Profil HO proužek 1,1 x 1,7 mm

A strip for posts and frame structures

A section of 1.1 by 1.7 millimeters comes from the original designation of four by six inches. In the railroad ratio it therefore stands for a solid structural beam of the kind that carries the roof of a shed, forms a door frame or serves as the post of a platform shelter. The ratio of the sides is close to a square, which makes it easier to turn the part while assembling a framework.

A thickness of more than a millimeter brings a rigidity that thin strips do not have. A post will not bow under the weight of a roof and a frame stays straight even after the joint has dried. At the same time the profile can comfortably be cut with a knife, and anyone who needs dozens of pieces of the same length can save the measuring with a simple stop made from an offcut.

The material is white polystyrene identical to a kit molding, so it is worked in a familiar way. Solvent cement creates a strong joint over the whole mating face, while cyanoacrylate suits combinations with metal or resin better. Before painting it is enough to sand the edges lightly and wipe off the dust.

It is supplied in a length of 35 centimeters, one piece per item. Anyone building half-timbered walls or truss supports will appreciate that a single profile yields a whole set of vertical and diagonal braces of exactly the same section.

When building a framework it helps to work over a drawing covered with clear film. The parts are laid out straight on the drawing, taped down and glued at the correct angles without sticking to the surface. The finished frame is then lifted off in one piece and fitted to the model. This method pays off above all with repeated truss bays, where every bay has to come out the same.