I have had some request to share the design of my free standing modules. I had a few criteria for my new layout.

1. Since the layout will be in a spare bedroom it will be a round-the-walls design. The space is 10 feet against the back wall and 14 feet against the side wall in an L shape design.

2. I will be moving in the next few years and I hope to take it with me, so the modules must be free standing and come apart. The bedroom door opening is 28 inches with the door open, therefore the depth of the modules must be less than 28 inches including the backdrop.

3. The bedroom is upstairs and there is a curve to the stairs. Careful measuring indicated that the modules can not exceed 6 feet to get around the bend and over the banister. 

4. A friend of mine is also building a layout and he used the shadowbox design with an integrated backdrop and overhead. So we decided that would be the way to go.

The layout is constructed of 4 modules. One 6 foot, one 4x4 foot corner module and two 5 foot modules. The depth of the modeling surface is 24 inches with 3 inches for the backdrop and supporting structure. We used cabinet grade plywood for rigidity and stability. 

I hope this helps answer some of your questions.

--Bill Beverly

Here is a shot of the early side plywood cuts. Basically we cut a big C in the plywood, here we have several plywood sections held together. One the right is the bottom with the holes drilled to pass wires through. The bottom section is actually the vertical support for the backdrop, giving me 24 inches. To the left will be the overhead support. 

Here is a shot of one of the modules in the early stage where the bottom box is coming together.

Next the bottom box is constructed and ribs are inserted with wire holes. The backdrop and overhead boards are attached which gives a lot of strength. A top valance is attached to keep everything straight.

The corner module was a little tricky because it had to have a removable backdrop to get the module up the stairs. It was very important that everything is square.

This shot shows how the backdrop fits into the corner module. All modules are bolted together and there are alignment pins to make sure things are aligned.

Simple legs are constructed with bolts on the feet to level the layout on the floor. The bedroom has carpet, so blocks were put on the carpet and the bolts where used to micro adjust the height.

Here is a shot of the modules for a first fitting. The tops are plywood with Homasote on top. When the track is laid the plywood and Homasote will be cut and risers will be added to raise and lower the trackbed.

The backdrops received their first painting and staining of the valance and lights are added.

The results of all this gave me modules that are freestanding, transportable when moving and "no wall brackets or damage to the walls."

Final wide shot of the modules installed in the bedroom.

Hope this helps. Questions?

Here is a link to my Flickr account with shots of my friend Charlies layout in the beginning and my layout under construction at the bottom. You can click on any of the pictures for a larger view and then use the right arrow to move to the next picture.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/23101722@N06/albums/72157648138830274/with/16561787423/

Cheers Bill.