Layout benchwork

Are you saying you have no place to put a layout?

Go to Home Depot and ask them to cut your lumber to size.  Go there and talk to someone that works in the lumber section first.  Tell them what you are planning and explain your problem.  You might have better luck if you go when they are not busy.

check out Lionel pre made modules

@ DMASSO, I just don't have a place to cut lumber in a townhouse. I saw some assemble work benches but they are the price of a mid tier engine $500+

OK. Then do like jmiller suggested and have your pieces cut to order. Either way, if you do not find a way to do it yourself, it will get costly.

I have found the Home Depot in my area to be very accommodating if I go when they are not busy.  They have cut sheets of plywood for my around the room layout such that I could transport them in a Honda Civic.  Very reasonable - posted as something like first two cuts free - additional cuts for .25 each... They have never charged me for additional cuts.  I don't know about 2x4 or other lumber cut for the legs.  That may present an issue for you.  I'm guessing they do cut those as well since there are usually bins of discounted scrap (unless those are just boards they cut down that were too warped to sell as an 8 footer).

Mianne benchwork, perhaps?  Their components are all pre-drilled, pre-cut, pretty

much pre-everything.  Check out their website.  You will need to have your tabletop

lumber cut to size, though.

     Hoppy

I don't know how big you are planning, but there are a lot of layouts on folding tables. My first 5x9 was on two sawhorses. A ping pong table is 5x9 also. Then you can lay sheets of your choice on top; foam, homosote, plywood are a few.

4x8 and milk crates and buckets.

I am looking to add a small section on my layout and was on craigslist and found a local guy that that was advertising workbenches, and small dinning tables that he makes in his garage. He will build me what I need at a very reasonable price. He will even deliver it.

Check your local CL and maybe find a guy like this in your area.  

Azgary  

3ft wide hollow core doors screwed together sitting on folding tables....all from HD or Lowes type stores. Buy as many doors as you have room for.

I went to a yard sale and made them an offer on two of their 4'x8' display tables. Yep, they sold them.

Try Mianne Benchwork. They make modular benchwork in all kinds of sizes and configurations. They have a website with photos and pricing. 

4x8 and milk crates and buckets.

Brilliant!  Love the idea.  I'll bet it's easy to redo your layout if you get board or just want to switch things around.

Ron

Be careful, 'cause when you get 'board' you just start lumbering around.

Unless you choose to go with a pre-made system such as Mianne, here are a few thoughts in no particular order...

Cutting at the home center - No matter how carefully you plan, and no matter how accurately the guy makes the cuts, it won't fit perfectly.  You are going to need to make a few cuts yourself.

You can build good benchwork using just a circular saw and power drill - minimal space is needed.  Spread some plastic dropcloths to contain the mess.

Ask at your local train store or train club, and see if there's someone you could pay to do the work.  You might even make some new train friends.  

Hire a carpenter to do it correctly with no mess on you part.

The 30" x 60" folding plastic tables are not that expensive. Get 4 for a 5' x 10'. Cover it with artificial turf\outdoor carpet.

You can drill holes and screw into it.

Check out forum member Flash layout. You can't tell what it's on. You will need a drill and screw driver or a drill\driver tool.

I want to just say thank you to all the members that responded....I'm trying to build this on shoestring budget...Does anyone have K-line snaptrack for sale?

Put a want ad up in the OGR Forum section.....LOTS of great folks here.....sure someone will have some!!

If you are doing this on a shoestring budget, then 2 of the suggestions above are for you, hollow core doors attached togrther on milk crates.

I'm on a pretty tight budget.  As mentioned, my layout is on folding tables.  We live in the house my wife's grandmother once owned.  She left her folding tables from her garage sales.  I picked out the sturdiest, not the flimsy old aluminum ones.  used tables can be found.  I really like the milk crate and bucket idea.  I have read where some guys have visited building sites and asked for scrap lumber the builders were throwing away.  That goes for foam insulation too.