New Layout Build- Final tie coloring added (Pics added 4-15-17)

Chris.

I'll say one thing you won't have any worries about standing on it!

Good solid job the way baseboards should be built. Thanks for posting. Roo.

Great work!

It seems that carpentry has no secret for you!!

Impatient to see the progress on this layout!!

jpv in France

Looking good!

Peter

Very nice work Chris. 

Looks great and I can't wait to see more pics. Hand laid track again?

It's a nice job your doing Chris! Bench work is a fun phase for me...always enjoyed it even back in the 1960's when my Father helped me build still using a handsaw and common straight slot screws and a hand screw driver to put it all together...the good old days

Good Luck!

Bob

Congratulations!  Getting started is the hardest part.

How did you find that many straight 2x4's?

Cheers,

Ed

Fantastic!  Assuming a ten foot width, a quick guesstimate suggests a total layout perimeter of 132 feet or 1.2 O Gauge miles.  What seems like a large space shrinks rapidly when attempting a quasi-prototypical layout.  Please show us your track plan!

Hmm, nice and strong! Now, for some termites.....

Thanks guys!

Malcolm- All of the turnouts will be and a good portion of the rest, some will be Atlas or ME.

Bob-I know what you mean, I enjoy it also.

Ed-I have a buddy that's a general contractor...

Rapid Transit Holmes-Thank you, the width at the far end is 12 feet, length is 44 feet. There is also another portion that will be 22'X12", the layout is a "L" shape.  I will put up a track plan here when I get a chance, I put it up in another thread I started a couple weeks ago...I just hand drew one which works for my mind...

Chris,

   Very nice sir, drive on, with your construction!  Wish I had that kind of space to leave up a permanent layout!

PCRR/Dave

Chris, the benchwork is fantastic!  Keep the photos coming!

Thanks guys...heading down to plug away at some more of it.

Chris,

Fantastic benchwork!! I have a 50ftx17ft area with water heater,furnace in the way,yes sump pump area too. The full area width is 25ft,but it has a 4 tier shelving all the way around. So far,I'm working on one 50ft run. My wife has the rest of the area pretty full as we had to have a place for the things from her house which also includes the living room,garage,& most other rooms. 

O scale,in my eyes,fills that area up pretty fast. JMO.

Al Hummel

Looks great so far. I will be following along to watch your progress. I like these build threads.

Alan Hummel posted:

Chris,

Fantastic benchwork!! I have a 50ftx17ft area with water heater,furnace in the way,yes sump pump area too. The full area width is 25ft,but it has a 4 tier shelving all the way around. So far,I'm working on one 50ft run. My wife has the rest of the area pretty full as we had to have a place for the things from her house which also includes the living room,garage,& most other rooms. 

O scale,in my eyes,fills that area up pretty fast. JMO.

Al Hummel

Thank you, 50 feet....now that's a great space to work with!. ... I know what you mean about the Mrs. mine seems to acquire things at a rapid rate...  You are right about O scale...it eats space fast, but I love it.  

rtr12 posted:

Looks great so far. I will be following along to watch your progress. I like these build threads.

Thanks, I'll post updates often, I always like build threads to.  I always like seeing how folks get to the finished product...not that they are ever finished but you know.... 

Great start Chris. When you get to wiring let me know :-)

N&W Class J posted:

rtr12 posted:

Looks great so far. I will be following along to watch your progress. I like these build threads.

Thanks, I'll post updates often, I always like build threads to.  I always like seeing how folks get to the finished product...not that they are ever finished but you know.... 

Sounds great, I will be following along. I agree with your thoughts on the build threads too! Plus, I learn a lot along the way. Good luck!

The Bench work reminds me of the "Great Southern" Lorell Joiner's masterpiece. I was a great fan of his Railroad still have all his articles right back to 1977 showing how he built his Bench work. Look forward to your progress in the future.

Roo.

railroad-guy posted:

Great start Chris. When you get to wiring let me know :-)

Oh you better believe I will.

Ok guys, today's project was building the swing out section.  I began by building another section of bench work on the far wall that I would use as the pivot point for the swing out.  Once that was done I built the actual swinging section and it was attached to the fixed bench work with a piano hinge, to carry the weight of the section itself I added legs with wheels attached to allow for it to swing around.  I need to add bracing to those legs for stability and tweak things a bit but overall it functions perfectly.  I built it this way as it was easier for 1 thing and 2 fits with the open grid idea just fine.  More updates coming.....  I also will make a video soon showing this opening/closing ect.

Piano Hinge attached to next section of bench work. 

New bench work section with swing out built and in place, this is all open grid and the track will be on risers on the bench work and swing out section.

My old bent level represents loosely where the track will be, below it eventually will be a field/pond. 

A shot from the new section looking back 

Same view slightly different angle

Partially open, legs are in temporarily for a test, I will fit them properly tomorrow and add bracing to them.

And open, when the 2X4's are gone it will be able to swing a bit further, the legs are just in there temporarily for a test, I will fit them properly tomorrow and add bracing.

Another over all shot

Thanks Tom,

If I need to ever make any changes by the circuit breakers I will be able to without too much trouble. There is more room there now than what the pictures appear to show.  I had to have enough room for me and I'm not a small guy....I like my cheeseburgers....

Hey Chris I bet it works kinda like this 

Clem k

Yes, it sure does.  

This is great seeing you back on track again. The quality of the benchwork looks great. I'm sure the rest will be great as well judging from your previous layouts.

Looking great Chris!!

christopher N&W posted:

This is great seeing you back on track again. The quality of the benchwork looks great. I'm sure the rest will be great as well judging from your previous layouts.

Thank you Chris.  I am really excited about it all!  

Thank you BOBBYD. 

TomTee- The National Electrical Code mandates a 36" X 36" clear space, from the floor to above the panel, for clearance to work in the panel. Not a problem if it's less, unless you are having work inspected.

Chris- looking good so far.

Bob

RSJB18 posted:

Chris- looking good so far.

Bob

 

Thank you Bob.

Here are a few more update pics, these are from the lower portion of the L.  Bracing has been added for the back drop and more will follow.  I will add a few more photos later this evening.

Just a few more...bench work is 98% completed.  On to finishing the masonite for the back drop and the lift up tomorrow. 

What a super space, grand progress!

Looks like we get to live vicariously through Chris.  Such is the plight of an O Scaler with no available space.

Thanks for sharing Chris.

Jay

Looking good.

If for any reason you think you ever might want that ceiling to "disappear" by painting it black, now would be  a good time.  Don't ask me how I know this <g>.

...gregg

Thanks guys.

Hokie71- I'm glad I have the space, but it will fill up quick.

JAYC- I do that every time I see some of the other excellent layouts on this forum...

Gregg, thank you...I'm going to leave the ceiling alone, black would look good but the Mrs would tend to disagree with that....

'Fascinated by this benchwork! very fine and accurate; a great work! 

jpv in France

Thank you.  The bench work on my old layout was OK but the height was wrong  (for me anyway) and it was pieced together, these sections may be separated if need be.  And by comparison this one is much nicer overall.  I'm putting the rest of the masonite up now and then I'll be moving on to cutting plywood for the sub roadbed.

Finished up around the dang Lally column....I swear there is always 1 ya know...  bench work is complete, lift up section is built I just need to put it in place tomorrow.  Just a few more pics of the corner by the column and a long shot...thank fully there is plenty of room for the track to pass.

Time to start cleaning up so I have room to work on the plywood.....