Building your HM Baseboard from a supplied kit

Baseboard finished track layout

Our baseboard kit is particularly suited to those who want a single-piece baseboard for a Hornby model railway layout.

Aimed at starters using a typical Hornby trainset, the standard HM baseboard kit provides a 1.8M x 1.2M board which folds flat for storage and the leg units consist of 2 frames of 50 x 25mm timbers. It is intended to accommodate your own railway layout on one or more interlocking boards.

Please take a look at the full range of options available.
Other modular baseboards sizes are available from HM at 8 Front Road Woodchurch, Ashford, Kent TN26 3QE by contacting Harry Maynard.

The kit provides for a lightweight 1.8M by 1.2M top with folding legs and comes complete with all fittings including adjustable feet and hinges.


Model baseboard overview


Building your HM Baseboard

Self assembly: 1

Begin by identifying the parts. There are three 1.8M timbers and four four 1.2M ones. These all have cross-halving joints cut in them. The 75 x 25mm deep pieces form the front, back and sides of the frame while the 50 x 25mm pieces are the inter-locking cross-braces.

Harry Maynard model railway baseboards building instructions

Self assembly: 2

Lay out the parts on a flat surface and its easy to see how they fit together, all the cut-outs interlocking. At this point the joints can be opened, PVA wood glue applied and fitted back together again before being fixed with the pins supplied.

HM Baseboards assembly

Self assembly: 3

Check the frame is square and test fit the top,which comprises three 1.2M by 0.6M plywood sheets. Align the first sheet carefully with the frame edge, apply glue to frame and pin the sheet in place carefully.

Harry Maynard Baseboards magazine feature from Model rail

Self assembly: 4

The First sheet should overlap the first crossbrace by a ¼ in or so. Butt the second plywood sheet up to it, align it carefully and glue as before. The sheet is then pinned in place. Repeat with the third sheet.

Hornby Trakmat

Self assembly: 5

If you are adding the Hornby model railway Trackmat it can be glued in place with PVA wood glue.The standard sheet is printed on thick paper while the Hogwarts trackmat is polythene and may be less easy to glue.

Baseboard side view

Self assembly: 6

The leg units are 2 frames formed of 5.08cm by 2.54cm timbers. The uprights are identified by their long slots, while the top and bottom rails are distinguished by different sized tenons. Just glue and press firmly home

Leg frame from Harry Maynard Baseboard

Self assembly: 7

The completed leg frame. Triangular MDF braces will be glued and pinned to the lower end of the legs. Screw-in adjustable feet are provided together with strap hinges to be fitted to the top end of the legs.

Folding braces for Harry Maynard Baseboards

Self assembly: 8

The folding braces are MDF strips supplied pre-drilled. They locate in the slot and are retained by nocking in a dowel pin.The single countersunk flap of the hinge is screwed to the top of the leg.

Self build kits for Harry Maynard railway  baseboards

Self assembly: 9

The top end of the brace fits onto a readymade dowel block. Check the position and glue and screw the block into place. The remaining hinge flap is countersunk on both sides to allows it to be fixed to the board frame from the back.

Self assembly: 10

The finishing leg arrangement will allow both leg units to fold up inside the baseboard frame for flat storage.The leg braces drop back into the slots and the whole unit, though large, is not unduly heavy.
Instructions above are taken from an article featuring the HM Baseboard kit in Model Rail magazine.
download the PDFDownload the full baseboard magazine article here.

Model Rail magazine article

Enlarge the image from the magazine article


Model baseboard kits to buy


Railway Baseboard: self assembly kit

Railway Baseboard: self assembly kit

Frame, plywood tops, folding legs, instructions and includes courier next day delivery.
The leg units consist of 2 frames of 50 x 25mm timbers.
Size: 1.8M x 1.2M
Note: this requires self assembly.
Please ring 01233 860008/861217 for pricing

Baseboard: self assembly kit - with adjustable feet

Railway Baseboard: self assembly kit - with adjustable feet

Frame, plywood tops, folding legs, adjustable feet, instructions and includes courier next day delivery.
The leg units consist of 2 frames of 50 x 25mm timbers.
Size: 1.8M x 1.2M
Note: this requires self assembly.
Please ring 01233 860008/861217 for pricing

Controller tray for Hornby controller

Controller tray: for Hornby controller model HM2000

Please ring 01233 860008/861217 for pricing
Hornby controller tray shown bottom right.
Note:baseboard, the actual Hornby controller, train and track are not included.


Harry Maynard Baseboard modules.
Modelshop Woodchurch
8 Front Road Woodchurch Kent TN26 3QE
Tele: 01233 860008/861217
Harry Maynard
harrymaynard@talktalk.net