Wall Brackets and Foam Construction Questions

[riverotter1948]

I have an opportunity to build a new HO scale layout, basically starting over from scratch. I'd like to build it around-the-walls, but the cost of "traditional" benchwork is outside of the available budget, so I'm considering using "L" brackets attached to the walls every 18" to 24" to support 24" wide, 2" thick blue foam board.

My questions are:
1. How can I attach the foam to the brackets so it doesn't slide off onto the floor? ;-)
2. How far apart should the brackets be to support the foam board (and trains, track, scenery, etc.)?
3. Any recommendations about make or model of brackets?
4. How can I join the foam board segments end-to-end?

Please feel free to ask me any questions for clarification, via either public post or private message.

Thanks in advance for your ideas, experiences, etc.

 

[JeffShultz]

1.You put the foam on top of box "dominos" that you secure to the brackets. Put a 1x3 furring strip across the bottom of the benchwork out where you'll screw it in to the bracket near the tip.

2. I spaced mine with the wall joists - so 16" centers in my case.

3. I used Rubbermaid dual-track rails and brackets - I got them at Home Depot. Since I ran the tracks down to the base of the wall I've also got some under-layout storage options.

4. Screw the benchwork dominos together.

One lesson from experience - these brackets do not sit level, as they expect to be bent down with a fair amount of weight on them. My original 1x4 based benchwork was heavy enough to do this. My 1x2 was definitely not, so I got to be creative with how I supported it in order to even it out. I usually simply screwed the back board of the benchwork into the wall directly at a point that would be level with the front after putting in the brackets and furring strip supports.

See my photos at http://www.shultzinfosystems.com/gallery2/main.php/v/railroading/WPRR_final/DSCF2533.jpg.html and http://www.shultzinfosystems.com/gallery2/main.php/v/railroading/WPRR_final/DSCF2562.jpg.html and following for some idea of how I did it.

 

[UP2CSX]

If you look at Jeff's pictures you'll see that he didn't just screw foam to the wall. It sounds like you want to have the foam only supported by brackets. This isn't going to work as the foam has almost no structural strength. The first time you inadvertently lean on the foam to rerail a car, you'll find part of your layout on the ground.

From Jeff's pictures, it looks like he made a box of maybe 1x2's with a 1/4 inch plywood top. He then added the furring strips at every point where the layout mounted to the wall. While this is still not ideal from the point of view of strength, it's enough if you're careful about where you place your elbows. As Jeff wrote, the foam will not stay level without enough support but will sag between supports without a solid base. You might also think about going to 4" foam, which is a lot stronger than the 2" variety and gives you a little more resistance to sagging between supports. No matter what, attaching foam directly to the wall with a shelf type understructure is not going to work.