Hi all, as some of you know I’m building a new layout. I finished the room and painted the backdrop. I’ve started the bench work and yard track.
So here’s the question, do you finish each stage before moving on to the next? In other words do you complete benchwork before laying track? Do you install all wiring before doing scenery?
For the most part yes, except in areas that require track to be installed/functional before building new benchwork (like hidden return loops and helixes).
Yes I install all track wiring and make sure the track is 100% perfectly functional before any scenery.
Pretty much what Onewolf did, only on a much smaller scale, [(-D], all the bench work was completed, as I have no hidden staging, and then the back drop, then I used a foam base, for grade changes, scenery, etc., installed all of the track, and wired it all in place, before I proceeded with any scenery.
Plus, I was anxious to run trains!
Then I painted and weathered the track that is exposed, next I ballasted. After scenery, I touched up any ballast where needed, to finish the track grade profile.
But I feel it’s best to get your wiring down, and tested, before moving on.
Mike.
PS. Gary, when you get a chance, please show us more of your back drop. From what little I can see in your photo, it looks great!
Gary, so far, so good. You installed the backdrop before getting too far along. Now, finish the track work and the wiring before moving on to the scenery. Make sure your track work is bullet proof.
Rich
Nope. I would go crazy is all I did was benchwork, then all I did was put down roadbed, then all I did was lay track.
I work in stages. Once I have some benchwork, I will put some roadbed down one day, add more benchwork another, lay some track the next.
I like to test as I go - not every issue that might arise can be fixed just by pulling up the track and shifting it.
–Randy
I do pretty much as Onewolf.
I finished the basement first as I didn’t want to stair at ugly silver insulation and studs.
I’ll put in much of the benchwork first and lay track on areas like the staging yard before adding the main yard benchwork above. Then scenery.
As you can see on my previous layout, it makes sense to install track in some areas before adding more benchwork:
There is a logical progression that just seems common sense.
When I get a little farther on the other end, I’ll start working on staging tracks. That will also give me a break from the bench-work for a bit.
Gary, your backdrop looks great. Did you paint it yourself?
I have always had plans to be disciplined when I build a layout, but it never works out.
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I plan to be disciplined on the next one.
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Room first. Then cabinets and structural stuff, then backdrops. Benchwork and house voltage wiring comes next. Then fascia and control panel wiring. Finally I will get to subroadbed, track, and control wiring. Scenery is last.
.
My big change for my final layout is that EVERYTHING is purchased already. There will be no waiting for funds to become available, so I can build it like I plan to.
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-Kevin
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Work will begun to the extension of my N scale layout, so here is the steps I will use to build up the extention.
Preparing the room, some heavy work for walls and windows but also painting, new heating system and electrical 110v devices (heavy work done by a contractor)
Supports of the benchwork; since I use a frame metallic support I need to build first these supports and put them in place
Hanging my backdrop, hanging because I will use an hanged vinyl backdrop, paint with my need and tastes and just after put the valence in place including the layout lighting
Put in place the already existing parts of the layout and integrate them in the new construction, this mean new lay track work start from them.
Erecting wood benchwork on the metalic frames using only first rate plywood cut to shapes.
Put all the main line and lay all his track in place before starting local laying track, this include main turnouts, track, cork roadbed and and switch machines ( around one year work)
Put all the main line track electricaly live including switch machines, this allow me to run train on the whole layout
Complete local track design, this mean spur, industrial track, yard and connected them to the main including local switch machines and put these local area electricaly live ( sure a little year)
Ballasting the track before any scenery construction
Scenery hardshell for the back mountains, done with red rosin paper and give the "vertical scenery’ feeling.
Take around 4 square feet and complete scenery and details of this area before to go on the next 4’ square feet area
T
Marc’s timeline pretty much corresponds with my own experience including the order of steps necessary to complete the layout. While the time needed for Marc to complete his layout, estimated at 15 years, may seem unduly long, it makes sense to me.
His layout will include a 1,000 foot long mainline. My double mainline is 160 feet long which would translated into 2.4 years to complete. I am already 2 years into the process and about to start the ballasting and scenery. It is a long road from start to finish.
Rich
That is a very large layout for a country where space is typically very limited. Mainland Europe may have larger spaces than England however.
I’ve generally built sections of benchwork, then added track, then more benchwork, then more track, then some scenery. That’s usually the point where I have to move again and start over.
Larger layouts give you the option to work on whatever you’re in the mood to do. When I was building smaller layouts I generally went in the order of benchwork, track, scenery. I just consider wiring part of the trackwork, since the trains won’t run without both.
I didn’t live anymore in Europe but in Canada now, in Québec to be precise.
The house we have buy has a second old building in the property which was an old wood workshop; the previous owner was a carpenter.
This building need some work to be usuable for my layout; the whole workshop will be the layout room, I have the chance to have around 45’ by 28’ of train room; this room has a parallelogram form, with one side of 26’ and the other around 29’
Layout design is walkaround the walls with two big peninsula in the middle of the room but in a single deck.
Marc, it would be great to have that much room, not just for the layout but also for workspace, painting, etc. I’m sure you have a lot of work just getting the building ready for your layout.
I am in a corner of small guest bedroom in my house.
Marc, did you move to Canada just to get a big train room?[(-D]
From what I seen of Europe on several extended trips, moving to Canada probably helped the potential for bigger layout space, no joke.
Thanks Rich,
Bullet proof Track-work and wiring are my primary focus. I’m taking time to make sure track and turnouts are perfect. I ran a power bus under the section so I can run a very light 2-4-0 (Bachmann Juniper) over everything back and forth with no problems. There will be 4 CB Protected sections each with different color wire.
I made the mistake last time doing sceneryt before making sure track and electric were perfect.
I still have more bench work to do but the most complex trackwork is the yard. Also making sure every curve has a transition in and out.
I understand Randy’s point, I really want to finish something but I think I’ll stick with the plan since doing scenery requires a completely different set of tools and supplies and that would result in a giant mess.
Scenery? Who said anythign about scenery? The most scenery I’ve had on any layout in the past 20 years has been some ballast and the rails painted. ANd I suppose you could count painting all the exposed pink foam on the last one with an earth brown color paint. Scenery definitely last - after all the other stuff. I just rotate through benchwork, trackwork, wiring, etc. and save scenery for alst, if ever. I’m going to have to do something this time, scenery is just not my thing though.
–Randy
You cannot lay track before bench work. Trains won’t run befor wireing. If track is poor/sloppy, train won’t go far anway. Other then that ;anything is fair game.
In my case; I will tear out and redo benchwork,track, and/or scenery on a whim.
At any stage of constrution or compleation.
You can lay and wire track after scenery, perhaps not easy or pretty, but can be done,I"ve done it.
To the OP’s question. You "can"do what ever,however, you feel like.
I refuse to acept RULES . Its a hobby
I guess you would have gone crazy the way I built my layout. I spent the first 6 months just building benchwork. [:O]