To shelf or not to shelf

[doctorwayne]

AltoonaRailroader

I'm gettin ready to soon have a new layout in the shop I built in my basement. As of now I have roughly a 9'.0x9.5' space to build in.  At first I started as most would I think by having a hugh platform type layout with cut outs and access area of course. But now that I've given it some thought about what I want to build, I'm starting to consider a shelf layout instead. Maybe something like 24" sides with an island in the middle?

With an around-the-room shelf 24" wide, you'll be left with a centre floor-space just 5.0'x5.5'  - enough area from which to operate your layout, but kinda tight if you add an island within that space.

Wayne

[nucat78]

Hollow core doors (doorminoes) with 2 layers of extruded foam laminated on top. I slide them into a 36 inch deep by 80 inch wide alcove in my den. I use double slot vertical stanchions with adjustable shelf brackets. Minimal cost (doors were free from a neighbor's remodeling project, foam is about $8 a sheet, shelf hardware was maybe $50), movable, adjustable height, virtually no woodworking, AND I have an N-scale roundy-round and HO switcher occupying the same floor space, so to speak. Nice since I like some things about N and some about HO. If I ever decide to expand, I'll move them into a spare bedroom and use stanchions all the way around the room except for crossing doors. You can go ultralight by just using 2-inch thick foam for your "benchwork". I've done that also...

[tgindy]

AltoonaRailroader

Maybe something like 24" sides with an island in the middle?

This will be a single shelf layout, no helixes or elevators for multi-level or anything like that. Maybe some inclines and bridges.

The CR&T room is a similar 9'x9'  with a 1'x5' notchback in the back wall. Things have not been rushed, and have settled down for one wall to house library shelves, and awaiting floor & ceiling prep.

Layout plans are now a U-shape with outer dimensions of 6' on each side and 9' along the back.  There isn't maneuvering room for much more than a 3'-4' 'cockpit' within the U-shape.  This leaves 35-45 square-feet per layout level.

I found after doing a 'Givens & Druthers Study' -- an HO Scale CR&T would decrease operations by 45% over using N-Scale in the same space, and; the 1'x5' notchback actually provided a huge amount of scenic flexibility.  So, a U-shape layout around a cockpit emerged from the G&D Study.

The CR&T shall be:  Multilevel & N-Scale employing an oval-shaped helix taking advantage of the notchback.  Gallitzin at Tunnel Hill and its railfanning is the inspiration for the topside helix tunnel portals.

1st => The math:  9' room width is 108".  Two side shelves at 24" leaves 60".

2nd => Walkway:  a 24" peninsula leaves 36" total.  Hips are how wide?

3rd => Do a 'Givens & Druthers' on paper, and; what is right for you will emerge.

P.S.:  July 2009 Railroad Model Craftsman has Don Spiro's detailed "Shallow-relief structures" and his 4-part RMC shelf layout series (A New Layout - Sept.-Dec 2005) is worth "back-issuing."  Don is a shelf layout master, and adept at scenery depth-perception on a 24" shelf.

[SilverSpike]

Hello AltoonaRailroader,

I have a double deck around the walls shelf construction with a peninsula blob as well for my layout, with about 75% of the layout being build on a shelf system.

From my web site you can view photos of the progress of my Piedmont Division in my Photos pages and also follow along with the Construction phases as well.

I would also recommend the following as reading material if you are seriously considering a shelf layout construction:

Shelf Layouts for Model Railroads

While you are not interesting in going beyond one deck level, I would also recommend this book since it utilizes a lot of shelf type construction.

Designing & Building Multi-Deck Model Railroads

Regards

[jamnest]

I am building an around the walls domino/shelf layout.  The domino sections vary in width from 12" to 30" and are usually 72" long.  I have my lumber yard rip 3/4 plywood in to 1x4 lumber and use 1/2' plywood for the deck.  I have moved several times and the sectional layout comes with me.  It can also be re-configured without destroying the benchwork.  When I first moved to my new basement I set up as a large oval (first photo).  Now that I am building the around the walls layout the dominoes have been re-configured.  The domino sections are held together with 1/4" bolts.  They will eventually be anchored to the wall, but the existing set-up is sturdy.

 

 

[AltoonaRailroader]

Cool Stix, I'd be anxious to see that. Carpentry and benchwork building is not up my alley. LOL

[wjstix]

I don't have any pics yet, but I'm building my new layout using John Sterling shelf components from a "big box" home and garden store. I'm using the 16" wide shelfs for the layout, and 12" ones underneath it for storage shelves. I find you can fit in five tracks across (like in a yard) easily in 16". The shelves are sturdy enough I haven't had to use any extra bracing or benchwork under them.

[AltoonaRailroader]

I'm gettin ready to soon have a new layout in the shop I built in my basement. As of now I have roughly a 9'.0x9.5' space to build in.  At first I started as most would I think by having a hugh platform type layout with cut outs and access area of course. But now that I've given it some thought about what I want to build, I'm starting to consider a shelf layout instead. Maybe something like 24" sides with an island in the middle?

Would some of you share your experiences and/or pictures with/of your shelf layouts? This will be a single shelf layout, no helixes or elevators for multi-level or anything like that. Maybe some inclines and bridges.

Thanks,