What do you guys suggest on the construction of a benchwork? Is there special sites that goes into details for benchwork?
Brian, I’m no expert by any stretch of the imagination but there are lots of options and opinions on benchwork. There are things to consider such as your mobility and the mobility of people who might visit your layout. Will you/they need to crawl under any portion of the layout and would that create a problem? How wide is your layout going to be at any given spot? Do you want the track plan to hug the wall around the room or is it going to spread out over the entire room? These are just some questions I’ve seen mentioned in articles about benchwork. There are books on the subject you should be able to find in your hobby shops such as Linn Westcott’s How to Build Model Railroad Benchwork books. I built mine using a combination of the techniques mentioned in these books and some of what I learned from a friends early benchwork building example. Hope this helps you in some way. I’m sure you’ll hear more from more reliable sources but that’s my input. Any more questions just e-mail me or put out another question on the forum. I’ll be happy to elaborate on my limited experience.
Invest in both of Kalmbach’s benchwork construction books, absorb the basics of all the different benchwork techniques, and then ask some more specific questions here before you reach a decision. There are lots of ways to build benchwork. Some are simple, some are hard, and all work well for different situations. Let us know the rough space you’ve got for a layout, any special considerations, and a bunch of us will try to come up with good ideas for ya!
While I agree that there are good books on benchwork, if I recall correctly you don’t have easy access to a hobby shop or library. I think we can probably give you enough advice here if we have a little more info from you.
In another thread you said this about the size and shape of your layout:
That shouldn’t be all that complicated to frame, so we just need a bit of info first. The questions we need to have answered would include:
- Do you want this to be a free standing table or can you support it off the wall?
- If it is to be supported off the wall, what are your walls made of (masonry or wood frame)?
- Is you layout going to be flat or are you thinking about having any changes of track elevation?
- I think I remember you saying you already bought the plywood, but I could be wrong. Do you envision the layout as being built on a flat plywood base?
Meanwhile, think about what height you want the layout to be. Typical height ranges would be from 40" (easy to work on, gives an overall view of the layout, makes working on wiring under the layout a bit difficult) through 55" (easy to work under for wiring, gives more or less an eye level view, makes working on the layout a bit more difficult and may require a small stool to reach some areas). There’s no right answer, it’s all personal preference.
Regards
Ed
Thanks some good info. Well the above mentioned layout is correct The system will be self standing i have a plan but was hoping to receive ideas from others that already has had hands on. The 4X4 section witll be on their own the 2X6 has become 3X5 also on its own and then a 3X8. all 4 sections will be bolted together. I am planning to put 1 shelf in the middle and eventually biuld the bottom area with doors. For now it will be just one level. Will it be a problem to add more levels on a later date?
Your idea to make it in 4 sections, and free standing, makes it even easier. You can always build more elaborate benchwork, but I think you can get by with the following. Just frame each section using 1"x 4" lumber. Put a cross member about every 18" +/-. Use 2" x 2" for legs, with 1" x 2" for diagonal bracing. Assemble the frame using flat head wood screws, not nails, both between the framing members and also through the plywood into the 1 x 4’s. You might also consider putting leveling feet on the legs to make up for any possible uneveness in the floor, by using T-nuts and hex head bolts.
No problem in adding more later, even different levels. It’s just that if you were planning on a lot of change of elevation at this time it might have been worth while to consider some type of open frame / girder framing system.
You might get some more suggestions, but that would be one way.
Regards
Ed
In redneck terms [C):-)]The Bigger The Better[C):-)]. That isn’t entirely true though, just be sure you have enough room to add switch machines and bus wires for your control system. Other than that, my philosophy is to build it like a rock, because you never know what might happen to it if your friends come around[:D].
Greg
(i just figured out how to use the smilies and they sure are fun[:D])