Geezer Gate on hojimbo's HO train model railroad layout

[BrickstarRunner]

clever...very clever. I really love the way you 'filled in' the space when your not using it.

[hojimbo]

that was out of necessity, and I'm still short of space!!! I know it's crowded, but I guess that proves it's not a perfect world and we make do with what we've got

[531786cl]

@hojimbo

Hey I love your geezer gate, can you give more infor on building it?

Thanks.

John

[hojimbo]

1. 1st get the piano hinge mounted on the stationary endl

2. draw eliptical curve on opposite end

3. use sabre saw to cut thru following the traced eliptical curve

4. swing it out - you'll probably have to add a cross piece to suport the end (you can see on the vido some wood exposed apx 1" for this part to rest on

5. laydown your track

6. make 90 degree cuts on the hinged end,

7 cut at an angle above the eliptical curve

8. add jumper wires to the track on the gate

9. test it out !

[531786cl]

@hojimbo

Hey I love your geezer gate, can you give more info on building it? That curve part is the thing I'm having problem with.

Thanks.

John

[hojimbo]

see comments above - also, get the gate operating properly before laying any track. Once you have the stationary end with the piano hinge all set and the top 'cut' perpendiculer to the front (I used a sawzall), go to the 'curved end' and make an eliptical curve - I just 'eyeballed it' and freehanded the curve - then cut with a sawzall - now the top should swing out - I installed a wood support to hold up this end as seen in video - then install track (1 track at a time and get working)

[hojimbo]

Once it's working for the 1st track, you can add another track and so on - be sure each track is operating before adding more tracks - I was very apprehesive when I made it, but it works really slick and not having to crawl under the layout is fantastic - the video shows about how the curve might look on any layout - I used a trackcutitng hacksaw and cut directly above the sawzall cuts and it worked great - I have 1.5" foam glued on top of plywood for my roadbed -- good luck

[marshmallower]

that is super cool man!

[hojimbo]

I'm glad I went to the train show and just happened to see a guy open it so he could get inside the layout - I started questioning him, another member came over and they gave me all kinds of tips on how to make the geezer gate. I had my camcorder going and recorded what they were saying while they were pointing to pertinent features, etc. This gate sure makes like easier on the back and knees for an 'old geezer' like myself (young folks like it too!!)

[marshmallower]

Yeah, must be nice! How long did it take you to build it?

[hojimbo]

The entire layout has been in progress for about 7 years now. The geezer gate itself took about 5-6 hours or so -had a lot of 'modifying' to do - then another 5-6 hours to get the track installed , jumper wires run and soldered, etc

[marshmallower]

Awesome!

[hojimbo]

keep an eye on my postings - I'll be adding a few more of the layout in the next week or so - the Grand Canyon, Going to the Sun Road, Rocky Mountains, aspens, Moffat Tunnel & Winter Park Ski resort, Mt. Rushmore, a big glacier and more.

[marshmallower]

Can't wait! :D