Bryan, good job finishing off the basement. Going to be one great layout when your done. You could set up a small section of bleachers so us train buds can sit and watch the layout going up.............Paul
Great job, Bryan......looking forward to pics of the layout going up!
Peter
Bryan,
This is going to be so worth it, now the real fun starts. From here you can enjoy creating a fantastic layout and take us along with you , on this fun ride.
Thanks, Alex
First 2 bench work pieces done.
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Looking good, Bryan!
Did you have to sort through the 2x4s at Home Depot or Lowes to find such good looking wood....or did you go to a lumber yard?
Berkshire President posted:Looking good, Bryan!
Did you have to sort through the 2x4s at Home Depot or Lowes to find such good looking wood....or did you go to a lumber yard?
When I built my basement shelves I had good luck w/the premium indoor 2x4s at Lowes ("Top Choice," maybe?), though still checked each just in case. Plan to use the same when I (eventually? hopefully?) start my layout.
Yes, great looking benchwork and yes the 2x4s look great!
Question about the legs. During all my years in HO and N scale, everything I read told the builder to put angled cross braces from the table top down to halfway done the legs. I see many folks here build legs like yours, no cross braces, and they work well. Personally, I like what I see here. Easier to do. What is everyone's take on this?
Thanks guys. These 2x4's are left over from the old layout. They are from Lowe's and yes it did take some time going through the piles. This style has worked for me in the past and it allows for easy access points to get under the layout for wiring.
Looks good Bryan. Track plan or just freelancing it.
Mark; regarding dimensional lumber when I built an N scale layout years back with smaller 1x2" and 1x4 lumber, I found the need for cross bracing to eliminate the wobble factor.
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Seacoast posted:Looks good Bryan. Track plan or just freelancing it.
Yeah, have you decided on a new track plan yet?
Seacoast posted:Looks good Bryan. Track plan or just freelancing it.
Mark; regarding dimensional lumber when I built an N scale layout years back with smaller 1x2" and 1x4 lumber, I found the need for cross bracing to eliminate the wobble factor.
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George,
This is just what I was wondering, if cross braces weren't necessary with 2x4s. I agree, 1x2 to 1x4 was always recommended, and that is what I used too. Thank you, since you were where I was once.
I have had the track plan done for about 3 months now. I have been buying the rest of the track and switches to supplement what I had left over from the old layout. I built the bench work around the track plan. I know everyone has an opinion on what they like but before I show this here is what I was going for. I wanted to have multiple levels (subway, main, elevated) I wanted to run numerous trains without having to watch them all the time to avoid collisions; but I wanted to be able to move them from inside to outside tracks. Wide curves 72-108 main, 45 - 54 subway, 63-81 elevated. Yard, passing sidings, and industry sidings. I really just enjoy watching trains go around and moving them from different lines. Operations has never been high on my list and I know people say you'll get bored just seeing them go around but I have been doing this for 16 years and this is what I enjoy most. This layout will have the following areas. Subway, wrong side of tracks city section, right side of track city section, industrial park, baseball field with park scenes, carnival, prison, lake, river, and 3 bridges incorporated into the scenes. With that said here is the track plan that I am going with. The black represents aisles and most are 30 to 36 inches. The front of the layout is completely open for viewing.
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Bryan in Ohio posted:I have had the track plan done for about 3 months now. I have been buying the rest of the track and switches to supplement what I had left over from the old layout. I built the bench work around the track plan. I know everyone has an opinion on what they like but before I show this here is what I was going for. I wanted to have multiple levels (subway, main, elevated) I wanted to run numerous trains without having to watch them all the time to avoid collisions; but I wanted to be able to move them from inside to outside tracks. Wide curves 72-108 main, 45 - 54 subway, 63-81 elevated. Yard, passing sidings, and industry sidings. I really just enjoy watching trains go around and moving them from different lines. Operations has never been high on my list and I know people say you'll get bored just seeing them go around but I have been doing this for 16 years and this is what I enjoy most. This layout will have the following areas. Subway, wrong side of tracks city section, right side of track city section, industrial park, baseball field with park scenes, carnival, prison, lake, river, and 3 bridges incorporated into the scenes. With that said here is the track plan that I am going with. The black represents aisles and most are 30 to 36 inches. The front of the layout is completely open for viewing.
Looks like fun! Can't wait to see it for real.
Bryan,
Nice work. The weather here in NE Ohio recently has made working on the train layout a lot more enjoyable. I don't mind working in the basement when it is SNOWING outside, like this past weekend!
Andrew
andrew posted:Bryan,
Nice work. The weather here in NE Ohio recently has made working on the train layout a lot more enjoyable. I don't mind working in the basement when it is SNOWING outside, like this past weekend!
Andrew
Andrew is right. It snowed in Butler Pennsylvania as well! 
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Yea, what's with this weather ? May 17th and we still have the heater running ! I do, however, recall weather like this back in the early '70s. Long chilly, wet Springs. Right up to Memorial day and even beyond we had alot of rainy days.
Dan Padova posted:Yea, what's with this weather ? May 17th and we still have the heater running ! I do, however, recall weather like this back in the early '70s. Long chilly, wet Springs. Right up to Memorial day and even beyond we had alot of rainy days.
I don't know about you Dan but i am over this weather. Furnace running and rain, really makes my back and joints hurt.
feet posted:Dan Padova posted:Yea, what's with this weather ? May 17th and we still have the heater running ! I do, however, recall weather like this back in the early '70s. Long chilly, wet Springs. Right up to Memorial day and even beyond we had alot of rainy days.
I don't know about you Dan but i am over this weather. Furnace running and rain, really makes my back and joints hurt.
And it doesn't place any pleasure in the wallet either.
Have been on summer break for the last 3 days and have gotten some major progress done. All the framing for the bench work is now complete. Amazingly using Scarm I was only off 1/2 inch on the entire job. Going on vacation later this week so no progress until I get back on June 13. The next steps are to lay the plywood on top of the bench work, lay down the track, trace out track, remove plywood to cut track tracing and put it onto risers to create elevated scenes. Goal is to have that done by end of June.
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WOW, looks great! That's going to be quite a layout when you're finished! 
Wow, very nice work. Which city/town subway line will be running? I look over the thread and did not see that stated any where or maybe I missed it.
Bryan, you got a lot done in a short period of time. You are ahead of schedule. You deserve a vacation. Saw your track plan and once down on the tables it will look impressive. I'm still trying to figure out that Scarm so I think I will be using the old stand by...... Paper and pencil......LOL..........Paul
Kris, my layout will be freelance not modeled after any particular city. I incorporate pieces and parts from many different areas that I find interesting.
Paul, thanks for that extra motivation. Seeing all your bench work going up really got me fired up the last 3 days to finish this thing ahead of schedule. I am now really envisioning how great those 28 auto carriers are going to look on that long straightaway; much better than the old layout where the engine was chasing the end car and even then I could only run 14 of them at t time.
Dear Bryan
Thanks for the reply. Where did you get the lumber? Everything looks straight and true the way should be. Every time I go to the big box store the lumber twisted and not true.
nvocc5 posted:Dear Bryan
Thanks for the reply. Where did you get the lumber? Everything looks straight and true the way should be. Every time I go to the big box store the lumber twisted and not true.
Good luck with finding good lumber. I don't see how they are building houses out of the junk they sell around here. Went to the local lumber yard to get some 2x4's for a bench i am building. Went through a whole stack to get some half way decent. Have a few let over, 3 of them now look like a gorilla got hold of them.
Bryan,
Excellent bench work so far !!!! Looks like a very nice size layout
Alex
An old carpenter had pretty good advice, "Even an outhouse should have storm bracers" Put in a few X braces, these can be 1x4s and since the 2x4s are tied together every hole does not need one. Even if you do not crawl on the table you will lean hard on occasion.
Looking good!
Peter
Nice work Bryan
Thanks everyone. Amazingly, I get my wood from HD or Lowes, I always pick my own boards and it does take some time to find all the nice ones. I sometimes feel bad at what is left behind because it is useless. As for nice size I agree and funny story my wife came home yesterday and saw the final 4 front modules up. She gasped saying this is gigantic I guess she didn't realize what she saw on paper was going to take up all that space. It's all good though and she is getting excited seeing the progress.
That's really cool when the wife is on board.
I hear you Bryan when the wife is on board you have the world. Good to see all tables done. Now the track laying begins. Pictures of progress will be much more interesting then looking at all those "straight" 2X4's. I can hardly wait to see all those auto carriers snaking their way through the layout...............Paul
This months update....laid decking for upper level and subway level in early June. Put in subway line track and sidings. Got out z-4000's and put them on platform underneath layout and also created wiring hub for electric bar strips. Ran some trains on the subway line. Finished putting upper level decking on top of subway level and dry fit bridges that will be over the lake/gorge area. Cavs victory celebration got in the way of laying main line track but that is where July is going to start off at. Hoping to get main line in and wired by end of July as well as raising some levels of the main decking so everything is not flat. Pictures of progress for the past month.
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Hi Bryan
WOW !!! That is looking great !!! You got a lot of work done.
Alex
Thanks Alex having this thread going gives a little motivation as I know a number of people are watching and I want to show some progress each month. btw: have a great open house too bad I live so far away although I'll see you in October at York.
Bryan in Ohio posted:Thanks Alex having this thread going gives a little motivation as I know a number of people are watching and I want to show some progress each month. btw: have a great open house too bad I live so far away although I'll see you in October at York.
Looking forward to seeing you at York in October. Please keep us posted on your progress.
Thanks, Alex
Excellent work, Bryan.....almost as good as the Cavs!! 
p.s. - If J.R. Smith ever comes over for an open house, think he'll have his shirt on?
You have certainly accomplished a lot Bryan!! Soon you will be able to have an open house like Alex! Just kidding. You don't need any pressure.
Hi Bryan
Nice craftsmanship on the layout. I have a quick question on the bench work did you use a jig or did you built it free style?
Bryan: Really looking good! When you first mentioned the extent of the project I thought: "Boy, there's a guys who's not going to be running trains, again for about five years". But you've been able to discipline yourself and really get some work done on a huge project. I can't wait until you have your first "Tues Nite Bunch" so we can see the progress that you're making.
Remember the old boating saying: All boats are 2 feet too short.?" Same applies to model RR's. But, in your case, I just can't imagine that you could, or would want to, ever build a larger layout!
Paul Fischer
