Christmas Train Base and Storage

The track hangs upside down to help keep dust and dirt off.
See how the track would be sandwiched if it was on the base?

Hindsight is 20/20 - Many things I could have done different as Im sure you can tell.

With the spacer, the track will not be sandwiched.

Who knows, I may make another one someday. This has been a tremendous learning experience.


Today I added some spacers on top of the base. I'm trying to use what I have on hand. These spacers are coming from the center hole I cut out of the 3/4 plywood sheet Im using for the base.
I have yet to permanently mount the track on the base. Last year I noticed that when you stow the base the track would have been sandwiched between the base and the bracket. Obviously that would not be good.


Here is the link start of the Track Storage idea. 

Measuring where the holes is

Adding all these spacers has made the track base on a whole thicker. The base still fits on the brackets, but it will not swing down anymore.  The base hits the ceiling when I swing it down. 
It is easier for me to stow the base on the brackets if it can swing down.


With the extra spacers it adds an inch and a half to the thickness. Figured I would add 2 inches to the bracket so it will hang a little lower, and plenty of space for to to swing down.
Cut 4 two inch spacers.

transferring the line where the
screws will hit

I needed to make sure the screws of the long 2X4 will not hit the new screws for the 2" spacers. I could have eyeballed it, but I did not want to fool around and put one in the wrong place.

With the bottom part of the bracket off, I measure the distance from the edge to the hole where the screw comes out. 
Then transfer a line to the spacers. 
That way I know where not to drill for the screws for the spacer.
Drill the countersunk holes for the screws. Put some glue on the end and attached it to the bracket legs.

Then its just a matter of putting it back together.

Now I think Im ready to do a little sanding and some more painting.

here is the base swung down

base mounted

Can't wait to get that track mounted and soldered.

I really like soldering. Not too long ago I repaired a Yamaha G100-112 guitar amp
That was a LOT of soldering.

I need to get back on that 202 engine.