And then there was a helix

As has been posted already, our helix has started to take shape. It wasn't an easy process, but progress has been steady, with one loop completed. Our helix was designed to use trapezoidal pieces to form an overall circle, for the most part it has worked well. We did however hit a major snag when the pieces stopped lining up when they should have, thankfully it turned out one of the segments was an inch longer than it should have been and it was promptly fixed and work continued slowly. the next challenge to overcome is a change in design in the trapezoids and making sure we can line them up properly with the already built helix structure, once we get past the first segment on the new pieces, the rest should all drop into place and the helix will be completed!

In other news, we got our first delivery of track, switches and cork, along with the club picking up some new track nails, wire and solder. We're good to being laying track! (as you see we've already started too)

Time for some pictures after the break:

These are the trapezoid pieces, they were assembled in groups of three, attached using glue and biscuits.

       

               Our first segment of track is in, and so it begins!

We made sure that we had plenty of clearance to run any kind of car through the helix, it should even support the crazy intermodals that some of our members used to run on the old layout.

And this is our current progress on the helix, its really starting to come along now, and once we figure out the  issue with the change in shape trapezoid pieces, it'll be clear sailing.

So onto the last picture, we needed to bridge the helix to the lower deck. With a combination of 3/4" ply and some luan, we created an easy connection that with a little bit of sanding by the beginning of the helix, created a smooth transition into the homasote on the helix deck.