hey everyone… i’m going to be needing to put an extension on the 4x8 Phase I section of my layout… I need to increase the length of my main passing track/runaround. Anyway, I was thinking that a 2-foot extension should do it. I’m using foam on top of plywood right now for the subroadbed… and I’m not sure I want to do the same exact thing on the extension.
I was thinking of just making an outer brace of like, 1x3’s, and then placing the 2x4ft piece of foam right on top of that, having it basically be the same as my current top but without the plywood.
Would I be able to properly support this by just using angled supports connected to my current legs? Sort of like how David Popp is supporting the extension to his layout that he’s doing the feature on in MR currently.
That should be do-able. The main thing is ‘how stable’ is the current 4 by 8 layout? I have a 3 sided ‘around the walls’ layout that is bolted to the walls. Most of the layout is 24-30" wide and is supported by gusset brackets. The 25’ and 20’ walls have only 2 each of these brackets that I fabricated using the Linn Westcott benchwork book for reference. The layout has ‘lobes’ that extend out to about 6’ for the turnbacks and are gusset bracketed as well. I can climb on the benchwork and it does not move!
If you’re talking about making it a 6 x 8, it depends on how heavy the main layout is and how heavy you’re planning on making the extension. Either way, if anyone leans on the extension, you’re looking at a real tipping hazard.
You may also want to look at the access problems an extra 2 feet will give you.
It appears that in addition to angled supports he also used a splice piece at the top to connect the new section to the old. Assuming you are extending your 4x8 to 4x10, I’d suggest you do the same.
yeah i’m going to be making my 4x8 into a 4x10. The extra two feet won’t have all that much on it… its just so I can extend my main town/passing track and mountain a bit.
The layout right now is quite stable, and access problems aren’t an issue because its in the middle of a room, sort of, and has its own backdrop.
What I was thinking of doing is creating a 2x4 rectangle out of 1x3’s, with the 3 inches being vertical. The side that is going to be attached to the layout, I was going to bolt it to the edge of the existing benchwork. Then, I was going to add the angle brace things from the extension to the set of legs that are on that end.
Feasible yes. It will depend on the strength/length of your angle braces and how securely you fasten the new frame to the old. A rigid connection will give you a cantaliever which can overhang 2 feet for an 8 foot braced section.
You might also wish to try something like this:
(See left hand side.) 1x3 angle braces to the floor (or old legs). Glue and screw then never worry again. This is two feet wide with a 1x4 front edge. Topped with 3/8CDX and foam. I can sit on it with no movement.
I agree that you can do it that way. One thing to watch out for is that you keep the extension in the same plane as the main layout. I would use a long straight edge laid from the edge of the extension back over the layout. This could be a known straight piece of wood, a metal rule, or a level. While 3’ would probably work, I would use one 4’ long so you have two feet on either side of the extension joint. Do it on both sides of the extension and don’t forget to add spacers if needed to match the main section where the straight edge goes.
I would cut and bolt some 2 ft deep gussets to my existing benchwork and lay my extension atop that. I would probably use 5/8ths or 3/4 inch ply for this.
