Book cases built into benchwork.

[scottychaos]

I was just down in the basement with my wife, cleaning up the "finished room" that im planning will hold my future layout..my wife said "can we have more bookcases down here? maybe along this wall?"

I said "well..part of the model railroad will go along that wall, but I could build bookcases into the benchwork, under the layout" 

she gave a little frown..I tried to explain the concept of "nice wood bookcases built into the benchwork" but she wasnt getting it.. "you are going to have trains on top of bookcases?" no..thats not quite it..I will look for photos on-line for you. 

I just tried googling photos..but couldnt find anything good..can anyone help? Im looking for photos of a model railroad where instead of skirting from the railroad to the floor, there are some nice wood bookcases built into the benchwork, with the model railroad above..im sure I dont have to explain it any further to you guys! ;)

any pics that can help me out?

thanks,

Scot 

[soumodeler]

No pics, but one suggestion from a been there done that perspective: make them easy to move to get under the layout. Wheels would be a great idea. I had a huge bookcase under the edge of my last layout and it was a pain to get underneath.

[Maurice]

MR did a series called Building the "Jerome and Southwestern" by John Olsen in Feb. 1982. He did bookcases underneath. There was also an article "Our layout is in the family room" in Sept. 1981 that featured a layout with bookcases under it. It definitely had a built-in look. 

[Budliner]

are we allowed to keep trains on the bookcases

K

[grayfox1119]

SCOTT, I have bookcase under my benchwork, as well as other storage such as rollaway tool box, and an old microwave cabinet on wheels. You really should make sure that whatever you place under the benchwork, it is easily removed in case you need to mount turnouts, troubleshoot or add wiring, etc. Otherwise, it is a great way to use precious space. After all, where are going to put all your MRR mags, and How TO books anyways?

  And, to show your wife, just do a simple drawing on paper, that will get the point across very easily.

[leighant]

I recently dismantled a 3x7 island layout in the middle of a room with bookcases around the wall.  One bookcase was almost floor to ceiling.  The room is STUFFED with stuff, all of which is either needed for layout, layout research or a little bit my wife wants to keep.  I took down the top half of the floor-to-ceiling set, placed it against a wall.  Layout will be a shelf 14 to 26 inches wide at 5' elevation to go above bookcases and just above the middle of the double-hung windows, so bottom half can open under layout.  In some places, bookshelves will support layout sections at least in the back.  The bookshelves against the wall will house most books, but not much train building stuff.  Much of that will go in rollaway storage IN FRONT of bookshelves.  Not ideal but the one way I can see to deal with the situation.

[rs2mike]

You have the same idea I have.  My wife was big into model doll houses and I was big into 1/24 plastic kit cars.  Plus she is a teacher so we will need all the shelf work we can get.  My plan was to make a swinging door type bookcase that would encompass 2 doors.  This would preferrably be under some sort of scenery that will not have any swith work in it.  This would give me a lage access hole to store totes of stuff as well as being able to get underneath the layout easily.  The plan was that where ever there would be a switch there would be a partial book shelf with a facia spacing to cover the hole.  That way it would be easy to change switch motors or whatever might be there.  Unfortunately as of yet there is no benchwork so there are no pics of my idea for bookcases.

rs2mike