This video was already in the queue before the loss, but thank-you anyway.

This video was already uploaded and scheduled for release weeks ago. I'm still struggling to get back into things.

With one flick of the elder wand, I will apperate it directly into the client's basement :-) Seriously though; that will be revealed in a future installment.

Thank-you.

No that plywood isn't cheap, but benchwork is one area if a layout where one absolutely must not skimp. It is the foundation, and the one part that cannot be replaced without a total rebuild.

You could probably build the new helix as a free-standing unit in the open space at the end of your shed without disturbing the old one. Then when the new one is completely finished and tested, cut away the old one and slide the new one into place. You will only be without the ability to run trains for a few hours.

I'm still using a really basic camera (Nikon Coolpix). It was less than $100 several years ago. I know I need to upgrade but I don't know what to look for. I also have a GoPro (Hero black 3, I think), which I know has a higher resolution but also has some really annoying features that I don't know how to overcome. I mainly just use it for time-lapse.

@@mpeterll I'd shoot for something like a gopro6 or better. The Hero8, what I'm using, has good audio and video quality out of the box but with a few setting tweaks which I found via KZfaq tutorials, the quality is improving on every video I make. They are running around $$250-$300 (US) but I did find a few for $229 amzn.to/34gR5lM One simple step you might take is closing the garage door as natural light plays havoc on auto balance settings. I'm still struggling with this issue as well. You can see it on my shop tour video which starts outside then goes inside. Even then the panning around the shop (garage) the color shifts a bit because I forgot to turn the auto balance off.

That's a little exaggeration, but I know what you mean. The space within the helix is a 68" diameter circle. Still, When I lived in the UK, I had many layouts that were smaller than the total area filled by the helixes and lard ladders as being build here. The full layout is about 35' square (not to be confused with 35 square feet).

Yup, that's pretty big - my main living room is 24'x14', but I don't think I'd be popular if I just used it for trains!

There were some of those shots of the junction with the double-slips in the previous video.

@@mpeterll I went back and replayed the end where you have the still shots. While you have some shots of the junctions I was thinking of much lower angles, camera only 6" above the rails or even less. which I didn't see (unless I missed them).

@@68Jaguar420G I'm talking about part 4, not this one. There is a lengthy sequence where I test the track with the camera fairly low.

@@mpeterll Thanks, it was part 4 I went back to review but I only looked at the still shots at the end of the video. I've now gone back and re-watched the track test sequence. Not bad but how about a few stills taken with the camera at say 1/2 or even 1/3 the height you used for that sequence from time to time. Take care of yourself Peter.

The design for this layout was presented a couple of months ago.

There's a guy in the UK, Tris at OONeal, who makes these sleeper/ties for joints in modular benchwork. I think he still sells them. Here' a link: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/q5Nhfbpmltinn40.html

Without rail joiners, there will be a tendency on curves for the rail ends to want to spring outwards, creating a kink that will likely cause derailments. The keeper plate I created hold them in alignment and prevent future problems. I thought I mentioned that in the video.

Hi Peter thanks for the info

Hi Peter I watched you video again, I understand now, secures the track , you don’t use insulated rail joiners thanks

There's more than enough clearance. It may look deceiving because all the other significant numbers are above the norm. The inner track is 3' radius and the track centers are 2.5" to give extra finger room. Also the black roadbed is slightly wider than the ties, possibly affecting the way the eye scales things.

That is correct. Nothing I have yet built for this railroad is intended to represent a real place. Think of it as the "backstage" area of a theater or movie set, which allows the actors (locomotives) and props (freight & passenger cars) to get from one scene to another during the production (operating session).