I have a 1987 3rd or 4th printing/ edition that I built an L girder layout from. (The blue cover-no photo on cover).
Anything new in the NEW “2nd Edition” that I shouldn’t live without?
I guess…the only new ideas I might need are any new things that have come along since '87
regarding techniques/benchwork that can be taken apart to move later that weren’t in the old edition.
Thanks.
I have the same book. I don’t know if it is worth buying a newer edition or not. If you have been in the hobby since you got that, you have pretty much kept up with things. If not, a newer edition may help. The big change that I have seen since then is the move toward the blue and pink builders foam for layouts and scenery forms.
As far a construction for portability or moving a layout, the new one I have just started is being built in modular form. Generally a 2 X 7 or 8 foot section with a basic frame, a sheet of Luan on that, and a one inch thick piece of blue foam on top of that. The foam allows for scenery effects to be carved “below grade” without any real problems. The Luan gives a bottom surface that you can attach things to underneath. If you think you are going to go “deep”, you can either use thicker foam, or just raise the roadbed up higher on strips of foam.
I make those sections as my “towns” and switching modules. They are then either placed on a larger base bench or set up with the back attached to the wall and legs on the front. Lets say that I have four modules and I find that we have moved, and now I have a larger space. I may just put each module in a corner, then build a main line track between them with minimal investment of time and money. By building in a modular form, you don’t loose all of your work when you move or get a different space.
Thanks Elmer for your thoughtful and detailed response. I am thinking along the lines of what you’ve done.
I’ve found a loop to loop/dogbone trackplan that may fit in my small space.
I’m seeing if I can get permission to post it from an old RMC, from the moderators.
It’ll be about a “Rumpus Room” Layout from the “Layout Doctor”…
I think it will work nicely-modularly. I’m going to use plywood rather than foam though even though it’ll be
a bit heavier. I’m a cookie-cutter kinda guy 
If I can post the above, let me know what you think?
If anyone can tell me what else is “new” in the 2nd addition I’d like to decide whether it would be worth having over my older one.
Thanks
I used plywood for my base, then use liquid nails adhesive caulk to glue down 2" foam on top of the plywood. Very much the same as last reply except not luan. I too like to have the ability to cut out rivers, streams, ponds, etc and by using foan you have that great ability to be easily creative.
Due to the placement of the doorways on one side of my room (on on each end) it’s begining to look like
a walkaround layout like I wanted isn’t going to be workable. It’s looking like I’ll possibly be limited to 22"
and 18" radius too but I’ll see if our local track planning guy can find some solutions for me. So…I guess
I may have to live with a 4’ wide table or two in an L configuration after all with access hatches.
So…in Wescott’s older printing, he showed a way to make “trays” (my term) to lay on top of the L girder
benchwork so that the scenes could be moved easily and even changed around. I’m thinking of going that route.
It’s been hard finding a copy of Wescott’s latest printing/edition in the stores. I tried looking inside at Amazon.com but nothing revealed. Oh well, I think my old ways will serve just fine.
I’m a bit chemically sensitive so using a hot knife on foam isn’t my thing. I have a full beard and face masks won’t seal. It’s a cool material and medium though
and I may use some manufactured risers and inclines though instead of all cookie cutter.
So no new guys or gals here buying Wescott’s newest edition?
I’ve got the newer one, but not the older, so I can’t say what’s new, other than the foam part. And probably the type on the L-girder span table! (I expect that’s new.)
I have the new one, I suspect the spline roadbed and the foam stuff is the bulk of additions, but without the original, I’m only guessing. It is a great book a must have for a newbie library.
Just my 2 cents,
Joe
Judging by the haircuts, they didnt update the photos…
Seriously though, there is not a lot of info on modular benchwork… some… but the meat of the book remains constructing L-girder or open grid benchwork and associated roadbed and risers.
You may be better off with some old MRR articles or finding stuff on the web to supplement whats in the old book.
Chris
Thanks guys. So far, it does indeed sound like the addition of foam as a building material is the major addition to the new addition.