The new layout 2023
- Thread starter rgeiter
- Start date
ModelRailroadForums.com is a free Model Railroad Discussion Forum and photo gallery. We cover all scales and sizes of model railroads. Online since 2002, it's one of the oldest and largest model railroad forums on the web. Whether you're a master model railroader or just getting started, you'll find something of interest here.
You have such beautiful benchwork. I'm envious of the massive amount of space you have too.
Maybe replace that cheesy light bulb above the BW with an LED bank while you're painting the beams.
Thanks!
Lighting is on the list. Going to have much more.
This was taken when the new lights got installed. Was using those 4ft things before. Way brighter now with less fixtures ( 12 vs 18 ) and less current too.
L8r
L8r
Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a commision from some of the links and ads shown on this website (Learn More Here)
troyphoto
Snarky Old Fart (in training)
1x4s
rgeiter
Conrail Quality
Made some progress this weekend. Completely stripped down my old yard. Saved everything except the cork and ballast. Making them fit where I want them was a bit of a challenge. If you come and visit, all framing squares will be prohibited! 
Here’s a few pics of this weekends work.
Here’s a few pics of this weekends work.
rgeiter
Conrail Quality
Finished up the “around the wall” portion of the bench work. One big L shaped chunk to go.
There are major changes to the layout though. As I sat in my thinking chair, looking at the helix location, I was wondering if I could use that huge turn around area better. I can. It will mean that there will be no second level shelf. I will have a ”second level” but it won’t be 20” high. (I really don’t want to put all those holes in my new drywall. I did enough already.) With the metal studs being 2 foot centers, this has always been a concern. My new plan looks pretty awesome and will require lots of bridges as the modified “second” level will be crossing the lower level several times. Stay tuned. I should have a YouTube video up this weekend. Like my last one, it’ll be stills with a brief walk around of my progress.
There are major changes to the layout though. As I sat in my thinking chair, looking at the helix location, I was wondering if I could use that huge turn around area better. I can. It will mean that there will be no second level shelf. I will have a ”second level” but it won’t be 20” high. (I really don’t want to put all those holes in my new drywall. I did enough already.) With the metal studs being 2 foot centers, this has always been a concern. My new plan looks pretty awesome and will require lots of bridges as the modified “second” level will be crossing the lower level several times. Stay tuned. I should have a YouTube video up this weekend. Like my last one, it’ll be stills with a brief walk around of my progress.
Maybe I should finish painting those I-beams today.Forgot all about them.
You have such beautiful benchwork. I'm envious of the massive amount of space you have too.
Maybe replace that cheesy light bulb above the BW with an LED bank while you're painting the beams.
rgeiter
Conrail Quality
You have such beautiful benchwork. I'm envious of the massive amount of space you have too.
Maybe replace that cheesy light bulb above the BW with an LED bank while you're painting the beams.
Thanks!
Lighting is on the list. Going to have much more.
Canalligator
Active Member
You’ve got the best footstool!
ctclibby
Well-Known Member
Bob: Great looking bench work! I would not worry about painting those beams, instead cover them with something cheap. Lots of stuff will fall out of them on to the layout as time goes on. I painted my joists and when done they looked great. Except, walking on the floor above causes rain of many different little things, so covering them up is my next job. I'm 30x40 with nothing nailed down in the room and I can reach them without step stool or ladder; got lucky. Sure have to cut/paste around the lights and uprights, no biggie have sawsall.
This was taken when the new lights got installed. Was using those 4ft things before. Way brighter now with less fixtures ( 12 vs 18 ) and less current too.
L8r
ctclibby
Well-Known Member
The building was built as a grow building 15 years ago. The 4" pipes are for ventilation of which you can place fans in them to blow the direction you want. The ones on the walls ( you can only see 2 of the 4 ) run outside about 7' down around the building corner, then back to the center post. The idea was to suck the air from the room with fans in the wall ports in the summer, blowing that upstairs. Winter is suck the air down from the upstairs with the fans in that center post. They do help with cooling in the summer, but heat in the winter - not so much. That is also why the floor is not level, it angles down from the outsides to the center posts. Ya, land mines. Even had 'starts' growing to get to the 1st crop - then Montana changed the law. So, Train Cave.
L8r
rgeiter
Conrail Quality
Here we go! I should have all this done this weekend. I’ll need to get more legs to support the six foot wide section and a few 2x4’s for the splices. I needed to see where the plywood seems were before I added them.
This is going to be fun. The challenge is keeping the dust to a minimum.
This is going to be fun. The challenge is keeping the dust to a minimum.
This is gonna be great!! 
Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a commision from some of the links and ads shown on this website (Learn More Here)