flyboy2610
12-30-2011, 06:24 PM
The construction has begun on the layout!
This what I plan to build:
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g80/flyboy2610/Model%20Railroad/switchingaroundtheroom.jpg
The bottom will be the industrial area, the top will be the town with a passenger station, the right side will have the yard. The left side will have a swing bridge near the top as that's where the door to the room is.
The benchwork will be in 4 sections, the longest being the one on the bottom. That's the one I just finished.
I started with two 10' long 1x4's, cut to length.
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g80/flyboy2610/Model%20Railroad/Benchwork/100_0280-1.jpg
Next I marked where the 2x2 cleats would go, and the 1x4 cross braces. I wanted to avoid having to run screws into ends of the 1x4s. I also measured in from the ends 3ft each side for when i cut the 3/8" plywood top.
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g80/flyboy2610/Model%20Railroad/Benchwork/100_0279-1.jpg
Then I clamped the two pieces together and drilled pilot holes where needed. Every screw in this bench has had a pilot holed pre-drilled. That's a LOT of pilot holes!! But I didn't have a single board crack while building this!:)
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g80/flyboy2610/Model%20Railroad/Benchwork/100_0278-1.jpg
Next, I laid the pieces of the floor and installed the cleats and cross pieces. This only shows the 3-1/2" long cleats. The legs are also 2x2s. They will go on each end, and in the empty spots between the cross pieces. I screwed the cleats to the long 1x4s, and then screwed the cross pieces to the cleats. I did the same with the legs, and screwed the end cross pieces to the legs.
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g80/flyboy2610/Model%20Railroad/Benchwork/100_0281-1.jpg
Then I installed 1x2 shelf rails, and a 2x2 cross pieces between the legs. I had to use 3" gold construction screws for this step to go through the 1x2 rail, the 2x2 leg, and have enough thread left to secure the cross piece. I also used 5/16 tee nuts and bolts in the end of each leg so I can level everything out.
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g80/flyboy2610/Model%20Railroad/Benchwork/100_0282.jpg
Then I flipped it right side up to check the fit between the walls.
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g80/flyboy2610/Model%20Railroad/Benchwork/100_0283.jpg
It fits, but not by much!
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g80/flyboy2610/Model%20Railroad/Benchwork/100_0286-1.jpg
I also added some 1x4 cross pieces between the legs on the ends to stiffen up the assembly and provide a bit more support for the 1x4 shelf boards.
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g80/flyboy2610/Model%20Railroad/Benchwork/100_0285-1.jpg
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g80/flyboy2610/Model%20Railroad/Benchwork/100_0284.jpg
Then I added the shelf boards. The boards on the front and rear edges were notched to fit around the legs, then screwed to the 1x2 shelf rails. I then added the 3/8" plywood top, and leveled the assembly. I'll check it again for level when I get the 2" pink foam over the plywood.
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g80/flyboy2610/Model%20Railroad/Benchwork/100_0287.jpg
The track height of the layout should be around 43-1/4". One down, only 3 more to go!
This what I plan to build:
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g80/flyboy2610/Model%20Railroad/switchingaroundtheroom.jpg
The bottom will be the industrial area, the top will be the town with a passenger station, the right side will have the yard. The left side will have a swing bridge near the top as that's where the door to the room is.
The benchwork will be in 4 sections, the longest being the one on the bottom. That's the one I just finished.
I started with two 10' long 1x4's, cut to length.
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g80/flyboy2610/Model%20Railroad/Benchwork/100_0280-1.jpg
Next I marked where the 2x2 cleats would go, and the 1x4 cross braces. I wanted to avoid having to run screws into ends of the 1x4s. I also measured in from the ends 3ft each side for when i cut the 3/8" plywood top.
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g80/flyboy2610/Model%20Railroad/Benchwork/100_0279-1.jpg
Then I clamped the two pieces together and drilled pilot holes where needed. Every screw in this bench has had a pilot holed pre-drilled. That's a LOT of pilot holes!! But I didn't have a single board crack while building this!:)
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g80/flyboy2610/Model%20Railroad/Benchwork/100_0278-1.jpg
Next, I laid the pieces of the floor and installed the cleats and cross pieces. This only shows the 3-1/2" long cleats. The legs are also 2x2s. They will go on each end, and in the empty spots between the cross pieces. I screwed the cleats to the long 1x4s, and then screwed the cross pieces to the cleats. I did the same with the legs, and screwed the end cross pieces to the legs.
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g80/flyboy2610/Model%20Railroad/Benchwork/100_0281-1.jpg
Then I installed 1x2 shelf rails, and a 2x2 cross pieces between the legs. I had to use 3" gold construction screws for this step to go through the 1x2 rail, the 2x2 leg, and have enough thread left to secure the cross piece. I also used 5/16 tee nuts and bolts in the end of each leg so I can level everything out.
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g80/flyboy2610/Model%20Railroad/Benchwork/100_0282.jpg
Then I flipped it right side up to check the fit between the walls.
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g80/flyboy2610/Model%20Railroad/Benchwork/100_0283.jpg
It fits, but not by much!
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g80/flyboy2610/Model%20Railroad/Benchwork/100_0286-1.jpg
I also added some 1x4 cross pieces between the legs on the ends to stiffen up the assembly and provide a bit more support for the 1x4 shelf boards.
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g80/flyboy2610/Model%20Railroad/Benchwork/100_0285-1.jpg
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g80/flyboy2610/Model%20Railroad/Benchwork/100_0284.jpg
Then I added the shelf boards. The boards on the front and rear edges were notched to fit around the legs, then screwed to the 1x2 shelf rails. I then added the 3/8" plywood top, and leveled the assembly. I'll check it again for level when I get the 2" pink foam over the plywood.
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g80/flyboy2610/Model%20Railroad/Benchwork/100_0287.jpg
The track height of the layout should be around 43-1/4". One down, only 3 more to go!