benchwork

Model Railroader Layouts and layout building
1

i made good progress today . benchwork framing is done. so the railroad has its place and its size is defined . plan is to get foam tomorrow . plus sand caulk prime and paint framework. i was going to install wire looms but i will wait as i dont know where to place them yet.

i like order but you surely cant tell that by looking inside my shop right now

layout will be a little tall for most folks i guess at 44.5 inches before foam but works great for me standing or sitting. benchwork is raised 4 inches above the salvaged gift card shop drawers that supports the also salvaged 2x4 framework. bracing is at 24 oc

it ended up smaller than i had planned at only 4x8 but thats still a lot of N scale space. it has adequate space all around it also . i was going to build it
4x9.5 but could not justify the extra expense of another sheet of foam right now. or the extra labor to splice .its square within a 16th . level all the way arond . and very tight . i used #10 x 3.5 hex head woodscrews .

i really did not want to use the 2x4 but i was short on 1x4 material. so total cost on it was the 4 bucks for the screws. the lumber is not pretty but its
structural and will be fine after the air sander finished with it.

im real happy with it as i had my doubts though as this is the first thing i have tried to build since my sight loss. progress feels real real good[tup]

2

Sounds great John, keep up the good work. I’m looking forward to building benchwork again, new train room soon!!

Ken.

3

Congrats, John. I never looked forward to building benchwork, but I always got a sense of accomplishment after I got a section up.

Sounds like your base elevation is going to be around 48". I’ve always thought that was a pretty good height.

4

thank you both. im tall so im thinking it will be perfect for me. i have an old chair that i like and sitting will make some outstanding head on views.

i enjoyed getting out there and doing something even though it was some problems being bu myself with the frame elevated

i thought i was going to have the trains in a building all by themselves but that fell thru so i made room. that was probably the hardest part moving a big dinosaur panel saw in a cabinent by self. who needs a 5hp saw anyway especially one thats broken and no parts exist less than a medium sized bag of gold :slight_smile:

N scale safer for the semi blind guy anyway and much more fun

5

Sounds great, John. I too have just finished my first of several benchwork sections, 8’ x 36" with my 3" foam top. Great feeling to actually see progress, eh? :wink: