When I read the question I’ll bet that most of you were thinking something else.
What I mean is with all the work you put into the top of the table, do you do anything to make it look good to the nosey neighbor lady–you know cover the foam and sides of the plywood. Build a skirt around the edge table to hide the legs and wires and stuff I know you need to crawl under but you can have access points. I know my wife will like it better if it looks good to her friends and family.
Yes, my last layout had 1/8" hardboard sides cut to fit the scenery. I had planned on some kind of fabric ‘skirt’ below the hardboard but did not get that far before adding a new and larger train room over the garage. Now am in the process of building the new layout and plan to ‘finish’ it the same way.
Yes, I have a painted fascia with a skirt hanging down. This helps hide storage and wiring. It just helps to make it all neat looking.
REX
I added all that stuff to make it look nice myself. I wanted to take your eyes off of the floor and onto the layout so I had to do it. All I did was buy a couple of sheets of 4x8 Luan board and cut it in three pieces and then spray painted it black then I custom cut each piece to fit what ever the contour was. Then after that I got some black cloth from the clearance rack for $1 a yard and paid a total f $7 for the skirt. Here is a pic of the finished product It really makes a difference too
Fascia and skirting are pretty common. Fabric skirting is widely used in order to keep access simple, but a lot of folks with shelf layouts (like me) put storage shelves underneath. That kind of “finish” does help create a neater look for the layout–blocking out things like exposed unpainted foam helps maintain the illusion of scenery.
Keeping it looking good for others in the family who don’t appreciate raw lumber, plaster and foam is important. I am building book"storage shelves into the supports of my new layout - finishing the walls and ceiling behind the layout with Masonite - painting all raw lumber and scenery with tan paint nearly as soon as it’s up - installing skirts under the layout where the shelves aren’t - and putting a Masonite front edge on the layout as well. I’ve seen articles about layouts in coffeetables and built in family rooms where the layout supports and front edges were built like good furniture. Of the handful of other permanent layouts my wife has seen, the only ones she “approved” of were those with a “finished look” to the edges, back, supports - she’s much more forgiving of unfinished scenery than of unfinished lumber!
I think that anything that makes the layout look better to the casual observer is a “good thing”.
Jim
I am “planing” (it might never get done) on finishing my 8x4 notched layout with hardwood or stained pine. Instead on the legs i have now, i plan to build a set of cabinets underneath, all one unit, with the layout sitting on top, but only screwed down in a few places, so it can easily be raised for maintainence. I wouls also like locking casters so i could roll it out for acess. Also, probably dreaming, but what do you think of a glass and wood frame hinged cover ?!? One that would open up and against the wall. This would make the layout more of a piece of furniture, and since it will be across from my basement “bar”, also i nice safe place to set a beer while you watch the trains. Again, still just dreams in my head…just starting to lay track.
On one wall[the longest] ,my layout is above a row of old dressers that we picked up along with some open shelves.When they were all painted,it’s hard to notice the difference in the dressers.Putting the same knobs on all of them ties it all together.My layout is pretty high and the 2ft. or so between the top of the low dressers and the bottom of the fascia boards allows access to anything under the layout.The dressers are also on casters so they can be pulled all the way out if need be.The large,deep dresser drawers are great to hide stored items
SpaceMouse,
Check the february 2005 Model Railroader mag at page 63. The answer is venetian blinds!!!
Chris
I’ve just finished putting some finishing touches to the bench work after some extension work, now I can reply to this post!!
The new extensions are in the middle and right ‘legs’
used cheap sheets cut in half and on a wire so I can pull them across for access underneath. Many thanks to my luvly misses Jan.
Train1725, I think the wood and glass hinged cover would look great across from your bar - make the layout look a little like one of the old-time lawyer’s bookshelves. Just be sure to engineer the weight and stiffness of the cover carefully. I’d be tempted to use lexan rather than glass, frankly, especially if you have kids (or others) around who might slam or drop the cover.
Jim
Jim,
Thanks for the tip. Do you know the weight/price difference between glass and lexan? Weight was one of my concerns, as i wanted to use as few supports as possible, so as not to obscure the trains .
Not really! It just depends on the size of it.
Train 1725,
Off the top of my head, lexan (or equivalent at Home Depot etc.) is about half the weight of glass, and maybe three times the price - it’s been a long time since I bought window glass in any quantity, for window-type projects these days I always seem to be buying lexan or other clear plastic. I know it is lighter, but more expensive. A lot easier to handle than a big sheet of glass, though!
Jim
" Does anyone Fini***heir layout?"
NO!
Heck, I can’t even seem to get one started!
Yes, I am planning on having a ‘finished’ look to the layout, with emphasis on the word planning. When I eventually get my layout built I would like to incorporate cabinets below the benchwork if at all possible and for storage. Does anyone have plans, photos of, or ideas on building a layout with cabinets as part of the benchwork?
I am planning storage cabinets, as well as a lighted train display cabinet below my benchwork. Since i just took apart my kitchen and had new cabinets installed, i have some preety good ideas about how i want it to go together. The Layout will overhand the cabinets a few inches so you can “belly-up” to the trains. Most will be on casters so they can roll out for wiring anf under layout work.
Train1725,
Interesting concept with the cabinets on casters, makes the benchwork more accessable from below.
Thanks,
Ryan
once the fascia is in, I’m going to put in some shelves under the layout and then put up curtains…the curtains will be hung from a wire under the l girder so i can pu***hem to the sides to get to the shelves and under the layout…time for my wife to break out the sewing machine!..Chuck
Good idea, Chuck! I have seen an Internet article on the I-beam for benchwork, and have considred that technique. How has that worked for you on yours?