Lighweight Layout Construction for Ed

[wm3798]

Finally, if I was to build a large layout that was going to be worked on and operated by a group, it would be built like a battleship. I think it's unfair to place extra burdens on visitors to be super-careful about a layout. Accidents happen, and I believe the builder has a responsibility to make sure those accidents don't result in disaster.

Precisely.  I mean, you've seen the goon squad that runs my layout!

[Blazeman]

I'd be OK with 6-8"  width, but no more than that and the "brackets" below would have to span the entire width. And I'd have the brackets every foot.  What the guys are saying about bumps, drops and accidental leans is real. If you don't want to mar the wall for when you eventually sell the house, you're on the right track.

As for PVC, I did build such a benchwork some years back, but for a rather limited (2.5 x 5) sheet, securing the plywood sheet to the pipe with U brackets. We all know the beauty of PVC pipe for fixing mistakes and I sure didn't have to concern myself with warpage or swelling in the humid months.

[wm3798]

... If you don't want to mar the wall for when you eventually sell the house, you're on the right track...

I've never worried about marring the walls...  a little putty, a little paint... make it somethin' that it ain't!

My old Laurel Valley layout was built in a rented house, and I had two holes cut through the wall between the family room and the laundry.  When we moved out, I dropped a copy of the track plan and a photo into the wall cavity... sort of a time capsule... and patched it right up.

Lee

[davefoxx]

My old Laurel Valley layout was built in a rented house, and I had two holes cut through the wall between the family room and the laundry.  When we moved out, I dropped a copy of the track plan and a photo into the wall cavity... sort of a time capsule... and patched it right up.

Lee,

What have I told you about admissions of guilt?   

DFF, Esq.

[wm3798]

It's not the crime, it's the cover up!  And I covered it up perfectly!

Lee

[davefoxx]

It's not the crime, it's the cover up!  And I covered it up perfectly!

Lee

You must have gotten your security deposit back then.  ;D

[Iain]

If the layout won't support my NFL lineman-sized self, I'm not interested.

[Dave V]

If the layout won't support my NFL lineman-sized self, I'm not interested.

...because you like to do what with NFL linemen on your benchwork? ;D

[Dave Schneider]

I think that I probably have most of your beat for overbuilt layout construction. Here is the base of the future Beer Line. It is excess Walmart pallet rack that I got off Craigslist for $25. It gives me a 4 foot by 15 foot area, with access on all sides. I am constructing modules with 1/2 inch plywood sides and top (similar to the Mod-U-Trak standards). There will be two 2x6 ft modules on each side with 1.5 x 4 foot curve modules on each end to make a simple oval with a divider down the middle. The pallet rack works great for me as I am able to stuff garage stuff underneath it and have my train stuff up high (rail height of about 52 inches), although it is currently occupied by garage crap. The first module is framed and I am working on it inside the house in the family room. So I guess I have lightweight modules on top of heavyweight legs.



Best wishes, Dave

[squirrelhunter]

I won't argue with someone building with what they have on hand. If I had a lot of spare lumber I would use it instead of buying brackets. I like the pallet rack by the way.

I think modules, club layouts, layouts with significan protrusions into the room, and mid to low height layouts need heavy benchwork. I think small layouts, shelf layouts and layouts built fairly high do not need heavy benchwork.

[seusscaboose]

I think the key factor here is just getting something built... Good, not-so-good... Whatever.

You build it, you learn from it, you tear it down and you build again.

best reply yet considering the thread topic.  

Without taking too far a leap of assumption, Ed's purpose (as with most of us i bet), as I understand it, is to stretch his capabilities in certain areas of the hobby (scenery amongst others) and be "lean and mean" in others that don't interest him as much (benchwork).

Ed, please correct me if I am horribly wrong and mis-read your intentions with this project.

EP

[Ed Kapuscinski]

That's pretty much it, especially with the ease of iterations.