TBD Cromwell Bridge Road House Layout

[Ed Kapuscinski]

With the demise of my old Windsor St Yard layout it's time to move onto filling our new space with the NEXT ongoing symptom of mental illness.

Backstory: Terri and I got tired of stepping on each others toes while cooking so we bought an amazing kitchen with a nice house attached.





Despite being a split level, this nice house actually has a basement. While not as large as I would've hoped (it was one of the trade-offs), it is at least as large as the old one.



I'm missing actually being able to engage in my hobby, so I want to get this thing ready for SOMETHING. I've been thinking about it a bit and I think there are three major improvements I need to make before it's ready for anything.

First, lighting. No more crazy fixes like in the last place. This time I'm planning on installing track lighting on the drop ceiling (yes, it's a drop ceiling). I'm looking for something low-profile (the ceiling isn't too tall).

Second, painting. Since I'm in this one for the long haul, I'm planning on properly prepping it. I'm heavily leaning toward painting the walls white to match my backdrops.

Third, floors. Carpeted layout areas, while nice for the feet, suck for pretty much everything else. I'm thinking of going with some nice light colored wood laminate.

Fourth, figuring out what do I actually want to do down here? I've got a couple of ideas, and I want to keep it simple for now. I'm thinking for now it'll just be standing the existing yard back up and attaching some simple end loops. That should only occupy half of it, leaving the rest open for "other projects".

Here's a drawing of the space I have to work with.



I'd love to hear about the wisdom of the room prep thoughts.

[John]

TOMA

Really nice looking house

[Ed Kapuscinski]

TOMA

Really nice looking house

Thanks! You'll have to come check it out next time you're up this end of the Beltway.

[TLOC]

Ed.

I know you operated on Lance Mindheim’s layout. Can you see yourself with around the walls leaving the middle open?

Tom

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Ed.

I know you operated on Lance Mindheim’s layout. Can you see yourself with around the walls leaving the middle open?

Tom

I can, actually. I've thought about that quite a bit. Not just to leave the center open to be open, but basically so that I can do other stuff there (like setup a TTRAK layout on a table).

[DKS]

First, lighting. No more crazy fixes like in the last place. This time I'm planning on installing track lighting on the drop ceiling (yes, it's a drop ceiling). I'm looking for something low-profile (the ceiling isn't too tall).

So, what's behind the drop ceiling? I'd be tempted to rip it out and install something new that's as close to whatever is overhead as possible. Who knows, you might be able to gain a foot or so. Then install track lighting--although you might hold off on this until you know how the layout is shaped--you may need additional branches of light tracks for peninsulas, etc. (Yes, I know--but never say never.)

Third, floors. Carpeted layout areas, while nice for the feet, suck for pretty much everything else. I'm thinking of going with some nice light colored wood laminate.

Speaking from direct experience, carpeting in any basement (or basement-like) space is bad for multiple reasons. Laminate flooring is OK, but it's much better if you install a premium cushion underlay before the laminate. Most beneficial to the feet and spine.

 

[MK]

Who gets the garage?   

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Who gets the garage?   

My car that I can FINALLY keep out of the weather!

[Ed Kapuscinski]

So, what's behind the drop ceiling? I'd be tempted to rip it out and install something new that's as close to whatever is overhead as possible. Who knows, you might be able to gain a foot or so. Then install track lighting--although you might hold off on this until you know how the layout is shaped--you may need additional branches of light tracks for peninsulas, etc. (Yes, I know--but never say never.)

Speaking from direct experience, carpeting in any basement (or basement-like) space is bad for multiple reasons. Laminate flooring is OK, but it's much better if you install a premium cushion underlay before the laminate. Most beneficial to the feet and spine.

 

The ceiling is pretty tight to the actual ceiling, including some ductwork, so there's not much to gain there.

But the padding is an EXCELLENT recommendation. Thank you!

[DKS]

The ceiling is pretty tight to the actual ceiling, including some ductwork, so there's not much to gain there.

Except perhaps a less distracting ceiling. If your actual drop ceiling has the intricately sculpted panels in the photo, it might be worth considering something more plain. And if you can gain even just a few inches--even if you have to work around some ducts--then you'll gain the height of your light fixtures. Just sayin'...

[DKS]

I've been thinking about it a bit and I think there are three major improvements I need to make before it's ready for anything.

First...

Second...

Third...

Fourth...

First, learn to count...

Despite being a split level...

[basementcalling]

Love my vinyl laminate flooring from Home Depot. Of course I installed it in place of carpet AFTER the old layout was built (it had legs) but before ripping the old one out to put the new one in. Still was an easy install even with an occasional leg in the way.

Definitely do the lighting first. I waited on my track lighting until the layout was well under way. I am still trying to get it installed because of course a couple tracks need to be OVER the benchwork. Go figure. Plan that out in as much detail as you need to avoid doing it the hard way. Mock the basement and layout up if needed. Will you be using tall backdrops? Eye level? or shorties ala Ttrak and Ntrak? The latter won't impact lighting much, but I know my tall backdrops definitely impact the amount of light available, so plan accordingly when calculating the lumens you need. Also expect the over 40 need for brighter lighting just to see what you can now. That aspect of aging impacted me the most in the hobby. Details such I could see easily 10 years ago now disappear without much more intense lighting.

Can we assume you'll be ditching Conrail for a real privately run prototype? 

[Dave V]

Ed, re: paint...  I recommend against straight white.  When I was modeling Pennsy I used a color called "Morning Haze" by Behr and it's a very, very light grayish-blue:

https://www.behr.com/consumer/ColorDetailView/590C-1



It looks like the hazy sky you're after but is a little softer.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Love my vinyl laminate flooring from Home Depot. Of course I installed it in place of carpet AFTER the old layout was built (it had legs) but before ripping the old one out to put the new one in. Still was an easy install even with an occasional leg in the way.

Definitely do the lighting first. I waited on my track lighting until the layout was well under way. I am still trying to get it installed because of course a couple tracks need to be OVER the benchwork. Go figure. Plan that out in as much detail as you need to avoid doing it the hard way. Mock the basement and layout up if needed. Will you be using tall backdrops? Eye level? or shorties ala Ttrak and Ntrak? The latter won't impact lighting much, but I know my tall backdrops definitely impact the amount of light available, so plan accordingly when calculating the lumens you need. Also expect the over 40 need for brighter lighting just to see what you can now. That aspect of aging impacted me the most in the hobby. Details such I could see easily 10 years ago now disappear without much more intense lighting.

Can we assume you'll be ditching Conrail for a real privately run prototype? 

Oh yeah, there's gonna be lots of light. And no, apparently I'm too much of a godless commie to give up Conrail. Although I do plan on doing some more Conrail predecessor stuff (including PRR before The Great War somewhere).

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Ed, re: paint...  I recommend against straight white.  When I was modeling Pennsy I used a color called "Morning Haze" by Behr and it's a very, very light grayish-blue:

It looks like the hazy sky you're after but is a little softer.

Oh, I know. But I'm sticking with white. It makes it way easier to do photo backdrops (no color matching needed).