Anyone have a "How To" on building a sector plate?

Hi All,

Anyone have a "How To" on building a sector plate? If so can you point me in the right direction?

My main propose for the sector plate is to use as a interchange/staging area. Based on the needs of my layout,

• one track will be used to stage cars as if they were spotted there by another railroad before each operating session.
• one track will be used for delivering cars to the interchange during a operation session.
• the third track can be used as needed.

Here is the information/dimensions that I have/want to work with

• Base plate for holding the sector plate 10 X 42.25 inches
• Number of tracks 3. At one time I was thinking 5.
• Track Spacing 1.5 inches.
• Sector Plate width 6 inches.
• Tracks = about 533 scale feet each. That will be more then I need for staging and and interchanging. Most of my trains will be 1 loco and 4-6 cars. Based on an average length of 60 scale feet per unit I will have room to spare.
• All moving of the plate is to be done by hand.
• Atlas rerailers will be used at the end of all tracks

Below are VERY crude images of the 3 different positions of the Sector Plate that I have drawn up

• The Yellow area represents the current bench work. The base will hang over like that shown, it will be supported its complete length.
• The Brown represents track
• Small white dot (left end) represents the pivot point
• Please ignore the saw tooth look in the top and bottom images. My graphics program did that when converting to jpegs.
• Please ignore the larger circle on the left end of each image, I placed it there to get an idea where the I might have to cut the pivot end of the plate, most likely I'll use a lager diameter

Some questions

• What is the easiest way to calculate the curve needed on the swinging end?
• Is anyone using a sliding plate instead of a pivoting plate?
• Any thoughts on what type of material to use for the base and plate? MDF, Melamine board or something else?
• Is there a need to lock the sector plate in place, or will the weight and friction of the two boards keep things aligned?

Thanks,

Gary

 

A few links I have found:
http://carendt.us/microplans/pages/shelf/sectorplate/index.html

http://carendt.us/scrapbook/page91a/index.html

http://www.nscale.net/forums/showthread.php?17753-Sector-Plate-or-Transfer-Table

http://www.freerails.com/view_topic.php?id=2407&forum_id=52

 

Hi Jeff,

Thanks for the information.

Interesting, one of the links (freerails.com) has a link back to TrainBoard member pachyderm217's images of his sector plate. Maybe he will log in and post his How To if he has one.

Gary

 

Hi Ken,

As I stated above in my reply to Jeff one of the links linked back to some photos of a very nice looking sector plate on pachyderm217's layout. I was able to find his Thread: Space-saving staging: sector table.


Regards,

Gary

 

I assume you must work within the area shown on your drawing, otherwise I'd consider a large transfer table - much easier to work with right angles than curves IMO.

 

A transfer table could work.