Folks
Thanks for everyone for their help on my 1st benchwork. Your assistance is greatly appreciated.; I put my power drill w/ battery and a box on the sides of each table and they didn't crack!; The next step is bolting the benchwork tables together before putting up the backdrop.; I will put 1x2 strips across the table to support the foam sub-roadbed.; Is that enough support?
For other newbies, here is what I learned about tackling something difficult for someone that is spatially-challenged:
1. Measure twice cut once!; Measure w/ an accurate tape measurer.; I can't tell you how measuring multiple times will reduce unecessary cutting and trips to the hardware store for more material.; I was often too impatient to do that or assumed I knew the dimensions.; That was an invitation to disaster
2. Seek professional help!; No, not the type Spitzer got (LOL!), but a mentor!; Contact your hobby shop for advice or NMRA-sponsored club.; I did and lucked out by getting help from a HS shop teacher. Stay in touch w/ them often and approach them w/ specific questions.; It shows genuine interest and a willingness to learn.; Besides, who doesn't want to feel wanted and help the hobby grow?
3. Accept that you will make mistakes.; Once I stopped worrying about minimizing risk, I felt more capable of doing new things.; Most of us have never built benchwork, so understand that errors will happen.
4. Repeat after me: Read and refer, read and refer! Get yourself the Kalmbach book on benchwork and read it religiously!; Afterwards, measure your layout room carefully and make numerous diagrams.; Also read this and the Atlas forum for advice.; Contact some of the experienced repliers offline (see #2).
Not an expert after one construction effort, nor will ever, claim to be one.; I will always rely on others for their support. Such assistance is invaluable, but I learned that the following African proverb is key to appreciating and enjoying this hobby: know why you have two ears and one mouth? Because you should spend twice the amount of time listening than talking.; This works for me.
TIA!
Lee
Lee,
Good stuff! You learned by 'doing'. As you said, mistakes will be made; but as long as you learn from the experience....
Jim
Modeling BNSF and Milwaukee Road in SW Wisconsin