well , i went "over the top" no turning back now

I always enjoy getting started.  But, I would NOT use 1/2 SHEETROCK (Drywall) for the top.  It would be noisy among other problems.

Use plywood or OSB, with or without Homasote board on top. Sheetrock will not hold track screws, dusty to work with.

I will second the 'don't use sheetrock for the top' suggestion. This will be something you will soon regret. Use plywood, at least 1/2" thick plywood. If you have a wide span between leg supports you might want to use 3/4" plywood or add more legs to support the framework.

At some point you will be climbing on top of your layout, you need to make it strong enough to hold the weight of the heaviest person that might get on the layout plus the weight of all the layout items and then add in a safety factor of maybe half again as much.

I'm no structural engineer, but you definitely don't want your layout collapsing if someone climbs on it, so it needs to be fairly sturdy and strong.

Congrats!  What a great feeling!

You have a nice space to work with also!  should be interesting.

Let's see a track plan when you take a break from the bench work!

To me this is the most exciting time in the layout building process.....have fun!

Alan

I used 2" foam as a base and it works great. Just make sure the cross supports are about every four feet. 

I do agree do not use dry wall. 

The hardest part was starting the project, I kept developing the final track plan as the layout was being built even though I had a starting track overall plan, sometimes what was preliminary sketched was impractical in construction and ideas changed as the layout was being built, this is what makes this hobby enjoyable, you decide whether you want a small, moderate or large scale layout with crossovers, sidings, mainline and local service track interchanges, elevations, switch/classification yards, industries, towns, roads, signaling, period or non-period time of layout, control panel(s),wiring,scenery.etc., enjoy your project.     

update...   just about done with the benchwork and im thinkng about track. at first i was going the route of atlas 21st century, but after comparing price with gargraves, its a no brainer. i can save some serious money which can be spent elswhere and IMO the gargraves phantom looks just as good. now as far as running arrangements, i was leaning toward conventional , but more i think now , i am wanting to run up to 4 trains at once and with the complexity of my layout, i think convetional would be out of control. if the topic of control systems has been beat to death excuse me but i have some general questions that i know you guys can answer to take out any guesswork and possibly un-needed purchases.

1. what system is the best for my requirements of running 4 trains / two mainlines / two inter-twined levels. i want to buy the right equipment the first time. also any sources for the best deals on these.

2. can someone explain the concept / operation of the various operating systems and bennefits of each.. possibly recommending the best all around system

3. i see the high prices of locomotives... but notice some of the more inexpensive bachmann units out there for $150 or so. due to cost , these are my first options. can these lower priced models be run with the various control systems? what do i have to do to adapt them .. and is it difficult. i dont want to get into soldering circuit boards etc etc.  what locomotives can i run to take advantage of a particular control system / which system has best selection etc. i see many mth with the dcs system are available, but can lets say a lionel be used with the same stsyem and take advantage of the features of the control system?

thanks

You asked the train control question... So I should just get my popcorn out!

First, I'm hoping you moved away from wallboard as every cut will be a mess. Wood shaving blow or vacuum away. Wallboard dust is evil.

But seriously. I started with DCS and really like it. The speed control is awesome. The locos are great and for many engines with flywheels you can put in an upgrade kit for about 180, if you do it yourself. Also, each TIU (DCS control unit) comes with 2 channels that allow you to run conventional.

I do plan on buying a Lionel system that is DCS compatible, but don't "need" it yet. The reason I am going to buy the Lionel control is because there are aftermarket upgrades, that cost less than the DCS upgrades and can be used in smaller loco and locos that lack a flywheel. 

Since I have a control system that satisfies my need right now, I am hoping that bluetooth RC, or some DCC-like unified control system develops, in the next 2 to 5 years and allow me to skip the Lionel and go to the future (but I'm not holding my breath).

once the layout takes shape, i found some nice backdrops from a source on ebay that i will most likely use. i kind of want to leave that until last due the the fact my plans may change as to where urban / rural areas are etc etc. i did end up going with the 1/2 inch ply for the topping. im now scooping up various lots of gargraves phantom track on ebay (trying to gather this before i start having to pay retail). now as for the locos, will the legacy system work with dcs engines and vice/versa? this is what im trying to get a handle on before i start shelling out for equipment. if an engine says its equiped with protosound 2 or three , does that mean it is also equiped for dcs operationas well?  im really a noob as far as that is concerned but want to understand.

The Williams (WBB) engines you are looking at are all conventional only. WBB has announced a Bluetooth system to control their HO items that has not yet been released. After releasing it for HO, they said they may also offer it for O gauge. I believe costs are also unknown at this time.

While budgets are a consideration I personally think selections should be made on what you like and want to have and are able to live with on your layout. These are usually very long term projects and choices made now can come to be big regrets in the future. Thinks should be carefully thought out. Compromises will usually and almost always have to be made.

Now for the more expensive engines.

Any of the Lionel command control systems will run any Lionel engine with command control capabilities or in conventional mode with added equipment. Legacy will operate all the Legacy features in Legacy engines, the other Lionel systems will not. Lionel equipment will run MTH engines in conventional mode only, no command control features of any kind are available.

DCS will run MTH engines in conventional or command control (PS2 or PS3) mode and  will also run Lionel engines in conventional mode. If you add the proper Lionel equipment to your DCS system you can run Lionel command engines in TMCC mode only, not Legacy mode. No Legacy specific features will be available.

As stated above by L.I. Train, having both systems is the best way to go. That way you can run any engine from any manufacturer and be able to take advantage of all the features available in any of them. Selecting only one of the systems will have limitations no matter what you do. You will probably end up with both sooner or later if you stay in the hobby long enough.

If you must choose only one, I would select it on whatever engines I liked best and planned to have the most of. The DCS system would probably allow the most versatility, providing you purchase the necessary Lionel equipment to go with it to make it all function properly together.

As a side note, you can do everything you want using conventional control. It will be a little more complicated (personal opinion here). I can't tell you exactly how to do it without quite a bit of further study, but there are folks here that do this and can probably assist you with it. It was the way they did it before command control systems were available. Some very ingenious things can be done. Then you could use the Williams engines.

The hobby has many good repair techs that can do all your circuit board soldering and repairs no matter which items you choose to go with. Man are right here on this forum and post here on a regular basis, many of them are here daily.

rtr12.. thanks!  thats the clarification im looking for. yes i am mindfull of the future of the layout , thats why im looking for good guidance now as to what system to go with. i would like to take advantage of the uncoupling feature on some engines, and some other features. yes, i now have to do some comparison on whats available with what system.   when you say "add the proper lionel equipment to your DCS system" .. what equipment are you refering to?  also "The DCS system would probably allow the most versatility, providing you purchase the necessary Lionel equipment to go with it to make it all function properly together."  what necessary linel equipment are you talking about?

will the legacy system be able to operate the linoell TMCC? i believe you may have said this so pardon me if so. basically, if i go this way , i want the top of the heap , so i have choices within the other op systems i.e. if i go legacy , i can take advantage of the TMCC engines as well , not the other way around...

also , do these sytems operate the trains as a radio control basically? im trying to understand the concept behind them

thanks

I have both systems, Legacy and DCS. I operate them separately, each with their own specific engines, they are not connected for cross control. I have no TMCC engines. So I am not up on exactly what is needed to do all you ask about. That's why I just said 'equipment'. Maybe others will clarify here as to what is actually needed to tie them all together and what is needed for controlling TMCC with a Legacy system etc.

Here is a good video that explains what does what better than I can. Might help with the other equipment too. Lots of other good info on Eric's youtube channel as well. He is also an OGR forum sponsor.

Eric's Trains TMCC/Legacy/DCS

All systems (Legacy/TMCC/DCS) are wireless.

Hi Domer94, 

      If I were to do my layout again, I would put Homasote over the plywood.  I, too, am a fan of the GarGraves phantom rail, but I had a lot of O27 tubular from my childhood, so I only used a few pieces of the GarGraves.  I know the Homasote is a little expensive, but what it does to soften the noise is very much worth every cent, especially with a concrete floor and block walls.  With your children, the track noise may interfere with activities and sleeping in the rest of the house.  I very seriously regret not using the Homasote, and I would use the real stuff, not a substitute or another brand.  Just my 2 cents!  I also run conventionally.

     Good Luck!

Take care, Joe.

X 2 on the homasote!

It's the base of your layout, don't scrimp here on cost.  Much more enjoyable when you can talk with 4 trains running!

would cork roadbed achieve the same result?

Cork will add some quieting, I don't know how that compares to Homasote though? Never have personally made the comparison. Search around here on the forum, there are others here that have reported using products similar to Homasote and been satisfied with the results.

Drywall?? Are you pulling our leg?

3/4" plywood, Homosote, cork roadbed.

haha...  my first layout as a kid was an HO on a 4 x 8 piece of what i thought was drywall at the time....  recommended by a local hobby shop.  this was probably 1979 or so

BASIC BENCHWORK DONE !!  im pleased with the way it turned out..  now i can begin with track on the lower base level. the other pieces of ply on top will be the rough locations of the second level areas but i still need more wood to build up the second main level over the large turnaround portion. ive already changed from my original plan to have the main line on a third level , i will now have it run on the second height around the back wall , then slowly upgrade on tressles towards the bridge over the duck-under. the large area will have o-72 and the other end of the horseshoe will have an o-54 so at least i can run bigger stuff around the whole layout. the mainline will have 0-90 turns on all 4 corners. here are some pics... adn one of my "helper"

the 0-54 turnaround area

the 0-72 turnaround area. urban area and terminal will be on top of this. there will be a perimeter track that will be seen through an open "tunnel " all around the table

my helper

now , i saw some "tack strip " track bed stuff on the woodland scenics site that looked interesting. has anybody used this? they say it eliminates the need for nails and the balast can be applied right to it as well. its either that or the woodland scenics trackbed that i will use.

Hi Domer. 

Impressed with your progress and your 4 legged supervisor.

Enjoy the journey.

Frank

I would put some pink or blue foam board on top of that plywood..its cheaper than homasote, more forgiving and deaden sounds nicely..

but thats just me