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Help with a new layout

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  • Member since
    November 2017
  • 20 posts
Help with a new layout
Posted by conrail0721 on Monday, November 27, 2017 5:19 PM

Good day:

Been out of the hobby for a while. So since we moved into a new house and state. It time to get to building a new railroad. I live in Arkansas, have a two car garage  that my F150 does fit. So I have one wall that will serve as the layout home.

The previous owner has shelfing so I know my layout plans will work.

So basically my plan is to have two open grids boxes each 2x6 with a 2x2 on each end  so I would a top shelf and a bottom shelf.  My plan is to have two 1x2 running as support legs on the. Sides of the two smaller boxes.

My questions are as follows:

1. Should I first attach  2x2  against the wall  with lag bolts to provide a good and start to secure everything?

2. Secondly  since this going to be a HO layout what is best material for the backing board?

Thanks

 

  • Member since
    February 2005
  • 869 posts
Posted by davidmurray on Tuesday, November 28, 2017 8:44 AM

My layout is in the basement.  I used 1"x4" grid supporting 1/2 plywood.  I used laybolts to secure that edge to the wall.  The wall is insulated and covered with drywall, which is good/acceptable for painting your backdrop on.

Dave

 

David Murray from Oshawa, Ontario Canada
  • Member since
    May 2010
  • From: SE. WI.
  • 8,253 posts
Posted by mbinsewi on Tuesday, November 28, 2017 9:40 AM

Welcome to the forums.  Welcome

I think fastening the 2x2 to the wall would be a good solid start, if you never plan on moving any of these sections. 

Not sure what you mean by "backing board"?  Do you mean the back drop? or the the material on top of the bench work, before you start laying road bed and track?

If you mean "back drop", I went with drywall, taped and finished smooth, and then painted sky blue.  Some have used masonite.  Either way, you could put that up after your 2x2, and take it has high as you want, unless you want the whole wall finished off, than I would do that first, than the 2x2.

Is the garage finished at all? or just open/showing studs?

Mike.

  • Member since
    February 2005
  • From: Vancouver Island, BC
  • 23,330 posts
Posted by selector on Tuesday, November 28, 2017 10:29 AM

Yes.  Once my frame units are in place, I tend to drive screws through them and clamp them against the back wall that way, into the studs.  Makes things less wobbly as a whole.  However, be sure to effectively brace those 1X2 legs....they're flimsy all by themselves if they have to support a benchwork higher than about 1 foot.  Also, use 4" lengths of 1X2 from cuttings of the legs to block the top part of the legs up against the inside corners of the benchwork.  I put the top of the leg tight into the corner, then a piece of 1X2 outside, tight against the opposite side of the 1X2 to the corner, and then use a suitable piece of 1X4 to cover both of them.  Lots of screws, yeah, but it'll be a strong joint of sorts.  Then, brace the legs.

Also, to ensure the bench top is level, use clamps at first to clamp the side of the bench frame up against the upright frame members you're going to screw into. 

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: North Dakota
  • 9,592 posts
Posted by BroadwayLion on Tuesday, November 28, 2017 10:38 AM

If you build your layout high enough you could build it out over the bonet of yout car. That will give you a room for a loop.

Dad had storage shelves in his garage and was able to drive the hood right under them.

 

ROAR

The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.

Here there be cats.                                LIONS with CAMERAS

  • Member since
    November 2017
  • 20 posts
Posted by conrail0721 on Tuesday, November 28, 2017 7:11 PM

Thanks,

My truck does not fit in the garage that was a typo I missed. The garage is dry walled with primer I have three walls I can use.  The two side walls have issues but are usable one side has the hot water tank and the other has the fuse box, both items r across from each other which leaves me about 12 feet of free space however I have a single door with runners at end of each side wall. I am chosen to use the front wall. 

Thank you for idea of using sheet rock for the background. As for the bench work I will use thin plywood covered with foam bard. 

 

  • Member since
    November 2017
  • 20 posts
Posted by conrail0721 on Tuesday, November 28, 2017 9:37 PM

Thanks 

i have a finished garage. I need to also fix a typo. It should have read my F150 won’t fit and a currently a one car family.  My plans account for that.

 

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