Officially my official layout thread, authentically official

I

iis612

Member
Dec 26, 2006
485
0
16
51
Chicago Burbs
It is time to stop talking about it, and start doing it. That is my official stand.
Aside from a few key elements, I have no track plan. Every time I have sat down to make one I keep thinking to myself, "self, if you only had a place to actually lay this out and see how it will look..."
Well, I am going to start on the bench work today, right after I fix this mess...
 

Attachments

  • 015.jpg
    015.jpg
    190.4 KB · Views: 30
Wow, that is some serious mish-mosh of stuff. I see fireplace log boxes, Avent baby stuff (breast pump?), cordless drills, birthday gift bags, saw horses, bankers boxes? Good news is it looks like all that stuff can get stowed away all nice and tidy pretty quick.

But I also see the most important thing in the picture - over on top of the brown box on the left - TRAINS! :mrgreen:
 
Looks like you need to have a carhold sale!

My only advice is starte small so that you don't get overwhelmed.

Kevin
 
Go Big1 said:
Wow, that is some serious mish-mosh of stuff. I see fireplace log boxes, Avent baby stuff (breast pump?), cordless drills, birthday gift bags, saw horses, bankers boxes? Good news is it looks like all that stuff can get stowed away all nice and tidy pretty quick.

But I also see the most important thing in the picture - over on top of the brown box on the left - TRAINS! :mrgreen:
Click to expand...

You missed the hockey gloves in the fore-ground. To the right side is something else, MORE TRAINS!!! Athearn Blue Box Kits. On the left side, just out of view is a shelf with MORE TRAINS!!! My make shift work bench is supported by those saw horses. I had to install some shelves to store that stuff so I can get the saw horses and the 1x4 "Bench Top" out to the garage for the scrappers saw.

Sorry, I had to pop in on my "union break".
Within the next half hour I will be cutting the furring strips for the concrete wall. Those will have to set up over night because I am using an adhesive to attach them rather than breach the wall.

I will try to post a progress pic later, if not then definately by tomorrow.

Nacho, I am taking it one step at a time. I am not looking to build it over night. This is going to be my "Oleus Opus," so to speak, and it should take years to do. My budget will not allow me to speed that up, nor do I want to do it that way. This will ultimately end up as a double level 16x16 U shap with a large center penninsula. Rome wasn't built in a day, nor will the SF&E.

As an aside, it feels really good to finally dive in. To anyone lurking, debating, contemplating, procrastinating... You have got to exerience this.

Matt
 
Studying the photo, I would have to call this 'clutter.' Once you begin building your layout you will find even less room to move about, but then it is no longer called 'clutter,' it is called a 'collection.'
 
I look at this room and I see....potential! :)
Go for it! Now the fun starts!
Ralph
PS. You may wish to be more clear about the intent of this thread...is it your official layout thread? :)
 
Ralph said:
PS. You may wish to be more clear about the intent of this thread...is it your official layout thread? :)
Click to expand...

My Official stance is that this is in fact officially my offical layout thread, as per the official word of my legal representation and there officials.

Sorry, no update pics. I dropped my camera:oops:
I put up 1 furring strip so I could test the ability of the adhesive to hold the weight. It works well. I placed the rest of the strips today, and will be allowing them to dry overnight. The real benchwork starts tomorrow.
 
Things are progressing slowly...
I tried attaching furring strips using PL2000 (Construction grade adhesive) but it proved to be a failure. I tried Tap Cons and they did not want to tap.
My most recent trip to Home Depot found the answer I was looking for... A handy dandy device called a "Ram Set". More on that in a moment.
Because of the way my basement walls were poured there are form lines that protrude almost 1/2" from the wall where every concrete form met the next. That ruled out placing one furring strip across the entire 15' span. Instead I had to place blocks (to conserve lumber and keep costs low) rather than strips.
I used 1 3/4" x 3 1/2" x 3 1/2" blocks. The top layer is set at 52", the second at 43" with a solid 4x4 in the corner and at the end. I attached these to the wall using the Ram Set. This tool uses a .22 calbier blank to fire a nail through the wood and into the concrete. If anyone is interested in using one they can be rented at major tool rental stores. I opted to purchase one because the other side of the basement will end up getting finished and will require attaching sill plates to the floor. These tools are quite loud and leave the smell of burnt gun powder. Nothing some hearing protection and an open window can't deal with.
I have weight tested each block and they have held loads in excess of 150#. Since I spaced them on 24" centers, they should more than hold the load.
If were to offer a word of advice to anyone seeking to use the same method it would be: Choose your wood carefully. The power of the tool will cause the wood to crack and break.
My next step is to rip down some 4x4 into smaller stock. I need to use up the lumber I have before I buy more. Then construction of the frame will follow.
My camera was sent in for repairs (since I dropped it:oops:) and should be back soon.

Matt
 
On today's docket...

Another trip to my "Favorite Place on Earth," Home Depot. Sorry, a running joke between my wife and me.
I need a few more pieces of lumber and some more screws. Today will mark the completion of the 1st 8 foot section.
The benchwork is being built almost in the same fashion as modules, but they are not intended to be seperated, it just aids with expansion.
Good news, for those interested anyways, my camera should be bcak today or tomorrow. That means progress pics soon.
 
question : Why shoot or glue furring strips on the wall? Why not just build a layout table? That Ramset gun is a lot of fun , dangerous, fun... It is a great tool , but would nt a table be easier to build? btw my layout room is a warzone with tons of crap all over the place.
 
i used a ram set on the wood beams with 1/4in plates and it fired the "nail" thing all the way into both,man that thing was fun :twisted:.and it also made for some fun with a butt load of empty beer cans and too much extra time :mrgreen::thumb:.i hope to see your layout take shape soon.--josh
 
hooknlad said:
question : Why shoot or glue furring strips on the wall? Why not just build a layout table? That Ramset gun is a lot of fun , dangerous, fun... It is a great tool , but would nt a table be easier to build? btw my layout room is a warzone with tons of crap all over the place.
Click to expand...

The purpose of the furring strips is to cut down the overall use of lumber. There is only one section that touches the wall and it seemed more logical to use a total of 3' of wood cut down to 1 3/4" blocks than 4 legs at a height of 52" each.
I will need to ramset later when we finish the other half of the basement and eventually complete the drywall in the garage.
The total cost of the ramset, .22 charges and nails was less expensive than the combined cost of the lumber needed to make the additional legs.
Besides, I like things that go boom.sign1

Matt
 
bigsteel said:
i used a ram set on the wood beams with 1/4in plates and it fired the "nail" thing all the way into both,man that thing was fun :twisted:.and it also made for some fun with a butt load of empty beer cans and too much extra time :mrgreen::thumb:.i hope to see your layout take shape soon.--josh
Click to expand...

Too bad I quit drinking... We could have alot of fun together.sign1 I would never advocate doing anything crazy or dangerous, but you should see what the ramset will do to a full can of beer. (Keep a mop handy)
BTW, C&O is going to be the main prototype line once it is up an running.
 
Too bad I quit drinking... We could have alot of fun together.sign1 I would never advocate doing anything crazy or dangerous
Click to expand...

thats my whole point in life,of course along with the trains :mrgreen:.

anyway,i really cant wait to see this bad boy finished,and C&O you say,have you joined the COHS yet? they really helped me out when it came to my layout design and reference photos.and there monthly mag is perty darn sweet too.everything from C&O CTC to hotel sevice in sulfur springs.--josh
 
Camera is back

Here is the update. My camera is back, and working well. That means that I have a few pics to share.
Here is a look at a small portion of the skeletal benchwork. Keep in mind that it is not complete. I only have 1 hand that works well and so many physical therapy and doctors visits that I can not move as quickly as I would like.
The existing legs need cross supports installed still, and the plywood sub-bed needs to be installed. Basically it is all built with 2x2 using a few 4x4s and a few 2x4s as legs.
As always, comments, suggestions and critique is welcome and appreciated.
 

Attachments

  • 032 (2).jpg
    032 (2).jpg
    130.1 KB · Views: 5
  • 033 (2).jpg
    033 (2).jpg
    129.9 KB · Views: 5
I have added another 8x4' section today. I am at a point now where I have to decide how I want the end shape to be. I had intended on a U with a center peninsula but I may be leaning more towards a G shape. There is no hurry to decide as I have enough done to start laying the sub-roadbed. I might use OSB (oriented Strand Board) as it costs less and skip the foam. I can get 7/16" OSB for $5.33 for a 4x8' or pay nearly 4x that for foam and a laminate. OSB is gonna win.
 
I think I would brace all of the legs before starting on the top. You don't need long braces tying all of the legs to each other, just some short 1 foot long 1 x2 lumber tying the legs to the frame for triangulation would serve the purpose of strengthening the benchwork tremendously.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom