Nice fit up around that pole! I am gathering from some of the posts here that you have some top notch help with you too, very hard (maybe impossible) to beat that kind of pro quality help. You will have track and trains running in no time now!
Yes, that's the only reason I'm anywhere near this far along. 
Now only will the trains be running, but I think the layout will have a unique flair that many don't. I'm getting pretty pumped to get some track down.
Excellent progress John! That is great Tom is helping out!
Using the angle and extending the edges when cut out the post section was a great idea John, much stronger than what I would come up with. I think you missed a spot with a clamp though, I saw too much wood showing
I'm afraid all the good ideas aren't mine, but I'll get to enjoy them when we're done. Mark, it's truthfully more like I'm helping out, for layout building Tom is the 16" gun here. I have moved a lot of wood around...
Unique flair indeed! With the assistant and assistance you have here it's guaranteed to be spectacular!
Here's some more progress pictures. We've done a lot of cutting, and also some planning and reconfiguration of how the track will be laid. This is also the post that the track will come around on the one end.
The hole in the center is the "command" station. 
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Wow you guys are making a lot of progress , and it's looking real good.
Alex
Looking Great John; Tom is a master at building layouts. I have seen his work at Jack Malley's home.
The guy does spectacular work. And he's a nice guy Too.
If I only had the space, Id be calling on Tom for his help as well.
Really looking good John
Franky-Ogee
Great updates. I like the use of the rounded or curved corners so as to lessen that annoying pain when your side hits a sharp edge as you move about the layout.
I would have never thought of all the rounded corners if it weren't for Tom, but I can see the effect will be stunning! There will be very few straight sides when we're done.
Looking good!!
Yes John, I see now that now! Great Job, Tom!!
Have you snuck a loop of track on it to run a train yet John? 
Looking really good, good luck...
No trains running yet Ron, but I'm eager to see that happen.
I’m enjoying the show, keep up the good work. The benchwork is beautiful.
Morning John, I just got done catching up with your thread. I don't know if you and Tom are building a layout our a master piece of art, in my eyes it looks as to be both! I sure hope you are taking lots of pictures for your record and future magazine article ! Looks great and best of luck as you move forward! I will be trying to do a better job keeping up with the build!
I can say with Tom's eye, the layout will be far and away more impressive than anything I could have whacked out myself. Clearly, being a woodworking craftsman is key to getting a great result here, something that I never claimed to be.
John,
As a former framer, my experience with lumber made it a no brainer to build with studs, 1x3 and dimensional along with sanded 3/4 plywood. I was not sure how to make the curved edges so stayed with square edges, the final product was enjoyable, but like many I would definitely change a few things and add a second layer to it. Tom is definitely a finish carpenter with loads of talent.
I will pitch in also with praise and admiration of Tom's expertise not just on your layout but on many other topics where he has shared photos. With a hand saber saw and no sander, my curved cuts have only been for roadbed that is covered up with scenery. Covered, the sooner the better!!
The final shape is made, Monday we'll nail everything down. Next comes the Homasote and then the fascia. We do have to put the top on the upper deck, that's the last of the plywood.
All the outside profile is set. One of the neat features is virtually no straight lines, it'll all be graceful curves. Once the fascia is on, I think it's going to look outstanding, I can't wait! It may look too good to run trains on! Well... not really. 
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That looks beautiful John! Please post pictures when you're putting the fascia on because I like to see how that's done with the curves involved and I know Tom is a master Carpenter so I'd love to learn cuz I'm getting ready to start mine and I need all the tips I could get. Good luck its looking good.
John,
The surface of the layout is beautiful, looks like furniture grade workmanship. It'll be tough to cover it up but its looks will be no deterrent. As for the railroad, you've mentioned changes and offered a rough sketch but I wonder if you would post the latest iteration of your track diagram. Enquiring minds want to know!
When the bench work looks this good you know the end result is going to be something special. John, this is absolutely grand and I can't wait to see the progress from this point on. Thanks for sharing this with us.
Dave
Looking real good, John!
Peter
Thank you all for the kind words, however IME the most essential material component is the 5' X 5' X 1/2" Birch multi-ply. Lacking that level of decking integrity we would have potato chips at this point. Another positive aspect of this 5' X 5' multi-ply is how it works in over hanging the Mianne bench work which otherwise frequently leaves a linear half of the perimeter bench work frame exposed.
Building with multi-ply allows reverse construction in that I usually built the bench work frames then over lay them with some form of skin. Because this plywood is like a surface plate it allows one to free form the desired finished layout shape then fabricate the frame accordingly.
Tom Tee posted:Thank you all for the kind words, however IME the most essential material component is the 5' X 5' X 1/2" Birch multi-ply. Lacking that level of decking integrity we would have potato chips at this point. Another positive aspect of this 5' X 5' multi-ply is how it works in over hanging the Mianne bench work which otherwise frequently leaves a linear half of the perimeter bench work frame exposed.
Building with multi-ply allows reverse construction in that I usually built the bench work frames then over lay them with some form of skin. Because this plywood is like a surface plate it allows one to free form the desired finished layout shape then fabricate the frame accordingly.
This is a really key point that I didn't realize when I built my layout with Mianne.......48x96 is more like 50x100....that extra inch and three quarters is a huge bonus that I didn't take advantage of.... I will on my rebuild.
Peter
I'll be posting more pictures as we go, it's really fascinating to see this take shape and how it all goes together. It's pretty clear that I was probably not going to end up with something nearly as nice without a professional eye, so I'm forever thankful Tom is on the case. I wouldn't have tackled this design alone as I'm pretty sure I don't have the skills to pull it off!
Really taking shape John! ....you’ve got to be stoked!....maybe it’s been mentioned before, and I just didn’t catch it???.......what’s the plan for the pillar(s) .....possibilities could be seemingly endless??.............Pat
harmonyards posted:...what’s the plan for the pillar(s) .....possibilities could be seemingly endless??.............Pat
Well, Tom was eyeing them and waving his Sawzall around, but I had to stop him. They are just cosmetic at it turns out, but I'd have to fix the flooring and carpet to remove them, so they stayed. I'm sure I'll be able to figure something out in time to "dress them up".
"They are just cosmetic", in that case chop the babies off flat at the deck and leave the bottom half intact, problem solved. 
Seriously, that is one fine looking layout. If you happen to change your mind that sure would be one great looking bar top, think of the parties.
Hi John,
I have been off the forum for a while due to work and home projects and just saw your posting here. What a great layout and new place to move to! hard to believe it's a condo you're doing a great job looking forward to seeing updates as you go along. Also love everyone's posts on this thread as there are a lot of great ideas for me to incorporate in mine.👍👏.
Joe Gozzo
One thing not that apparent so far is that John thoughtfully included the knee saving Mianne powered layout lift up entrance. So this is a real walk in layout.
Tom,
Not having to crawl under a layout is long term planning, the throttle time will be ten fold being a walk in vs duck under.
I built my layout in a E shape just so I didn't have to do a lift out or duck under.
Congrats John, that's going to be spectacular! Seeing all that space is mind blowing. I find myself switching back and forth between pictures, just thinking of the possibilities. Any idea of a completion date yet, or you just going to "let it flow"?
Lion
Lookin' good John. You and Tom have done a great job. You do have one advantage over some of us as well....A nice, well lit, AIR CONDITIONED room to work in. Sure beats my old northeastern basement!
Looking forward to seeing some track and trains soon. I like the curved look as well. Should give you some nice opportunities for more realistic scenery. Not much in nature is square after all.
Bob
Lion L 226E posted:Congrats John, that's going to be spectacular! Seeing all that space is mind blowing. I find myself switching back and forth between pictures, just thinking of the possibilities. Any idea of a completion date yet, or you just going to "let it flow"?
Lion
Surely you know that a layout is never complete. Truthfully, I don't have a "firm" date for anything, just trying to get as far as fast as other commitments allow. The space is deceiving, the total length is 23 feet, and the width varies between about 13 feet on the big end to about 11 feet on the narrow end with the posts. It's big enough for me, that I know.
RSJB18 posted:Lookin' good John. You and Tom have done a great job. You do have one advantage over some of us as well....A nice, well lit, AIR CONDITIONED room to work in. Sure beats my old northeastern basement!
Looking forward to seeing some track and trains soon. I like the curved look as well. Should give you some nice opportunities for more realistic scenery. Not much in nature is square after all.
Bob
Yes, year around comfort is a nice thing. The curves are Tom's doing, I truthfully had not thought of that, but I think it really gives is a different and more realistic look. That's what happens if you've built a ton of layouts and have refined the techniques I guess.
Wow, I just looked at this thread 2-3 days ago. What a difference in such a short time. What workmanship!
Stunning!
Not to worry, I'm sure when Tom leaves that the progress will slow considerably.
