Going to start benchwork tomorrow, just a simple 4’x8’ layout. You can check the link in my signature for pictures of my stuff.
Mike
I remember when I came home with my first big load of lumber for my first permanent layout. I had not had a smile on my face that big since my last child had been born. All benchwork is now complete and it fills a 24’ x 15’ room. This is the first time I am actually looking forward to fall and a change in the weather so the work can continue. No time for indoor activities when the chief gardener has plans. Enjoy the moment. It also only gets better as progress is made.
B
Thanks, I’m hoping all goes good, tomorrow I will get started as earlie as 8-9 in the morning. I will run to 2:30 because I need to go to Kansas City (My father is taking his 1993 Cobra Mustang to KCIR to test it for Pinks All Out)
Mike
As long as this wasn’t you: [swg]
This picture is real - not doctored in any way - and was taken by a Transportation Supervisor for a company that delivers building materials. When he saw it in the parking lot of IHOP, he went to buy a camera to take pictures
The driver finally came back after the police were called, and was found crouched behind the rear of the car, attempting to cut the twine around the load! Luckily, the police stopped him and had the load removed.
The materials were loaded at Home Depot. Their store manager said they made the customer sign a waiver.
While the plywood and 2X4’s are fairly obvious, what you can’t see is the back seat, which contains(are you ready for this?) 10 bags of concrete @ 80 lbs. each.
They estimated the load weight at 3000 lbs. Both back tires exploded, the wheels bent and the rear shocks were driven through the floorboard.
This was sent to me by a friend, but I thought others might enjoy it, too.
Wayne
Yeah, and I bet that big square load on top caused a lot of wind resistance, and played heck with his gas mileage, too.
Seriously, Mike, welcome to the world of layout-owners. I still remember the smell of fresh-cut lumber in my garage.
Yes I love that new pine smell! I may be needing some new 2x2s soon for legs and I dread seeing what today’s prices are going to look like (and how warped the lumber is likely to be)
Dave Nelson
Dimensional lumber today mostly looks like it could be used to build the hull of a boat. Last time I searched through ‘the pile,’ someone passing by said, “Good luck!”
I don’t use 2x2s anymore–I make the legs from 3" strips, ripped from 4x8 sheets of plywood. Make an L out of these, and you don’t need gussets, either.
yeah, I was in the 1x2 and 1x4 section for atleast 15 minutes looking for pieces that weren’t split or warped.
Thanks for the words guys!
I needed 6 sheets of plywood. Even with my old Blazer, I still split the work into three trips. My legs and framing for the “platform” I built are 2x4s. I managed to bring them all home in one trip. Basically, I worked the job in three sessions, so I only brought home supplies as needed. Considering there was nobody around to help me lift and carry and bring into the basement, I think I can now be a certified loading expert.
Three cheers for 4x8s! Anyone that never had a 4x8 missed out on a rite of passage.
Heres some photos of what I got done in an Hour, I had the wood split on me in one place (since I couldn’t find my counterbore drill bits :() but hey, thats ok.
Can’t do trains without coffee!
~Mike~
Yay cross joints!
Mike
Pleanty of progress made. Heres some pictures.
Mike
Looking good. Just like the diagrams in the book. [tup]
I started today, and finished!
Pics for all!
Mike
Table built and trains running in the same day… Slow Down!!! You’re making the rest of us look bad… [B)]
Good work so far… Keep us posted…
lol thanks, not to mention this is my first time too [:-^]
Mike
Just got the Kato Unitrack Trackpack.
Mike
Agreed. Jim Hediger had an article in MR about how he made the legs of a project railroad your way. I have yet to use it on the layout but I did make two tables for my wife (a serious metalsmith and artist) made of nothing but plywood including 1x3 L-shaped legs. The table is very strong and sturdy. And I used either hand saws or a simple jig saw, nothing fancy in the way of tools.
Dave Nelson
Heres a question, should I get a 1" or 2" thick foam board?
Mike
That depends on far below track do you want to model. Are you gonna have a river? 2" will give you deeper river bottoms.
Mike