How far do you space on your benchwork ***Built 1 so far ***

Model Railroader Layouts and layout building
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Got all the wood for the benchwork. Have plywood already. Even thought ahead and got all screws and bolts. That alone is different for me, I never plan ahead so woo hoo we are ready to go.

I have 2 4 x 8 sections, and 2 2x6 sections. I am thinking every 24 inches on the 4 x 8 sections, and 15 inches on the 2 x 6. Will be starting on bench work Friday, so your ideas would be helpful. I am also using 2 x 2 for legs, and I am thinking 48 inches high, and I can really have some nice storage below set. I am going to build some stairs for the kids so they can see.

Screw gun is charged. Man is on a mission. 11:30 my time, all four legs are attached. The benchwork is standing upright. Repeat the benchwork is standing upright. Still have to add the carriage bolts, but can’t make that much noise late at night. Tomorrow I will add the bolts, attach the plywood, and have a 48 inch high honest to goodness train table.

[banghead]The exciting part is I don’t use power tools, I don’t build anything, I am a full on computer user, and a salesperson. The last 4 weeks I’ve been helping on a contractor friend, and I’ve learned a lot. So, I read, and read, and read on how to, I bought the wood, the screws, I charged the wife’s power tools, and I built it. I asked a lot of questions on these forums, and now

Wooooooooooooooooooooo Hoooooooooooooooooooooooooo

we have bench. The first of my 4 x 8 tables is almost done. Tomorrow it will be finished, then 3 more benches to go. But yes, big slap on back, I did it. Thanks to all of you who were patient with my many questions, and inquiry’s. [bow] [bow]

Hopefully I will have some pics soon.

Tim (dancing back and forth) [oX)] [swg] [swg] [swg] [oX)]

Thanks guys

Tim

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I used 1x4 16" on center on a 4x8. The farther the span, the closer you need to space your stringers. The less you use, the more likely you will get sagging. You could space less on the 2x6 sections because the span is only half the 4 x 8.

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I have everything on 16" centers, although with only 2’ of width, I could probably easily go to 24" centers.
Take a lesson from what I learned - I built all 4 of my sections exactly the same, including the legs. It’s too many legs, no way do i need all those legs I have on there to hold it up without sagging. I plan to use similar framework for the expansion around the room - in that case, each section will get only two legs, at the ‘open’ end (I don’t think that I will fill the basemnt with benchwork at one time, more likely build a couple of modules and slowly work my way around). Thus each expansion section will have a pair of legs holding up the open end, and the ‘near end’ connected to the existing benchwork will be held up by the bolts into the previous section.

–Randy

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[#ditto]

What he said! The 16" to 24" range is what I have used in the past.

And it also depends on various sections of the layout landscape, such as for lower elevation streams, rivers, or valley cuts. If your layout is mostly level surface then you wont have to concern yourself with land forming issues. I had one area of benchwork where they were spaced only 8" apart to support the sides of landscaping for a large stream and to have a base for the bridge to set up on.

It sounds like you have a fun weekend ahead!

Keep on rollin!

Thanks,

Ryan

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here is my webshot site with the benchwork if you want to look at them for ideas… click the arrow to the right and there are a lot more pictures…I space mine every 16" and use 3/4" plywood for the subroadbed…Chuck
http://community.webshots.com/photo/137793353/143342317INQQnc

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Thanks all.
Chuck the pic is great, but I like your whole site.

Randy I like the idea of building main section and adding only two legs. Might do that with my 2 x 6 sections except I will put legs in the center and bolt the ends to the 4 x 8s.

Chip how far are you on your layout ? Good luck with the 12 year old.

Ryan do you have pics of your layout.? Would like to see them if you do.

Tim

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I got the second sheet of plywood–had to put the 4 x 8 into the board stretcher and it is now 4.5 x 8–and it is ready for cookie cutting. I ordered a rail cutter but I don’t expect it until tomorrow. I may cut the flex down tonight with a saw or dremel just to move forward. It is driving me crazy not to have a running track to work with the engines and such. I got a little IHC 0-4-0 that died at every turnout at our club president’s house. I’d sure like to play with it to figure out why. My daughter named it “Short Circuit.” [:D]

Anyway, I hope to have the lower loop track done and smothed out by tomorrow night and the upper loop and grades done this weekend. Then to wiring.

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I went overkill on my benchwork.
My layout is in an area where there is a varied atmosphere. It’s in my un-heated/un-airconditioned attic.
Using 1x4s I went 12" spacing to try to avoid all warpage.
2x4 legs - there’s a skid making plant not to far & I grabbed a bunch of decent length ones for free. They were throwing them out.! relax!
So far [banghead] knock on wood, I have not experieinced any warpage & it’s been 4 years.

Gordon

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I made my layout 44 inches high (including 1/2 inch homasote board) on 3/8 plywood sub base using 1x6 on 16 inch centers and 2x4 legs in a u shape 11feet wide and 8 feet deep. I hope this helps you. Jim

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I painted all my benchwork to avoid warpage problems. Previous owners were kind enough to leave behind a gallon and a half of pure black, beats me what they painted with THAT, but since it’s here and it’s free, and painting the legs and so forth black makes them disappear…

Chip - I’ll bet the turnouts that that 0-4-0 stalled on did not have powered frogs. If it’s the AHM 0-4-0 I think it is, there’s VERY little power pickup on it. Short wheelbase locos are the ones most likely to stall on unpowered frogs. Those and diesels that only pick up with 2 wheels on each truck. Ones with 8-wheel pickup, even if two are on the frog there’s always the other 2.

–Randy

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Tim,

The layout I mentioned was from one I built in 1992 and have since dismantled. I would have to dig for any old photos, and I am not sure where they could be. I have moved twice since then, and it seems like things have a way of disappearing, sorry! [:(] Digital cameras and the Internet were not real big back then, but if I find them (photos) I will try to scan them and post.

When I get my new layout started I will surely begin posting images of it’s progress on a web site. We are still in progress of renovation with the train room, floor tile, painting, etc… So, for now all I have is an empty room, but it is a start!

Hey, I have been working on a scratchbuilt interlocking tower, does that count?

Thanks,

Ryan

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Chuck, I learned a lot going through your photos from start to end. Great teaching tool!

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Congrats!

You are well on you way to even more exciting times ahead!

It is so refreshing to hear of success stories like yours, and it helps to give me the momentum I need now with getting back into the hobby after my 15 year hiatus.
BTW, looking forward to your photos!

Thanks for sharing,

Ryan

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Ryan, I have always wanted to visit NO. Do they or did they have a trolley system there. Have thought of building a trolley layout, and I love NO architecture.

Thanks for the compliments.

Chip, what did you use for your underlayment, I see the plywood, but what is on top of that. ???

Tim

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I started with 1/2 plywood and then 1" foam on top of that. There is no much contour in the lower level lo I figured that is waht I needed. For the upper level 1/2 ply cookie-cut with 2" foam.

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Tim,

You got it going man!

Yes the streetcar system in New Orleans has expanded over the past few years and now covers areas from Uptown to Downtown, the River Front area, and now the new service all the way up Canal St. to City Park.

Here is a link to the RTA site:
http://www.regionaltransit.org/news/canal/index.php

Here is another site with some history of the street car lines:
http://www.neworleansonline.com/tours-attractions/tours/streetcars.html

Thanks,

Ryan

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Randy…where the previous home owners gothic?..maybe that explains the black paint…(never could understand all that marilyn manson stuff anyway)…LOL…Chuck

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Maybe behind the wallpaper - everything was papered with what is a high-quality wallpaper except that none of us likes it, so bit by bit it’s coming down and the rooms getting painted into more ‘normal’ colors. Up in the finished attic wher emy office is, it’s all a nice light blue color that could work for sky in a pinch, except I didn’t fancy building a layout in a room with a sloping roof AND all the wall-piercing tunnels I would need.

–Randy

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Ryan, thanks for the links, they look great. Now if I can find some NO style building that have class, I can run the street cars, not trolleys.

Chip, can you believe how far you have come since you first came onboard here at trains.com. New trains, new ideas, and a great time with the kids.

Tim

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Tim,

The French Quarter (FQ) building architecture goes back to the 17 and 1800’s, but the streetcars only run on the Canal Street side of the FQ. Now uptown has a lot of old residential mansions that go back to the same time period, and the Saint Charles line passes these. Not sure where you could find any kits to model these structures, either kit bashing or scratch building would be in order.

I work on Saint Charles Avenue and get to see the street cars pass all day long; I will have to bring my digital camera to work next week and take some photos, then post them for all to see.

Keep on building that benchwork; I am expecting a photo or two from you soon!

Thanks,

Ryan