Benchwork - Roadbed

Roundy, round and then some - adding a switching module.

So when you don't really have the room to dedicate to a permanent layout and are given a decent little roundy, round my a fellow forum member, how do you make it a little more enjoyable than seeing 6 car trains doing circles?

You build a #6 18/24 curved turnout so you can connect a switching "module".  

Gary Yurgil's picture

4 x 8 Table Dynamics

I have built two 4 x 8 layouts in the past using 1/2 inch plywood and using the tried and true methods of framing and cross members as depicted in railroad magazines and never had a problem.  I am planning another one and woke up in the middle of the night with a concern.  The legs are attached, not to the outside corners, but to two cross members.  My thought is that all the weight of the table, and Hydrocal mountains, is concentrated on the four points of the top of the legs, or more precisely, on the two cross members.

Temporary ballasting?

Not sure if I wrote about it, but I'm working on a temporary shelf switcher (about 13.5 ft X 1.5 ft), 1-inch foam on a couple hollow core doors, tacked to a ledger board with 2x3 "feet", until I can get started on a new layout room in my basement. 

I am not caulking down any track or using roadbed - tracks sit on the foam.  (Yes, I know all about the Holy Wars over foam, cork, Homasote, noise, yadda, yadda, yadda.) 

Joe Baldwin's picture

Rare Earth Magnets

Most of my layout wiring is contained in a wooden wiring tray that is covered with masonite fascia that is removable, held on by finishing washers and wood screws.  Would like to know if anyone has used circular rare earth magnets (1/2 x 1/4) to keep fascia panels in place.  Please share your Pros/Cons,  lessons learned.  Thanks, Joe

rickwade's picture

Dab, dab, dab.....Painting my fascia

This is the first coat of red oxide on my fascia applied by dabbing it on with an old beat up brush.  The dabbing creates a textured surface which will look more realistic.   It is still wet and didn't cover completely so I'll have to add another coat before going on to other colors for my faux rust finish inspired by Tim Warris.  To see my blog on the rusty fascia project click HERE.

rickwade's picture

A Treat for you rivet counters! (and other Fascia Fans)

I've been working on my fascia on my Richlawn Railroad and have reached a milestone of sorts in that my first section now has both the top and bottom bands and rivets.  You can see more about this process HERE

So, how many rivets are there?

Benchwork is done!

Finally all the benchwork is completed and I can finally move on!

Next up... wiring... not sure which of the two I dislike more.

jlrc47's picture

New Brewery customer on the HHJ RxR

I'm about to start to add a brewery to my layout and decided on the Hampden Brewery which was about 1 mile from where I live. It is long been closed but one of the 1800's buildings is still standing.

The Hampden Brewery opened in 1868 - 1975. Had many owners and the last owner was Piels

 

jmt99atsf's picture

Progress Update - Union Station Passenger/Freight Yard

It has been a little over a month since my last update and these videos will bring you up to date with the construction of the Union Station passenger and freight yards.  


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