A Modular Layout for "O" scale trams Part 2

Both end modules have been framed and the curved edging has been fitted. The track has been laid on one of the boards and I will take a break in construction for awhile while I test all the trams on the 12" radius curve. I don't expect they will all work first off as I think I will need to do some fiddling with the wiring that joins the trucks together. There is a hugh swing with "O" scale on a 12" radius curve and consequently a lot of movement is required in the wiring. So far I haven't been able to find a wire that has the sort of flexibility that suits me because my models are very light weight. The answer may be added weight or more flexible wiring or both.


The 12" radius curve is what I would call a minimum radius curve with no room for error. To ensure accuracy I made a 32mm track gauge which was also a trammel along with a second 32mm gauge from flat aluminium strip. The photo above shows the gauges in use along with a couple of pieces of steel bar which roughly hold the rail in place ahead of the soldering. The 60" curve was eye balled and the 18" radius curve was laid out with a cardboard template. The rails, it took 6 lengths for this one module, were all pre-curved around various size tins so they were very close to their final curvature.

The next photo shows an overall view with all the track down. The lighter tear drop section in the middle will be cut out now that the track is laid so that the curved back scene can be fitted. The darker colour on the rest of the layout is the sealer to waterproof and protect the wood so I can apply the plaster road later without any problems. There is 9' of track on here so I intend to break the track up electrically into two equal length sections in case I have a need for it later. It will be pretty hard to do when the track is embedded into the roadway.


I wanted to see what a tram would look like on the 12" curve and the last photo shows a Brisbane drop centre doing just that. This view will be lost when the central back scene is in place as a tram on the loop will only be able to be viewed from outside the circle.

I need to drill the holes for the span poles next and locate them in some way so I can still find them after the plaster has been applied. This are is fairly tight area and once the central back scene is in place I wont be able to drill the holes for the inner poles as they will be only millimetres from the back scene so they have to be done now. The back scene will protrude above the baseboard the width of a piece of A4 paper. Coloured photos of a Brisbane street scene in landscape format will be glued to the back scene. Hence the need for a couple of millimetres gap to the inner span poles.

Now off to spend awhile testing and fine tuning my trams.