Hi, I need help determining what thickness ply wood to use on an aroun the wall layout, with the shelf width of a maximum of three feet. also, how much weight can it support at three feet and what kind of “unobtrusive” shelf hangers to use plus how much weight they can support at a maximum/
[#welcome] It sounds like you are dealing with a lot of variables there. Maybe plywood is not the best material for your project. Perhaps foam is a better choice. That would pretty much take weight out of the picture.
The 3’ distance is still going to need some kind of angle brace. Any shorter distances could be done with a standard shelf bracket from your local home improvement store. They should have a wide variety to choose from. Best to hit the studs for maximum strength when mounting them to the wall.
i just finished framing my around the wall layout. its 2 feet wide all the way around and i used 1/4" ply on 2x4s, i used some 90 degree angle brackets screwed into the studs. The brackets i used are cheap aluminum ones, they cost abot $1 each. Remember, the more brackets you have, the less wieght is on each bracket. so the more the better.
Good luck on your layout[:D]
If you’re thinking about a bookshelf-like layout, I’d suggest 10"x12" metal U channel L brackets. They’ll easily support a 1/4" Lauan plywood and 2" foam layout (like mine) up to 2 feet wide. I think you’ll need legs for any areas 3 feet wide.
As for what to use for the tabletop, I’d suggest what I mentioned above: 1/4" Lauan plywood (the cheapest stuff around) and 2" extruded polystyrene foam (not the white beadboard junk!). It’ll support a lot of weight, mostly due to the shelf brackets, which are usually rated for 300 pounds (WAAAYYYY more than you’ll need for N, HO or O scales!) Just don’t dance on them.
Hello Pilot
Just making sure that you realize that a 3 foot wide shelf layout will give you some areas that will be hard to reach. The higher your layout is, the harder the reach. The more scenery, stuructures, stock in the front of the layout , the harder the reach to the back without damaging stuff.
Have fun with your planning and building
Jim