Ima Train Wreck
Less than a Beginner!
Hello everyone. I am brand new to the forum and to model railroading. I am literally just beginning to build my first layout. When I say beginning, I have built one piece of bench work and I just ordered some track and stuff to get started with yesterday. (One caveat to this is that I have several Lionel train pieces and I have for years made a Lionel Christmas display on a 4 x 8 piece of plywood. Not quite the same thing as building a scale HO model which is what I am going to build.)
I had decided to do build L Girder benchwork and make it modular, because sadly, I may have to move within the next year or so. Which I am sure many of you would side with my wife, in saying I would be better off waiting until I moved to begin this project. However, I have wanted to do it for many years and I am hell bent on at least getting something started now! That being said, I am now questioning my decision to do L Girder construction because the track layout would be so specific to the area I have to build it in right now. In other words, if I cut all of that plywood for the track to lay on, it most likely it would not fit in the new area I move into, if in fact I move.
The design is an around the room with one peninsula in the middle. The room is 13 X 17 and I do have room to expand if I stay in my present home. Anyway, I am now thinking that I would be better off just making a flat layout, using plywood, insulated foam boards or Homasote panels so that it would be easier to disassemble and move later down the road if that becomes necessary. I first thought that the foam boards would make it light and easy to move, but unless I am mistaken, the track would most likely need to be glued to the foam insulation boards, which would seriously complicate if I have to move. I also found something called " Southern Pine Asphalt Impregnated Board," at Home Depot. They come in 4 x 8 foot sheets 1/2 inch thick and are only $11. (Anyone have any experience with this material? I looked everywhere trying to determine if it was safe to use indoors, but couldn't find anything on it.)
My main objective is to get something put together so I can get a train or two running for now, but be able to expand later if I stay in my present home or take apart and reuse most of it should I have to move.
I understand that a lot of this comes down to personal choice, but in this case I really would appreciate hearing the opinions of those so inclined as to what type of bench work they would use and why, if they were in a similar situation.
Thanks in advance!
I had decided to do build L Girder benchwork and make it modular, because sadly, I may have to move within the next year or so. Which I am sure many of you would side with my wife, in saying I would be better off waiting until I moved to begin this project. However, I have wanted to do it for many years and I am hell bent on at least getting something started now! That being said, I am now questioning my decision to do L Girder construction because the track layout would be so specific to the area I have to build it in right now. In other words, if I cut all of that plywood for the track to lay on, it most likely it would not fit in the new area I move into, if in fact I move.
The design is an around the room with one peninsula in the middle. The room is 13 X 17 and I do have room to expand if I stay in my present home. Anyway, I am now thinking that I would be better off just making a flat layout, using plywood, insulated foam boards or Homasote panels so that it would be easier to disassemble and move later down the road if that becomes necessary. I first thought that the foam boards would make it light and easy to move, but unless I am mistaken, the track would most likely need to be glued to the foam insulation boards, which would seriously complicate if I have to move. I also found something called " Southern Pine Asphalt Impregnated Board," at Home Depot. They come in 4 x 8 foot sheets 1/2 inch thick and are only $11. (Anyone have any experience with this material? I looked everywhere trying to determine if it was safe to use indoors, but couldn't find anything on it.)
My main objective is to get something put together so I can get a train or two running for now, but be able to expand later if I stay in my present home or take apart and reuse most of it should I have to move.
I understand that a lot of this comes down to personal choice, but in this case I really would appreciate hearing the opinions of those so inclined as to what type of bench work they would use and why, if they were in a similar situation.
Thanks in advance!