Get your nylocks out

 

My original plan with the NG7 layout had been to pop it on a table at shows. Not perfect, but it saved me making a set of legs for the thing. 

But, we have a new stand for exhibitions, and the nearest it had to a table, was a kidney-shaped counter about the length of the model, and less than half the width. Bugger. 

So, a bit of online shopping brings me a pair of Homcom Steel Builders trestles from Robert Dyas. Putting them together is a bit of a fiddle, and all there is is a single exploded diagram. From this, you can work out where bolts go, but not easily, which ones. Still, after a bit of trail and error, I managed to put the things together. 

The trouble with nuts and bolts, is that when you rattle them around in a car, they come undone. And when you take a trip to Doncaster, shortly followed by a trip to Glasgow, the result is missing bolts. So missing I can't even find them in the car!

Fortunatly, the bolts used for the wooden cover on the layout fitted for the duration of the show, but I've now been to the hardware shop for replacements. 

To be honest, I've over-ordered on the length of the bolts, but with a bit of luck that will stop the nuts falling off the end, even if they do unscrew themselves. I've also started to replace the vital nuts with nylock versions, so when they are screwed up tight, they will stay put!

 

These legs work well, and hopefully will perform sterling service for many years to come. If they don't fall apart first, so let's hope I've cured this!