I HIGHLY recommend.

Track wiring completed. Wiring is total over-kill, with connections every 1/4 circle. I attempted to keep all wire lengths equal, to try to keep constant power going up the grades

Side view, partially painted

Wiring connections at top of Helix pole. Used to power ceiling track and accessories

Bolts were placed in the bottom of each 2x2 leg to be used as levelers. Here the helix is resting on the plywood that will be used as the table top underneath it, so the holes can be marked and drilled accurately.

Helix in its final resting place. It only took 5 of us to get it there

Final results

I used 1/2 inch 3 ply plywood. If I had it to do over again, I would use 4 ply. It is stiffer in both directions than 3 ply. I then used 8-2x2s for the legs, 4 inside and 4 outside. I used L-brackets to mount the plywood to the legs. I also put screws in the bottom of each leg for levelers. I don't remember the proper name for them, but they are the ones with 1/4 inch thread on one end, and a Lag bolt thread on the other end. You could also just use Lag Bolts for levelers.

Specs

-6 inches from top of track to top of track

-4 1/2 clearance between layers (top of track to bottom of next layer)

-0-42 inch diameter on inside loop resulting in grade about 4.5 percent

-0-52 inch diameter on inside loop resulting in grade about 3.5 percent

-31 inches total height starting at 51 inches from floor, and ending at 82 inches from floor

-58 inch overall outside diameter, with 2 inch clearance

-37 inch inside diameter, with 2 1/2 inc clearance

NTS & B Helix Wiring

June 2008 - I decided to keep all of the wiring on the layout as neat as possible, as shown by this picture.

Just kidding. Actually the above picture is the temporary wiring at the bottom of the Helix. The picture below is at the top. The Helix loop is split into 4 blocks - Outside helix, Inside helix, Ceiling level, and bottom level. The inner and outer helix track wires were all kept at the same length to minimize voltage drops. The picture above has all 4 blocks tied together. A plywood panel and terminal blocks will be added as time permits, and will hopefully look more like the picture below.

The wires are color codes similar to house wiring, with Green being track ground and Black for track power. Large white will be used for accessory ground, with Red being accessory wire. The white terminal block with the smaller wires is for low current accessories and switch track power. The wiring on the upper level has to be complete prior to finishing the bridge.

NTS & B A couple preliminary logo attempts

June 2008 - A couple attempts at a logo. I tried using the top one for a billboard, and it was a little too busy. Will probably use a derivation of the top one for the final logo.

NTS & B Start of Suspension Bridge

May 2008 - I decided that instead of having a plain shelf crossing the middle of the room, I would try to build a suspension bridge. The towers are 1x2's that had edges rounded with a router. Wire between towers is speaker wire to get an idea how it will look, while I try to figure out how to make rest of the bridge. Bridge will have O and G gauge tracks. Shown is an LGB G Scale ICE train being used to test clearance.

NTS & B Passenger Yard Progress

May 2008 - Got in more Ross Custom Switch switch tracks, and finished laying the most of track on one end of the mainline passenger yard. Engines are pointed in planned direction when mainline loop is complete. The wood boards laying between the will eventually be passenger platforms.

NTS & B Another Delay, to Denmark

Sometimes its hard making progress on the layout, when 'little' interuptions keep popping up. This one was a short trip to Allborg, Denmark, and surrounding area. A couple pictures attached.

Allborg, Denmark

Grenen, Denmark.

North most point in Denmark, where the Baltic and North Seas come together, as seen as the waves clashing in the middle of the second picture.

Skagen, Denmark

So many of the houses in Skagen are the same color yellow, that it was givin the official name of 'Skagen Yellow'

Lokken, Denmark

Nature is re-arranging the sands around the light house and old church. The light-house is almost totally engulffed in a sand dune. The area next to the old church is being erroaded away, and the church is in danger of falling into the sea, and as you can see from the picture after the church (from the front step), is a long ways down.

NTS & B North Pole Loop benchwork progress

Apr 2008 - Benchwork (shelfs) for the ceiling loop are painted and hung. Changed layout from plan. Originally had 2 passing sidings on shelf on wall next to helix. Decided this was bad idea. If have any problems with derailments, would have to climb over lower level to reach problem. Moved sidings to other side of room. The top picture shows the center room crossing, which is held up by 4 all-thread rods hung from the ceiling joists. The bottom picture shows the outside wall (opposite wall from helix) shelf, which will hold a 4 track passing siding. The shelf for the passing siding had to leave access to the outside water cut-off located in the above the ceiling tile that is removed in the picture, hence the odd shape.

NTS & B North Pole Loop started

March 2008 - Now that the Helix is up, have to give the trains somewheres to go. Started shelfs at door top height. Shelf will go half way down the side of the room, cross the room in the center, then back up the other side, and re-cross the center, and meet up with the inner track of the helix. Shelves are 1 inch boards, notched to overlap for added strength at joints. Corners are 1x12 cut at 45 degrees, and notched to overlap the shelves.

A G-scale shelf layout is planned for the other half of the top of the room.

NTS & B Helix in position

March 2008 - The 2 winter modules are in place and braced, and the Helix is finally positioned on the layout. It only took five of us to get it up there. Top exit just clears the doorway by 1/4 inch :)

NTS & B Post War Loop Started

March 2008 - Finished Post War track under the Mainline Yard. The exposed track is temporary for testing the completed track. This is to make sure there are no problems with it BEFORE it is totally covered with the remaining mainline module.