A building is no stronger than its foundation. Keep up the
good work stressing the importance of quality materials and
good workmanship.
I will soon be starting my 5th train layout. I thought I had run out of ideas, but seeing this series renews my enthusiasm for creating another fun project. For over 20 years I have turned to MRI for advise and ideas for my projects. I’ve always found great solutions with the input of their many experts.
Always well done David, many thanks for your knowledge and tips, want to see the finished layout, now.
Great banjo pickin’ music. Very apropos - the Virginian did haul coal, right? 
Who’s playing?
good advice. I realy liked your pointing out the use of safety goggles with a nailer. Would have liked to have you show the importance of where your hands are on the back side as sometimes the nails go wild.
This is a great series, especially for us beginners. Seeing something done is much better than trying to read a diagram!
That’s the great thing about MR; they give us great tips all the time. I started (albeit a bit late in the project) making my legs this way when I built an add-on for train holding tracks. The only difference was that my payout won’t be moving anytime soon, so I used tee-nuts for leg levelers.
Hey great to see…you will do your back in with the table so low!
The casters are a great idea but,how do you level the benchwork when you change locations ?
I love your ‘future cam.’ Where can I get one?
It may be the color on my monitor, but was David using white or yellow glue?
Excellent! Great tips for building and safety. It’s no fun getting a nail out of your finger from having it behind the nail spot. I always use safety glasses and heavy gloves. Can’t be too careful.
David Popp was right on when it comes to starting with quality wood. It is worth every penny and every dollar of extra expense in the long run.
Our Home Depot carries somewhat dismal #2 pine which I believe is a mix of Ponderosa and Lodge Pole Pine.
However, they also carry plantation grown Pinus radiata or Radiata Pine in various sizes. Straight, low resin content, knot free, light weight, wonderful stuff. ( Even nicer than #1 or D Pine )
Radiata Pine also comes in plywood, very nice stuff for layout tops as it readily accepts track nails, is lighter in weight, and is much less splintery than Douglas Fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) Plywood.
So just ignore the naysayers and listen to Popp and buy the better grades of lumber for your layout!
What’s wrong with just using 2x4? Seems to me that would be a lot quicker than wasting all that time cutting, gluing, clamping and nailing.
Dave, how about using 3/4 AC or AB birch plywood? True, you need a table saw if you don’t have one, but one that’s good enough for benchwork could be had for around $120, and you can cut up that dimensionally stable plywood into 1x2s or 1x3s (3/4 x 2 1/2) and save money. Also, I haven’t tried it, but I’ve seen articles on using 1x3s as I-beam plates, with some sort of 3/8 material for the web, glued into rabbets dadoed into the top and bottom plates. Looks to be light, stiff, and even cheaper than L-girders built from ripped plywood.
Great video David, very informative. One tidbit of advise? When signing off from a scene you are seen running off to shut off the camara. Since I’m sure it’s digital and you don’t have to worry about wasting tape, count to two or three before moving toward the camara, this will give you some edit space. Very professional work otherwise.
Theodore, from reading the label in the episode at 4:55, I’m pretty sure it’s wood glue, making it likely yellow. I don’t think it’s your monitor making it hard to tell, I think it was the sunlight. But anyway, it should be wood glue. White glue is bad because if it gets wet, it disolves and its strength goes away.
Thanks and love your first 2 installments. Thanks for doing an RR step by step. I have returned from a 33 year absence of the
hobby due to things called “life”. And am loving just like when my brother gave me my first HO Santa Fe boxed set when I was 6.
Thanks again for all your great videos.
David
Very nice article, but could you use screws instead of the air nailer? Because I don’t own one, at least not yet. Also, I like the idea of casters under the layout to move it around the room.
Super great Video for starter on building a 4x8 ,the mother of all bigger layouts and also a great way to put legs togethet Keep it going.