Sievers vs Mianne Bench work

I can only comment on the Mianne benchwork since that is what I used to build my layout.  It really couldn't be easier to build.  For the most part I could work sitting in a chair and assembling section by section.

If you are considering Sievers you may also want to consider OGR forum sponsor Model Railroad Benchwork.  It is constructed similar to Sievers but he uses all quality, multi-layered plywood.

I'm not a customer but I have built my own benchwork in similar fashion, plywood 1x4's and pocket screws instead of screwing into the ends like boards. You can add plywood as a top as you wish, cookie cutter or solid deck. It's strong, I get up on it all the time.

I do know Mianne requires a plywood top as it is designed to complete the integrity of the bench, but it is probably the easiest to assemble with the twist locks.

A 3 x 8 table from Mianne costs $379 and you must add top plywood so maybe another $80. $459

A 3 x 8 from Model Benchwork costs $150 and 4 x $35 for legs.  That's $290. If we add the plywood top, it gets to $370.

A 3x8 from Sievers costs about $165 and 4 x 37 for legs. $313 plus $80. $393.

I used Mianne Bench for my layout.  It goes together real easily.  But the plus is he uses Poplar wood which has a  high density making it very water resistant which is a plus as my layout is in the basement of my home.  I went with Mianne bench work and could not be more pleased.

I think you're be fine with any of the above mentioned choices, I happened to go with Mianne as I got a good deal on a big lot of it.  That made my 12 x 24 layout considerably cheaper than if I had to buy all of it at list prices from any of the sources.

Fortunately, I am not counting on the water resistant nature of Poplar, even being in the basement.

I can only speak for Mianne. I love the system, easy to expand and change the layout design. Another plus was we built a house and upon sale of the old home I disassembled the bench work boxed it up and reassembled it in the new home.
I have been using Mianne products for about 7-8 years now. Tim provides exceptional customer service. My current layout size is 10’x32’ which I recently finished changing. For me and my hack job of carpentry skills Mianne fits my needs. Matt

Good point on changing the layout.  I moved my lift-bridge, closed up some of the inside opening, and expanded one end of the layout after I got the initial design from Tim, it was painless to make the changes.  Once you've spend an hour or so working on it, you feel like an old hand.

Actually, all three systems are made of modular units so they can all be rearranged. I agree Mianne is probably quickest to work with, but the other two are also pre-drilled kits and don't require skills beyond a screw driver. Putting a top surface on all of them is about the same but Mianne's parts are a bit thinner than 3/4".  Sievers and Model Railroad offer curve sections. I have no worries about the arctic/baltic birch plywood, it is very stable, and not cheap. I preferred it to 1x4 lumber,

Tony:

If you go to Mianne's website: https://miannebenchwork.com/ you will see the layout I put together with Mianne's benchwork (4 photos) just above the words "our catalog". I originally bought parts and built a layout 12' X 30' in my basement in Pennsylvania. In 2014 I took the layout down, packed up and moved benchwork to California where I designed a new 12' X 17' layout and put together the Mianne parts after staining all since layout is in the living space of my home. Four years later, I took apart the layout and downsized to a 9' X 9' layout using the many of the same Mianne parts.

In other words, Mianne benchwork is very easy to work with, takes stain well, easily reconfigured and looks great!

Highly recommended!

Happy railroading!

Stan

Thanks to everyone for all you comments, much appreciated.

@pandw posted:

Looking for pro/con comments on these two bench work modes; cost, ease of assembly, etc.

Thanks

Tony

Go to YouTube and look up Sean's Trains. He assembled a Std Gauge Layout in a room upstairs, using the Mianne. Looks really easy!

Joe Gozzo

I haven't used either but would lean towards Sievers only because the top of the layout (plywood) is integral with the sides, and the legs are separate. I want to build my layout in sections, and if I used Mianne then every time I had to move my layout I would need to unscrew the plywood from the leg/side rail assemblies to move it. That wouldn't be good for me.