Standards for
Module Construction for
Improved Operation and Setup
Revised April 22, 2021
The following construction standards have been
accepted in order to improve layout operation and setup of modules:
A. A Track and Module Standards Committee shall be established by election
of the PMRC HO Division membership.
1. The duties
of the Track and Module Standards Committee shall be:
a. Proposing standards for the construction of modules and track thereon
with the aim of improving operation and setup of the Club layout;
b. Evaluating all Club and member's modules to determine compliance with the
accepted standards of module, track and wiring construction;
c. Provide the Club or owning member with a written list of standards to
which the evaluated module is in or out of compliance.
2. Modules belonging to the Club or a member that are not in compliance with
one or more standards will not be included in layout setups during operating
sessions until brought into compliance with the standards.
a. A module may be presented to the Track and Module Standards Committee for
evaluation at any business, operating or work session with prior notice of
the Standards Committee chairman
B. Track and Module Construction
Standards
1. A module consists of two (2) 24 inch
wide (or 30 in wide) x 4 foot long module tables (module total size is 2 x 4
feet). The tables should be separately identified by color or letter or
number or etc.
2. The ends of all module tables
will be vertical to the module table top as checked with a carpenter's
square. The base for the mainline trackage will five eigths (5/8) inch
plywood smooth side up. Table connections should be with 2 quick acting
clamps (such as 1,1 in Vise Grips) per table end.
3. Module table legs will have three eighth (3/8) inch diameter screw-eye
height adjustment screws in each leg as noted in the Club module plans (see
module plans). Tee nuts will be used at the leg ends for threading each
screw-eye, The tee nuts will be glued in place and strengthened with four 1
1/4" fillister head screws overlapping the edge of the tee nut.
4. The standard height to the top of the main tracks at the ends of each
module table shall be forty (40) inches. The leg screw-eyes must provide a
minimum of plus (+) or minus (-) one (1) inch of vertical adjustment from
four (4) inches from the floor to the top of the main tracks at the ends of
the module to accommodate for variations in floor level.
5. There will be two (2) main tracks on each module. The centerline of the
outermost track ends (red line) will be three (3) inches from the front face
of the module table frame. Ihe centerline of the second main track ends
(yellow line) will be five (5) inches from the front of the module (two
inches in from the centerline of the red,line track).
6. Both mainline tracks will terminate exactly even (vertically) with the
ends of the module tables. Horizontal and vertical track alignment will be
maintained by the alignment rods placed through alignment bore holes of
adjacent modules tables (see no. 8 below).
7.
Curves on the main lines of a module will be no less than 30 inch radius and
easements are recommended. Centerline spacing of the main tracks of curves
must be increased to two and one forth (2.25) inches. There must be three
(3) inches of tangent (straight) mainline track at the ends of a corner or
straight module table.
8. Each module table shall
have two (2) alignment bore holes of 5/8 inch diameter on the module table
ends placed two and one half (2.5) inches below the top of the main rails
(see Plan Sheet 3). The first alignment bore hole will be six (5) inches in
from the front of the module table frame and the second exactly twelve (12)
inches horizontally from the first alignment bore hole. All measurements are
to center of the alignment holes. Holes will be exactly vertical to the
module table end frames. Use of the Club's bore hole alignment tool will be
utilized for this task.
Alignment Rods:
1) eight (8) inch sections of five eighths (5/8) inch OD PVC pipe tapered
one end
2) or eight (8) inch
sections of five eighths (5i8) inch OD metal conduit pipe tapered one end
3) eight (8) inch sections of five eighths (5/8) inch diameter birch rod
tapered one end
9. Alignment of the bore holes will be set with the
bore hole alignment tool owned by the Club. It should be noted that exact
placement of the alignment tcol is a requirement for precise alignment of
the adjoining modules.
10. A check sheet of a module evaluation
results will be provided to the Club or rnodule owner-member
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