I used the same ceiling system in my now 70 year old house's low basement. I used different light fixtures and I wish the ones you are using were available 15 plus years ago.
ATLANTIC CENTRAL
Sheldon,
Looks like things are coming along nicely on the new layout space. Judging by the photo above if you ever wanted to go back into the hobby business you have enough stuff to stock a hobby shop in your basement - LOL...
FWIW: the same could be said for many of us.
Lighting the whole space on 15 Amps?? Aint technology great??
Looking forward to seeing the progress,
Guy
see stuff at: the Willoughby Line Site
Visible track elevations will range from 38" to 49" with 44" being the most typical height. I will start out with the concrete to allow rolling chairs, especially for the dispatcher, we will see how that goes. Tall stools are in the mix too.
Yes, all the pipes on the walls will be behind backdrops. Much of the rear perimeter of the benchwork is staging tracks with high scenery in front of them. Some of those backdrops will just hover over the staging tracks behind the scenery that blocks the view. But, the backdrop may not go all the way up, still working on that?
Sheldon
ATLANTIC CENTRAL Douglas, yes the grid snaps together and will snap apart..... with some care.....
Douglas, yes the grid snaps together and will snap apart..... with some care.....
I like the idea of a bright room that can be dimmed for ops.
A couple of train room questions:
Will you leave the floor painted concrete, or install some sort of foot cushioning? (Or is the layout planned for rolling chair/stool height)
Will you conceal the sewer stack that runs along the wall with backdrop or scenery? (I would just paint it blue with the walls and forget about it)
- Douglas
ATLANTIC CENTRAL For those of you not familiar, the lights look like this from the back, so they can even mont right where a joist is located. Example: And here is a closeup of the ceiling grid, same part top and bottom joins to make the track. It will take about 70 of these lights to cover the layout space. Each light only draws 12 watts, so the entire layout lighting will be on one 15 amp breaker. Sheldon
For those of you not familiar, the lights look like this from the back, so they can even mont right where a joist is located.
Example:
And here is a closeup of the ceiling grid, same part top and bottom joins to make the track.
It will take about 70 of these lights to cover the layout space. Each light only draws 12 watts, so the entire layout lighting will be on one 15 amp breaker.
I will enjoy watching your progress. Very nice plan.
Since there is no space between the ceiling tiles and the joists, I assume that to remove and reintall a ceiling panel, the grid itself comes apart from the bottom allowing the tile to drop out?
ATLANTIC CENTRAL The room is about 1400 st ft and the lights are spaced about every 4-5 feet. The plan is to have the aisle lights dim and the layout lights brighter, but both will be on dimmers. I want to be able to make it brighter for working and cleaning.
The room is about 1400 st ft and the lights are spaced about every 4-5 feet. The plan is to have the aisle lights dim and the layout lights brighter, but both will be on dimmers. I want to be able to make it brighter for working and cleaning.
I probably could have used more lights directly over the layout, but when I installed my lighting, I wanted everything to appear uniform across the entire basement ceiling in the event that I eventually sell the house.
Since the layout covers approximately one-half of the basement, if I put more lights over the layout to provide 20 sq. ft. coverage, I would need an additional 26 lights which would bring the total to 73 lights. So, your 70 lights are clearly appropriate.
I should add that at one ene of the layout where I have some tall, multi-story buildings and a large backdrop (76" W x 24" H), I did add two strips of 3 floodlights each to eliminate shadows.
Rich
Alton Junction
richhotrain ATLANTIC CENTRAL It will take about 70 of these lights to cover the layout space. Each light only draws 12 watts, so the entire layout lighting will be on one 15 amp breaker. I don't mean to appear critical, but 70 of those lights seem like too many in my experience. When I built my current layout in a 25' x 42' space, I decided to upgrade the light in my entire basement which measures 34' x 60'. It took me 54 floodlights in cans to cover the entire basement. That seemed quite adequate to me. No dark spaces with the cans spread 6' apart. The lighting is LED, so each 65 watt floodlight only requires 7 watts of power. For zoning purposes, I split the basement into two 15 amp circuits. The layout is all on one 15 amp circuit. Rich Edit Note: As soon as I posted this reply, I began to think that maybe 70 lights is not too many if the intent was to space them 4' apart. How big is your space, Sheldon?
ATLANTIC CENTRAL It will take about 70 of these lights to cover the layout space. Each light only draws 12 watts, so the entire layout lighting will be on one 15 amp breaker.
I don't mean to appear critical, but 70 of those lights seem like too many in my experience. When I built my current layout in a 25' x 42' space, I decided to upgrade the light in my entire basement which measures 34' x 60'. It took me 54 floodlights in cans to cover the entire basement. That seemed quite adequate to me. No dark spaces with the cans spread 6' apart.
The lighting is LED, so each 65 watt floodlight only requires 7 watts of power. For zoning purposes, I split the basement into two 15 amp circuits. The layout is all on one 15 amp circuit.
Edit Note: As soon as I posted this reply, I began to think that maybe 70 lights is not too many if the intent was to space them 4' apart. How big is your space, Sheldon?
Excited to see your progress Sheldon!
Also, thank you for showing what you are using for the ceiling and lights. My basement has very low ceilings, where drywalling them isn't feasible due to the plumbing for both water and heat, and a traditional drop ceiling would mean I would have to duck the entire time I'm down there. I had no idea something like the Ceilinglink system was out there. Might be just what I need! Thank you!
Mike
Bah! You're ahead of me. My layout is smaller, I will pull ahead.
Just kidding.
I love all the before pictures. I can't wait to see the plan become reality.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
What a nice layout plan. Nice big curves, big uncuttered spaces. Can't wait to see it take shape.
Returning to model railroading after 40 years and taking unconscionable liberties with the SP&S, Northern Pacific and Great Northern roads in the '40s and '50s.
OH YEAH!!!
As you know, Sheldon, I have been looking forward to this for a long time now.
Cannot wait to see your progress. Best of luck.
OK, after slow progress and unexpected delays, here is at least a look at the room prep progress. For those not familiar, here is the track plan, including the plans for the lower level hidden staging areas.
Benchwork construction will begin in the first two areas as soon as the ceiling and lighting is complete in those areas. The first two areas comprise what is effectively the right side of the track plan as you look at the drawing.
The lighting is 6" recessed LED "can" lights, the ceiling is the Ceilinglink grid system that allows drop ceiling tiles to be installed directly to the bottom of ceiling joists.
These first pictures are of the area to the lower right on the plan, the ceiling and lighting is basically complete. Next step is to box in the steel beam.
The next area, just above this area on the plan, has the ceiling partly installed. Some plumbing upgrades need to be completed to allow completion of the ceiling in this area. When the ceiling is up in this area, benchwork will begin on the wall to far right of the plan, including the staging yard that extends into the workshop area.
This picture gives some view of how the ceiling grid works. There was a learning curve, even for an old construction guy like me, but I am very happy with the product. It is extremely versatile and easy to use once you learn its "nature".
Here is a shot of the workbench, in close to its final location. The stub end staging yard will be along the wall to the left of the bench, about 18" above.
The layout of the light fixtures may not make sense yet, but they are layed out based on the benchwork plan. Aisle lighting is centered over the aisles and will be switched and dimmed separately from the layout lighting. Layout area lights are spaced slightly closer than aisle lighting.
Today I ripped the plywood strips that will box in the steel beams, and cleared some items from the work area for the plumbing.
My work and family schedule is still demanding, but after the current three major projects I have right now, I am planning to take some time off and reduce the work schedule.
Questons welcomed,
More soon if all goes well,