Look at my MRH Blog

The first entries show my construction methods. It is probably overkill but has served me well.

Simple shelf

Here's about as basic as they get. Cheap pressed metal brackets supporting narrow N scale benchwork. The shelf is 9 inches wide, the benchwork is 1X 4 pine with 1/2 inch plywood top, 1X4 cross members spaced roughly 16-24 inches apart depending on turnout location( for switch machine or blue point controller clearance)  The longitudinal ledger was there from a previous layout so I just set the new benchwork on it. If starting from scratch the benchwork rear longitudinal member could just be screwed to the wall at the stud locations, in which case the shelf brackets could be screwed directly to the wall instead of to the spacers in the photo.Backdrop is masonite brad nailed to wall, lighting is ceiling mounted track lights. ...DaveB 

more simple

Here's more of my N scale benchwork at a wider section, the shelf is 17 inches wide here. Note I use 2 X4 's to make a wider surface to attach the brackets. The Blue point controllers are screwed  in place but not wired to the black and white buss wires...... DaveB

more simple

More of the wider 17 inch wall. Benchwork sections are nail assembled with either long finish nails and hammer or with a nail gun depending on when I built them. The 1/2 inch plywood top is nailed solidly to the perimeter so the simple nailed framing is plenty strong enough. Looking at the photo I notice that the brackets are too wide to attach both upper  screws to a stud so even if the old layout ledger was not there one would need to add the plywood spacer pads to give something to screw the brackets to.....DaveB 

more simple

Here's the narrow staging shelf on the opposite wall, it's 7 inches wide which is plenty of width for 4 N scale tracks. There is a window well framed in back there a ways where the staging reduces to 3 tracks wide. The staging  is about 15 feet long so plenty of room for my short line trains to hang out till they are needed. I'm adding a backdrop and simple ballast and yard scenery to the staging so the trains sitting there will look more at home....

 DaveB

The other simple layout

Here's similar construction on my somewhat started layout in the work shop. It will be either S scale of HO scale but the benchwork will be the same for either one so I'm building it before I decide. It's about 12 inches wide here. The shop has unfinished stud walls so the shelf brackets are screwed directly to the studs. There is a double of 2 X4 nail gunned to the side of the stud extending from the top of the backdrop down to below the top of the metal shelf bracket so both side screws at the top of the bracket have solid wood to screw into, the double bottom is peeking out from behind the left bracket. The rear longitudinal member is screwed to the studs here and the cross member were turned flat to give a better bearing surface on the brackets.There will be a masonite fascia nailed to the front after all the sections are assembled. The curved gusset is a nailer for the fascia....DaveB

Heavy duty

This doesn't have a layout on it, but this is one of the strongest options:

This my production setup on the wall opposite my layout. You can imagine how heavy all of that gear is. The shelves are 16" deep. I like these brackets because:

• They are strong
• They go up fast, with minimum construction mess. I use a laser level to align them, but a bubble level and board will work too.
• The supports are out of the way and lack the knife edge feature of the cheap flat kind.
• They are flexible-- the increments are 1 1/4" inches, but you can fine tune the spacing with shims.
• They can easily be taken down and moved.
• They have minimum impact on walls. That whole assembly hangs on 12 2 inch #12 screws.
• They are prettier than most of the competition (important to the better half).

They are an expensive option, but I have seen things on this site that must cost twice as much in materials and time.

pqe

Another option for you

http://www.lkorailroad.com/benchwork-brackets/

Likewise...

Another option:

Benchwork brackets

Emerson to Letellier - Benchwork Brackets are Up!

These brackets were designed to be nearly invisible on the wall.

Brackets

Here's the bracket system for the staging deck on my layout currently under construction:

@Alan

@Alan,

That is gorgeous carpentry. What kind of wood are you using? And where did you get those shelf brackets?

John

Brackets and Wood

The wood is 3/4" birch plywood. The brackets are made by A&M Hardware. Follow the link in the post for details.

1" square tube

Great thread, guys!

This is fantastic, I'm about

This is fantastic,

I'm about to embark on building a new layout and this is some of the best info and advice I've seen yet on shelf mounting. Great examples and it's so good to see nice clear photos of some of the methods. 

Great job, I'll be watching this thread very closely.

cheers, Luke.

Ikea storage shelves

Hi,

just another option, I did see some pictures once of a layout being built on (an in) the shelves of Ikea storage shelves. They used the Ivar series racks and the shelves were used as layout base. That layout actually used several levels (connected by hand).

Also there was an article in this great magazine about a layout on Ikea shelves in a Dubai high-rise, AFAIR.

Have fun!

IKEA shelves...

Here is the article that discussed the IKEA shelving option:

https://forum.mrhmag.com/magazine-feedback-was-ezines-891776

​I remember seeing something from Scarpia in MRR last year I think, maybe year before as well.

I have been using the Ikea

I have been using the Ikea "Ivar" shelf system for my layout(s). 

Its cheaper then trying to buy quality pine. 

Little labor in setting it up; Don't have to be a carpenter. Dont have to drill the walls. 

It easy breaks down if you have to move; Currently breaking down for my 3rd move. 

The widths and heights are perfect. 

My version

Here is my version,

Inspired from another local modeler who did his whole layout like this.

Cheap, takes some time, but fits exactly, rock solid.  I will use them on a narrow shelf part of my layout that will be about 20' long.

John

Don't discount wood brackets

John's pictures above reminded me of yet another option for you. Wood brackets work well providing the wood used is chosen correctly. Use hardwood, not pine.

Here I used them to suspend hidden track. They are very strong and rigid. The camera angle makes them appear closely spaced. They are actually on roughly 16" centers.

I built

1x2 frames and covered them with 2 layers of foam. They rest on L-brackets.

This supports....

This area:

This supports....

This:

Just a couple of examples.

Terry in NW Wisconsin

Oops, don't know what

Oops, don't know what happened there.

Terry in NW Wisconsin

1x2 frames and covered them

1x2 frames and covered them with 2 layers of foam. They rest on L-brackets.

This supports....

This area:

This supports....

This:

Just a couple of examples.

Terry in NW Wisconsin

[MODERATOR Fixed it for you]

@ Terry

Use the "direct" link code from photo bucket and paste it into the URL box on the image insert dialog on MRH.