Baseboard Alignment Dowels

Alignment dowels (known as benchwork alignment pins in the US) ensure the accurate alignment of model railway baseboards. Prices quoted are for one assembly, i.e. one pin half & one socket (plus screws, where applicable). Two assemblies are needed for each baseboard joint.

Three ranges of model railway baseboard dowels are available;

• Cabinet makers dowels, inexpensive & easy to fit but the least accurate, not suitable for finescale use.
• Bullet type baseboard dowels, these are a good compromise, similar to the Cabinet Makers but more accurate.
• Pattern makers dowels (sometimes referred to as engineers dowels), very accurate with a clearance of just 0.002". They are the first choice for most finescale modellers, although they do require careful fitting.

Baseboard Joiners (Baseboard Connectors)

Some people refer to alignment dowels as 'baseboard joiners' or 'baseboard connectors', these terms can be misleading. These dowels are used only to ensure correct alignment of the baseboards (and therefore the tracks), they do not secure the boards together. To join baseboards securely either toggle clips can be used, these being especially useful on portable layouts or nuts & bolts which are more suited to permanent baseboards.

All dowels are priced for one assembly, consisting of one pin half & one socket half. For baseboards up to about 450mm (2‛ 6") two assemblies are adequate. For wider boards, three are recommended.