I'm working on a new layout right now from the ground up as a move has facilitated this necessary transition.  This new layout is in a truely temporary place, a storage unit, and so I am trully working on enforcing the modular concept this time around.  This has been very difficult because past layouts started out with modular intentions but quickly became solid one piece fixtures to better facilitate overall layout integrity.

L-Girder Benchwork has been very popular and for good reason: it is strong, sturdy, and easily built.  In the long run, however, it appears L-girder is best for large stationary layouts that stay home.  The hobby today appears to be more piqued towards people coming together at train meets and not just bringing their trains but bringing their layouts too!  As such, L-girder starts looking a bit outmoded and it is time benchwork evolves to meet the needs of the future.

Today we have a large influx of Modular layout sections that appear to highlight the simple box construction element found in the earlier L-girder table tops.  The rest of the layout from the floor down takes on a new role and with it a new form that deserves discussion.

The Framework for a modular layout may be as simple as four legs under the module.  The legs may be bolted in place, although the layout could feature more complicated rigging such as PVC Pip Pockets that allow for easily attachable legs held in by pins.  The most complicated modules feature foldable legs that simple reside inside the module during travel and fold down at the drop of the hat where ever the Model Railroad Affectionado happens to be.  Legs that separate from the module can become difficult to keep orderly, but foldable legs can add weight where weight is not desired.  Two car trips, the first with the legs and other operating materials like locomotives, cars, and powerpacks, and the second with the layout, may be easier.

My benchwork fills two functions; the first and foremost funtion actually has very little to do with model railroading.   My storage unit will benefit from having storage shelves around the perimeter, at about 36", the natural height of a stack before the bottom box starts deforming from the weight of those above.  These shelves resemble modules themselves, each one being two feet by four feet.  The layout itself can be higher, as this is the storage unit and not the primary exhibition space.  I found my layout height by starting at the ceiling of my storage unit and counting down 24", the height of my backdrop, and as such, my module height is at 60."  The backdrop is worth mentioning because this time I will build my backdrop in the early phases of construction and in a consistant modular manner like the rest of my layout.  Indeed, in this setting the backdrop provides a necessary vertical plane to stabilize the hortizontal planes that are both the Lower shelf and the upper layout modules.

I used these three parameters, the sectional modular shelf, the layout module, and the backdrop module to concieve a framework that would hold them all up.  The end result resembles an "h" tower with a lower stabilizing crosbar between the legs.  The staff of the "h" holds the backdrop and the lower stabilizer holds up the work shelf; I then attached a beam rail along the apex of the lap curve, trueing up and straightening the overall shelf format.  I fastened both in a firm manner as if I was not planning on quickly relocating either because these features are first and foremost structural organization for the storage unit. The lap of the "h" holds the layout modules by gravity first and by a couple screws second; the screws are a momentary stabilizer against any unthinkable accidents.  Once the screws are removed, the Module can be lifted up and removed completely.  I can then take my module home and work on it, or take it to a show, or throw it away completley because I really screwed up on it!

At this point my reader may stop and appear perplexed, for my layout framework obviously cannot come with us.  Here I offer a couple solutions. 

First, we could spend roughly $15.00 a leg and get them from Ikea.  This store specializes in selling furniture heardware components in kit format and is not below selling each little piece separate.  These legs consist of a pad held onto a convention table top by five screws.  Once this pad is attached to the surface, a leg scres into the tapped centerhole.  These legs can then be extended anywhere between roughly 20" to 40," facilitating the full array of heights we mgiht encounter on the road.  While we are at Ikea, we could also look at their hollow core materials, as this place has a very large array of the material and if we were going this route, this could be a good source.  This is a very nice route, and while the pads themself are relatively cheap, the legs could get expensive and fast!

A second mode would see us constructing a second set of shelf supports and in effect creating a second shelf set altogether.  This set would be quite different then the first as it would be "n" brackets instead of "h" brackets.  My logic here is that the backdrop becomes quite useless in a setting where people can be on either side of the module and it might even inhibit the exchange of communication between people discussing the module.  As such, the backdrop is simply left on the 'h" brackets in the storage unit or in the home layout pen once that area is established.  The "n" brackets would also be shorter, making them easier to put in the car, and they would be strung together by some combination of quick crossbracing.  Once complete, Modules could then be placed on top of the brackets.

Overall, I do not know how the "n" bracket part of this operation works in practice, but the "h" bracket appears to work very well.  The shelving in my storage unit is nearly complete and it already looks much better then when I started.  Now all I need to do it clear all those things I set on the modules and I might be able to build the next railroad!