Finishing the Fascia

Last bit of construction.

Yay!

Before I can finish off the fascia I still need to frame it in with plywood to give the Masonite I will be using proper support. Since this layout will likely get handled a lot I don’t want a flimsy fascia, the scorn of many a layout.

The curved edges required a bit of extra structure below the layout so the Masonite would be supported top and bottom.

Plywood added along the waterfront. 3/4″ Baltic birch cabinet grade plywood was used for maximum strength.

Borrowing the technique for laminating cabinets I decided to use water based contact cement to adhere the Masonite to the layout. This eliminates the need for screws and filler.

Contact cement has to be applied to both surfaces being glued together. The glue has to dry to tacky state and when the two surfaces touch, the bond is completed. You only get one try.

Typically the two surfaces do not require clamping, but the sharp radius around the outside edge was a bit much for the bond. Clamping the pieces will help form a very solid bond.

After about an hour the clamps can be removed and the bond is complete.

Using a laminate trimmer (router) the Masonite is cut off flush with the plywood. The Masonite I glued to the plywood was much wider then necessary, about 2″ per side. When wrapping around a corner it is very easy to get it a bit crooked, leaving lots extra to trim off after will ensure a perfect edge.

The other sections received the same treatment.

It was suggested to finish off the front of the layout in a rusty finish, which I think is a great idea and would suit the layout very well. I decided to also add some fake rivets as well.

On to Next Section

-T.

About the Author:

I'm your host, Tim Warris, a product developer in Port Dover, Ontario. Since March of 2007 I have been documenting the construction of the former CNJ Bronx Terminal in HO scale. For my day job, I design track building tools for Fast Tracks, a small company I own and operate. Fast Tracks makes it fast and easy to hand lay your own trackwork. Stop by our website to learn more!

Posted by: Tim | 04-06-2008 | 09:04 PM
Posted in: Benchwork Construction | Latest Posts