Daniel's Attic Layout has begun ...

Looking good.

That's some nice bench work!!!  Not sure if just foam would work. I never tried it but it is pretty sturdy. 

Congratulations from one attic to another, you are off and running!

Dan 

That is some substantial bench work.  You are off to a great start on the attic layout. 

Please help me find out where your post of the track plan is.   

I have enjoyed looking at some of your prior posts and you an improver like myself.  I also have spent much in the Pittsburgh area and started collecting trains in Pittsburgh visits to my parents house.

Charlie

thanks guys  ...

          just bought some 3/8 plywood to put down  I  just found  out  home depot has  the homosote and a local supply store has it and Cheaper! $27.something for  a sheet of 4 x 8

What I thinking is this layout just use the homosote under the track only.. Last layout I used foam  I cut to look like  a  graded bed..   I figure when I add my prefab structures I can  blend them in the  plywood as needed with foam and plaster  to make the look I'm going for..

I'm  hoping to have all the plywood and drywall up by this week end .. I'll post some more pictures of that,, and probably the track on it.

Daniel

Here is the basic idea and plan I am working with though it will be extremely modified it s what I like On you tube the plan was show as the ultimate 1x8 Lionel layout here on OGR the fellow helped me make it longer  for what at the time I had to work with sure glad I got the attic this time out of the dudgeon.

Also to the response about being near around Pittsburgh I invite you over BUT my wife and  I meet a Couple with small children   on our first get together he had a layout around his! whole dining room! 

He 's Crazy he has train comping out of his pajama drawers! under beds  (HIS KIDS ! ) EVERYWHERE  now I call him my man wife    I don't think my wife could handle any more train guys (families)

Daniel

DanssuperO posted:

Its been a coming... I made my buildings and have all the track to finish many switches will be on this  , Two train operation , I   just repaint the attic and built  the bench work. Next is the top to finish and the bottom I  will  enclose the front with drywall  and paint to match the room

I  am making a L shape layout this time and using old school tubular track. the  design of the layout is  from one of the forum member than was kind to print out I made it into a L  otherwise its the same except longer.If you look at my post you will see his design I will make .

Every other layout I had in the basement was the same bench work  I used 3/8   plywood and used homosote but I 'm not sure if they sell it at lowes or busy beaver or home depot

Would the 1/2 inch  green or pink insulation board  the new stuff  be Ok.. On top of the plywood

thanks ..Daniel

 

looks very solid. If you use plywood, I'm sure that you be able to stand on it.

Daniel

Thank you for your response.  I was not very clear about Pittsburgh.  It was a long time ago.  I will not be coming to visit!  We do not get up there much now days.  Thanks for the plan post and really like it.

I lived there as a kid in 1957 and my parents lived in the south hills from 1965 until my dad died in 2009.  So we would go to Pittsburgh see them for a week or so most of those years.  We all became Steeler and Penquin fans and Pirate fans except when playing the Cards as we grew up in St Louis. 

While I was overseas in Jamaica from 1976 to 1979 we went to Pitt twice a year for a week at a time on vacation.  I met a guy named Dave from an ad in the paper who bought Lionel trains and I bought some of his "no wanters" and Marx switches, track, transformers etc.  The three years in Jamaica is when I built my portable layout and moved it back to the states and then to 5 states and still have it, up and running.  You may have seen my long running post on the evolution of my toy train operating O27 layout with the $10 homemade turntable and 27 Marx switches.

Charlie

DanssuperO posted:

thanks guys  ...

          just bought some 3/8 plywood to put down  I  just found  out  home depot has  the homosote and a local supply store has it and Cheaper! $27.something for  a sheet of 4 x 8

What I thinking is this layout just use the homosote under the track only.. Last layout I used foam  I cut to look like  a  graded bed..   I figure when I add my prefab structures I can  blend them in the  plywood as needed with foam and plaster  to make the look I'm going for..

I'm  hoping to have all the plywood and drywall up by this week end .. I'll post some more pictures of that,, and probably the track on it.

Daniel

 

 

You know the homosote is a mess to cut - the only benefit may be that it provides a soft surface to attach stuff. If you want a really quiet running layout, use Midwest Cork for O scale under the tubular track.  It is $58 a case from the manufacturer. A case provides 75 ft. Looking at you layout plan, two cases will do it, about the same as 3 sheets of homosote.

Paint the plywood a base earth color and scenic from there.

You can use a razor knife and straight edge to cut Homasote,  One needs to press hard and do multiple cuts (3 or 4).  The result is a sharp clean edge with no dust.

If you ar cutting freehand then take is slow.

Jan

PS. You can get knife blades for a jigsaw, but I have no experience with them.

Got a chance to install the plywood   installed the side  lower drywall. trim around the top made the  shelf to hold all the buttons and switch  controllers.. sanding  and painting and lower moldings next .. after shower and bed...   Daniel

Where you going to store your trains? Under the platform or on the walls?

Well its been a week today since I started ... got the drywall sanded   and side wood and the top painted .. Today I installed the shelfs  they are 16 ft long and have room for double side by side  storage  next  bottom molding and the transformer control base...   DAniel

Nice work, the drywall around the edge of the layout finishes it nicely. Keep posting updates. Like the track plan to. Nick T.

I would be loathe to use the foam insulation board with sparking trains and other wired accessories and lights - a petrochemical product, it is highly combustible if not treated by fire retardants; and if it is treated by fire retardants, then markedly carcinogenic.  Cork or homosote are safer choices.

David

David98, 

Don't be "loathe", sparks and heat will not ignite the foam until very high temperatures. it not as dangerous as you imagine. it is more resistant to open flame than paper, not as resistant as wood, but, about the same as Plasticville buildings and Lionel accessories. Would you be "loathe" to use those on a layout?

You can't go wrong with either. But the foam gives you an advantage with some added sound deadening along with the ability to carve out spots for modules, terrain, etc.  If you are creating enough sparks to start any type of medium ignition you have way bigger problems.

Short update  almost got everything I want except a few more items on the wall after that its time to work on laying the track!... 

Made a  work cleaning area for maintenance  and got the trains  on shelf's and the transformer shelf and moldings done.. and a cabinet  installed.. shorten a stool to fit for the  desk ...and installed some art work going up the stairs...added a led light under the desk top  but way too bright to photo...

Daniel

Adding to my original post 1(ONE) year ago...

Its Hard to believe  (for me) its been one year ...Since I started the attic layout ... IT took me @5 yrs to get to this point before I actually started last year. ' With so many options and ideas .. It will be interesting to see if I keep it this way or modify it   ... time will tell  ...daniel 

You certainly have made tremendous progress in the last year!!  I like how neat and clean your attic train room is!  A great place to run and enjoy trains!!

Daniel, That is some progress! A nice layout and train room.

Has the "Joe McDoakes" couple with the small children been over to see it?

Awesome work on the layout and surrounding room environment. Very nice train room!

Beautiful layout and train room. Enjoy!

I like, and used, the cork roadbed over 1/2 foam (blue) over plywood. I prefer the foam as a surface to landscape, build roads, plant trees etc. My track is wood tie Gargraves flex to enable maximum custom mainline curves in my confined 9x16 attic space. 

Danny's layout has a ton of action for its size.  His ability to customize and mod things is pretty incredible.  A great layout for sure.

Hey dan,  kudos to you for the continuing progress....nice layout, nicely finished off room. Before any OTHER forumites suggest this...I'm willing to move in and be a full time layout monitor....lol...way to rock!

Thanks guys .. as mentioned for @ 5 yrs  Ive collected and restored and modified.. I honestly think I rather be on the pre-building part .. For me  adding details that to me should of been is the part I enjoy most.

I added a extra roof on the grand station and added the  working crossing arm   on the 145 shed. using original  Lionel  parts... the diner is from that 80's phone that I took apart and used.

I'm working on a idea using fire stick to talk to the accessory   I want it to be connected to ..(stay tuned)

Bad part if a guy like me doesn't share what I've done  ....  The "other non trains guys" just assume that's the way it was made form Lionel  ... This hobby needs to be shared.. I showed Lionel my ideas but they  said  if this was the 50's they would consider it but today .. its  not going to happen   .. but you never know... .daniel

It is always nice to revise, alter, kitbash items to make them and your layout more your own.  Nice work!

Daniel, with what appears the platform sides dry walled, how do you gain access under the layout for service or storage? tt

The front panels you see, Are the only part covered   .  the opposite sides are all open ...

And when I did the wiring  etc underneath well lets say I got my exercise and leave it at that.... 

Daniel,  It looks like you've used carpet squares over the plywood?  If so, was it difficult to scenic on top of it?  BTW... Great layout!