I’m excited about the progress I’ve made so far and wanted to share some pictures. The benchwork is for an around-the-walls layout in a 10x20 room in the basement. Two doors along the long walls will have yet-to-be-constructed lift-outs. Open grid framework is built of ripped plywood, and I’m planning tradition plywood/homasote cookie cutter on top. Built in sections - not to be portable, but movable if necessary since they’re rather large - to be bolted together. Used some leftover paint on the grids - stability and visibility - couldn’t hurt. (Pics were taken in the yard a few weeks back on a nice fall day in central WI.)
Here’s a corner section ready to be painted.
Two corner sections all painted up.
Here’s three of the straight sections.
And here’s a pair of the leg assemblies. There are 6 pair in all, to be bolted to the grids.
It’s been slow going, but great to finally have some progress on the real layout. I’ve learned so much on this forum, and hope that some of you enjoy my photos in return. (Sorry about the huge photos, but I don’t know how to adjust them.)
Speaking as a fanatical woodworker with extreme anal tendencies towards perfection, I’d say you have every reason to be very proud of your benchwork! Very nice looking work…take a bow!
Hi Dave: It looks to me like you’re well on your way to a great layout. That’s some pretty awesome bench work. My only concern would be with the legs. Have you considered adding some diagonal braces? Triangulation really makes things rock solid. Just a suggestion.
Don Z and Grampys, thanks for the positive comments. The leg units are simple butt joints - no New Yankee Workshop joinery here, but the assemblies were glued, clamped and screwed. There’s no wiggle to them. So far so good but I haven’t put it all together in the basement yet. I’m hoping that will happen this weekend. Only then can I pop a top and celebrate. -Dave
Dave, are you Bob Villa by chances?[^] I am excited and you don’t live near me!
Sure you are well a head of me on this, but add adjusters to the legs. As you surely know floors are not flat. All so think about using foam on the bench top, great to adding depth to the layout. I all so prefer foam over plaster for terrain and mountains.
When it comes to wood, I am all thumbs. Give me a car I can cut it in half and weld it back together, do the body work, paint it and rebuild the engine! More like Don Garlits than Bob Villa. Or com pair I call myself to Tim the Tool Man Taylor?[:D]
Yup, you got the bench work looking sharp. I’m still in the planning stages with mine… and that’s been a huge learning curve for me. Wish I had that done so I could move on to what you are doing.
loathar - Thanks for the wow. I have to say that I really enjoy your posts on this forum. You outta run for office!
cudaken - Yep, we’re on the same page with the leg adjusters. If St Louis was a little closer, I’d invite myself over. I’ve got a couple of brand new Soo Line diesels that are just aching to run on some real track.
Loco - I know what you mean about the learning curve. Technically I’m still in the planning stage, but far enough along to start building. I have another thread going right now, getting advice on how to improve my plan.
I agree with Don, this looks like a very professional job, both in soundness of construction and neatness of the job. And don’t underestimate the importance of the latter point (neatness), as this will be a helpful habit to have as you start assembling the benchwork and eventually the actual railroad in an area that can quickly become cluttered and unmanageable. Very nice! Jamie
I’m excited about the progress. Some might say it’s a snail’s pace, but a little time here and there - you know how it goes.
Recently moved the first three sections from the shed to their home in the basement, and they fit! Here’s a couple pics of the benches sitting in place.
Here’s a couple more - after bolting together, leveling and finished priming.
I really enjoy the construction/progress posts on the forum. Hope that some of you will enjoy my progress, even though there’s no track or trains yet!
Looks like you and I are on that same snail train lol… I just posted some work on my room this week after like three months… and then here you are as well! And again, very nice work. What’s the grade on that incline??
Yep, I’m riding the snail train. But I don’t mind as long as I’m learning, making progress and happy with the results. So far so good! The grade is 2.4%%
