After taking forever, I think I have pretty much decieded almost 99% sure of what I want to do. It will have to be a shelf type layout. The dimentions I want to go is 28" X 80" and I may have to shave a few off the 28". The height will be at 50". Its the only area I can do it. It will have to be in modules cause I won't be able to reach the rear of it to work on. Hey I'm only 5'2" tall. So how do I make it, light and how do I hang something that big. Michaels has 20"30" 1/2" formboard. Would that work? Still need thoughts on it, please give me a ton of ideas to pour over.
Jerry - NR5A
How you hang a shelf a little over 6 feet long and slightly over 2 foot deep ? Standard book shelf brackets securely fastened to the wall at 2 foot intervalls - ie one a few inches in from each end, one about at the middle.
As for construction - build your sections as couple of small 3 foot long "box" platform for your track out of 1/4" plywood - that's plenty strong - you are not going to be walk on top of a shelf layout this small
Here is a link to someone who did about that: http://www.stationstudios.ca/pmtco/module1a.htm
Here is a picture showing my shelves (which are built way stronger than necessary):
But those were the materials I had on hand when the urge to extend the layout struck me
Smile, Stein
Several ideas come to mind the first something I have no interest in ever doing but a lot of people love are hollow core doors. Go to your local home center and you can probably pick one up for around $24 at Lowes. All the work is done for you as far as construction of the box etc. put it on a couple of nice wide shelf brackets as the other poster showed in his pics and your in business.
What I would do is what Cliff Powers did on his MA&G is a use 1x3's to construct a box to your dimensions and puse a piece of 3/4 plywood for the top. Use the same shelf brackets as the other poster did. by doing it this way you leave the bottom open so you can hide wiring and switch machines etc. for a nice clean look.
Allegheny2-6-6-6 Several ideas come to mind the first something I have no interest in ever doing but a lot of people love are hollow core doors. Go to your local home center and you can probably pick one up for around $24 at Lowes. All the work is done for you as far as construction of the box etc. put it on a couple of nice wide shelf brackets as the other poster showed in his pics and your in business.What I would do is what Cliff Powers did on his MA&G is a use 1x3's to construct a box to your dimensions and puse a piece of 3/4 plywood for the top. Use the same shelf brackets as the other poster did. by doing it this way you leave the bottom open so you can hide wiring and switch machines etc. for a nice clean look.
Both are certainly doable - I have done the 1x3 sides with 3/4" plywood on top myself. And just the 1x3 sides with pink/blue styrofoam on top (instead of 3/4" plywood).
Like this:
But as Ian Rice keeps pointing out about using 3/4" plywood for the top - your layout base only needs to hold fairly light weight scenery and light weight model trains, not to be used as steps stools by 180+ lb adult men.
1/4 inch plywood is plenty strong enough both for top and sides of the hollow platform (and much lighter to move).
If you e.g. make the front and back sides be "L-girders" made out of 1/4" plywood, somewhat along these lines:
Haven't tried this one yet myself, but next time I am building something, I think I will give the Ian Rice method a try to make light weight yet pretty rigid sections.
Smile,Stein
HI,
In the newest edtion of Model Railroader April 2009. There is an article on
building light weight modules using the waffle technique. Its four pages
long with pictures, and descrition on how he does it.
Chris
Why not start with a 2x8 sheet of extruded (pink or blue foam), cut it to the length you want, use the extra to make a wide spot if you need to or to make hills. It is strong enough to support itself or you could make a lightweight frame to hold it. I would put a 1/8 trim around it to protect the edges of the foam. While you are there, check to see if they have any damaged pieces you could purchase (cheap) to help make lightweight hills.
I don't understand how making it modular will help you reach over it after it is once hung on the wall. I'd make a sturdy stepstool to get you up to where you need to be to work on it. If you need to take it down to do some major work on it, have it so that a couple of screws could be taken out and two people could easily lift it down.
Good luck,
Ok this is really going to sound corny, I'm scared of heights and my balance isn't all that great. Sitting up on a high stool scares the heck out of me. You have not had all the medical problems I have had, lets put it this way since 2001 I've been thru the ringer. I could fill a page with all my problems. Thats the reason I'm building or going to build it this way. I can take a module out to work on it, not fearing I'm going to fall off a stool trying to reach over.
I'm going to do a sorta NTRAK/ TTRAK deal. Using a frame up sorta like Stein showed at the beginning. The lay foam on top and set the modules on it. Should be fairly lite weight and easy for me to work on.
Hey guys I really appriciate all the sugguestions.
Jerry