I’m building my layout benchwork and have ran into a problem. My layout height differs by up to 1/4 an inch in some places. I have a level and evrything is in the bubble. I have leg levelers on my legs but my question is how exact do I need to be?
That depends on your track plan and what you are doing… For example, In every place but the yard, I concentrate more on leveling the track rather than the bench work. That is, out on the main, the bench work is open grid type and the track sub roadbed is supported by risers. I don’t spend a lot of time worrying about the table itself. In the yard on the other hand, especially with the free rolling trucks of today, you need to be pretty dead on if you want trains to stay where you park them. 1/4 of an inch in one foot run could be a problem. 1/4 inch in a 20 foot run, probably no big deal… Get the picture??
Thanks
rolleiman is right about the yard being level mine is off by a small amount and the free rolling cars will foul the main, Its too late to level mine so I am going to use weeds and tall grass beside the rails to help stop cars from moving.
but if you can correct the problem now I would do it.
bill
schom: your layout is level but the legs vary? are you building it in the basement? basement floors are poured with a slope towards the drain. I did this on mine when I measured the grades and couldn’t get the level to work on them.
schom,
How reliable is your level? Borrow one from a friend and see if you get the same reading. Better yet, put the friend’s level on your benchwork, then stack your level on top of the borrowed one and see if they both read ‘in the bubble’ If your level isn’t out of whack, you shouldn’t be off more than 1/16th of an inch over the length of your benchwork. If you have a long length of clear tubing available, you can make your own water level. Then you can check any 2 places on your layout and find out how unlevel the benchwork is.
To make a water level, find a plug for each end of your tubing. Plug one end and fill the tubing, leaving a couple of inches of airspace in the tubing. Plug the open end and you now have a water level. Hold one end against your benchwork, then find the second location you want to check for level. You’ll have to move the tubing a bit until the waterline in the tubing meets the elevation of the benchwork. If one end matches and the other doesn’t, you know whether you’ll have to raise or lower your benchwork. Floors are seldom absolutely flat; in my layout room on the second floor, I can feel high and low spots as I walk around.
I hope these suggestions help you get level!
Don Z.
I would suggest that you use a string level from which to base the measurements. As David said, there is always a slope in the basement…
Use masons twine and string level. Stretch from one end to the other. The string level will give you the baseline. Mark the wall or leave the string inplace until you have the bench work done. It works for block and stone walls…