I have no idea how to build a table for my son’s train that we will be building in the garage. I am not a handy man! I bought a 9.6volt cordless drill and some 2x6’s were donated to us. Now what? I know I need a 4x8 plywood but thats it. Help! I have researched the net but found no drawings on the matter.
I suggest you look at a book called model railroad benchwork, not only does it give you benchwork ideas, but layouts ideas too. It is a great book to start with.
You don’t say anything about what kind of train, etc. Model Railroader has done several articles about 4’ x 8’ layouts and several of them used insulation foam (use the blue or pink stuff - NOT the white) instead of plywood. The 2 x 6 is probably overkill but they were free so just don’t expect to move it around easily. One idea would be to make a couple of saw horses out of the 2 x 6 and use them to support a foam based layout.
If you are at the very early stages in this, and have garage space, why not go around the walls a bit on a shelf? If a neighbour can rip your 2x6s on a table saw, you get lots of 2x1 for support brackets. What you really get by going for the shelf is running room for the trains (this is true for any scale, but SHINES in N. [:D] ) The foam board is a good suggestion, but may need some support from 1/2" or 3/8" plywood. I would look at a 2 foot wide shelf . (HO or N) You’ll have to make it wider at the ends if you want to turn the trains by looping the track. You can hide tight loops later in scenery (hills, or tall buildings)
Ask @ your local hobby store for track plans, or go the Atlas web site <www.atlasrr.com> and browse around.
Hope this helps, Have quality fun time!
I have no idea how to build a table for my son’s train that we will be building in the garage. I am not a handy man! I bought a 9.6volt cordless drill and some 2x6’s were donated to us. Now what? I know I need a 4x8 plywood but thats it. Help! I have researched the net but found no drawings on the matter.
I suggest you look at a book called model railroad benchwork, not only does it give you benchwork ideas, but layouts ideas too. It is a great book to start with.
You don’t say anything about what kind of train, etc. Model Railroader has done several articles about 4’ x 8’ layouts and several of them used insulation foam (use the blue or pink stuff - NOT the white) instead of plywood. The 2 x 6 is probably overkill but they were free so just don’t expect to move it around easily. One idea would be to make a couple of saw horses out of the 2 x 6 and use them to support a foam based layout.
If you are at the very early stages in this, and have garage space, why not go around the walls a bit on a shelf? If a neighbour can rip your 2x6s on a table saw, you get lots of 2x1 for support brackets. What you really get by going for the shelf is running room for the trains (this is true for any scale, but SHINES in N. [:D] ) The foam board is a good suggestion, but may need some support from 1/2" or 3/8" plywood. I would look at a 2 foot wide shelf . (HO or N) You’ll have to make it wider at the ends if you want to turn the trains by looping the track. You can hide tight loops later in scenery (hills, or tall buildings)
Ask @ your local hobby store for track plans, or go the Atlas web site <www.atlasrr.com> and browse around.
Hope this helps, Have quality fun time!