Benchwork - Roadbed

Benchwork Grid for spline Railroad

Hi All -- im busy designing the benchwork for the restart of my San Luis and Rio Grande.  This version is going to be constructed with spline subroadbed and cork roadbed (plywood and homosate for yards and staging etc) with some form of hard shell for scenery.  Benchwork will be 2x2 pine with 1x risers to support the spline.

Im wondering what the spacing of the gridwork should be?  I want to have sufficient room to drill runs through the cross pieces, and also want to be able to get sufficient support under the spline

Layout surface that allows track adjustments, and also scenery carving

The problem:

I'm pondering how to build an industrial switching shelf layout.  What I want to start with is a plain flat surface on which to lay the track, because I want to be able to go through a few iterations moving things around a bit before I get the track layout exactly the way I want it.  Once I get the track layout "nailed down" so to speak, I would like to be able to carve drainage ditches and other minor variations in ground level into whatever it is I've laid the track on.

smadanek's picture

Elmer's Foamcore Enhancement

I am looking for opinions and constructive advice on my planned subroadbed and roadbed methodology for my new layout.

Matt Forcum's picture

Layout Update #6 - Buried in Benchwork: Part 2

It's been a while since I've posted a solid update on the progress of the layout itself. Well, I've gotten quite a bit done in recent months and I share it with everyone in the latest update video.

 

railandsail's picture

Incline/Decline 'foam risers', Create Custom Grade

I know of the Woodland Scenics foam risers, but I have never actual had occasion to use them.
https://woodlandscenics.woodlandscenics.com/show/item/INCLDECLSET

When I looked them up I found they were only available in set grades of 2, 3, or 4 % grades. For some reason I had thought from their appearance that they could be stretched out something like an accordion to obtain a grade %  in between those set grades offered,....but apparently not so.

anteaum2666's picture

Creative Second Deck Benchwork Designs

I enjoy benchwork!  (Call me crazy.)  Recently there have been some threads questioning second deck designs, widths, heights, lighting, etc.  Rather than highjack those particular threads, I thought it would be fun to start a dedicated thread for creative 2nd deck design ideas.

This includes (but is not limited to):

First Layout in 40 Years

Ok, So I started my first N Scale layout in 40 years this week.  I've got the layout marked on the bench, but now I've got a question for the group.  What's the best way to lay roadbed?  This will be a DCC layout with some DC Switches on it.  (Hope to get them upgraded to DCC when I can afford it.)  I've also left plenty of room on the bench for expansion.

Any help would be greatly appreciated and I will be posting Pictures as I can.

 

Russell

Bigelov's picture

Problems when building the layout room

Its been a while since I posted about Building the layout room  (over a year!). I did mention in that blog that I would talk about the problems we encountered, so better late than never ;)

Problem 1: the Module was too long...

Matt Forcum's picture

Construction Photo Dump

I've nearly completed my benchwork for the new layout! It's been a herculean effort and taken about 3-and-a-half months to get to this point, but I'm very happy with the results. There were a few surprises along the way, (both good and bad) and I'll be sure to share my thoughts in an update video soon. Until then, after the jump is a whole mess of photos I've taken along the way:

 

Getting Real: Lehigh Line expansion


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