There was a thread started late last week asking what our plans were for the weekend. I half-jokingly added that my goals were 1) start building my benchwork and 2) watch basketball. Well, in between dodging tornadoes a couple of nights, I can say, “Done, and done.”
Here is the benchwork as of Sunday evening. Friday night, it consisted of three 2x4’s screwed to the wall.
I’d say I’m about 60-70% finished. The benchwork is built entirely out of 2x4’s, not beause it needs to be for structural purposes, but because I have a lot of scrap 2x4’s available.
While it’s hard to see in the photo, the walls directly above the benhwork are painted hazy-sky blue, and represent approximately 102% of the coverage capacity of a quart of flat latex paint.
Just out of the picture to the left is the TV that was tuned to basketball during construction.
Nice work, Mononguy! Looking forward to progress pictures as the layout progresses.
Tom
the 2x4 consrtuction certainly looks sturdy ! no problems leaning on your benchwork
Great work. Those 2x4s might withstand the nasty Indiana weather. Up north we had no real problems, but it looked kinda rough down your way.
Keep up the great work!
It has to start some time!
I can’t wait for my Divorced Daughter to move out of her semi-Apartment in the basement so I can start something BIG.
Good Luck with your layout.
Chris
Good work so far. I hope you are planning another set of legs in the center of that pennisula. That span is a bit much for a 2x4 and I would expect it to sag under it’s own weight let alone with the weight of the layout.
Likewise, I’d add a leg or a diagonal to the wall on that section in the center.
I’m getting ready to start a 4’ by 6’ expansion to my layout, this was benchwork from a previous layout. Nice work & good luck!
Nice to see a start , everyone needs a layout. Is it going to dogbone from end to end ? Or is it point to point.?
The view’s a little deceptive because everything’s not there yet. In a plan that’s sure to make other “purists” on this forum shudder in horror, it’ll have both a loop and a folded dogbone, making it a dual roundy-rounder. (There will be a double-crossover, giving me the option of operating it as one long roundy-rounder).
And Chip, I disgree. The longest span for the 2x4’s is 8 feet. I put that through the rigors of some engineering software at work - I could hang a 150-pound cannon ball from the midpoint of that span without overstress or excessive deflection. I there are any unexpected long-term creep issues, another leg would be easy enough to add.
It’s exciting to finally get started - great job multi tasking with the B-ball game.
Looks like it would withstand any threat of a future tornado.
Do you have a posted layout design?
Keep the pics coming !
Exciting news. Now the fun really starts. Good luck and be sure to keep us posted (we love pictures).
Here’s the track plan:
The railroad can be run as a single-line point-to-point by using the double crossover and treating both ends of the yard as separate destinations. My main goal, however, is to create lots of fun railfanning spots.
Thats a mighty nice layout, and you’ve got a good start on it. Did it survive last night? I don’t know where in town you are, but I heard the south side of Indy took a beating. I’m up on the north side and it wasn’t as bad up here.
Nice start. I have 8 foot spans with 2x4 stringers and its just fine. With traditional l beam it would need a leg. I assume a duck under to get in?
I might build the duckunder as a hinged section. Then again, I may not - sounds like work.
Friday night, an F2 tornado passed exactly 2 miles south of the house. Sunday night a twister hit about 10 miles due west of us but then lifted & I think that storm passed just north of the neighborhood - didn’t see that one because I was in the basement, uh, admiring the benchwork. Makes a nice impression for the NCAA Final Four, don’t you think?
Getting off topic. Sorry.
Very cool any estimations on the tinme fraim it will take you to have major construction finished? like all track and scenry down and a lot of buildings and signals done