Opinion on benchwork - fixed or modular?

[Dave V]

As of right now, here's what's under construction with about half of it being semi scenicked...that being Echo and Echo Canyon...

Photo (1) - Track Plan for my layout that fits in the present space I have available:



Cheerio!
Bob Gilmore

That's a really great plan, Bob. Love it.

Are you going to use Kato Unitrack?      <runs for cover>

[lock4244]

@robert3985

It's hard to address all of your points, so much good insight in your post!

I think I'll be looking at a mix of 8' and 4' long rectangular sections, but due to the lay of the foundation walls, there's going to be some more irregular shaped sections. One limiting factor that will play into the design is what will physically fit through the means of egress. It's not a walk out basement, the grade being about 4' give or take above the slab, and because there's bedrooms down there it's equipped with escape windows that longer layout sections could pass through so long as they're under 24" wide (I need to confirm that. Additionally, the stairs down are straight and open to the ceiling of the main level, making it easier to maneuver wide and irregular sections out. Only issue with the stairs is the wall opposite the landing at the top, though with no vertical impediments sections need only be lifted above the railing and a sideways movement will have them into the open living area.

Seeing as I'm heavy on long cars (auto industry, intermodal, those pesky passenger trains), broad radius curves are essential wherever possible. Not sure what my minimum will be, that'll be dictated by circumstance, but it's certainly going to be a constraint on design. On peninsulas, I've figured if space dictates tighter curves at the end, keeping that hidden is a better way to keep the visible curves broad. Even if there's room for broad curves around the end, since I'm modeling two mainlines (yikes) the inner one may need to disappear for a while, while the outer is visible.

I think the space available is sufficient that a double deck layout is uncalled for, especially given I'm lone wolfing it. I'm also not made of money and we're in a recession, so the less lumber and track I use the better.

[lock4244]

@oakcreekco

I hadn't really thought about using wall brackets to mount benchwork, however it'd probably not be a bad option for runs along the walls where the depth is 12"-18". Part of my available space is in a finished area where it may be wiser to not bold anything into the walls, and since in that area a the majority of the layout would be free standing out in the room, it wouldn't be too much of an issue to have the whole thing free standing. In the unfinished area brackets would cut down on the use of lumber.

For me it'll be a cold day in hell before I buy any HO equipment... because it's way too tempting with almost every locomotive and freight car I'd like to have being available I'd probably leave N scale. Having made a fair 'investment' in N scale equipment, I'd take a bath selling it off. That said, the space available would lend itself to a pretty decent HO layout 

There will be enough switching to keep me happy, both in the yard and plant, along the mainline, and on any branch I may include.

CN headed east along Bruce Street on the former Oshawa Rwy trackage. This scene could only be repeated for about another year as the line was abandoned in early 1998. I feel luck to have stumbled upon this while at work, and wish I had not just moved from an auto focus Canon Rebel shooting Fugi slides to an all manual Nikon shooting K-64... something as unique as this operation probably not the subject to be figuring out how to shoot 100% manual with unfamiliar film.
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CN now facing north at the north end of operated trackage. I'm taking the picture from Hillcroft Street, which lent it's name to the Oshawa Rwy's Hillcroft shops which are out of view on the left. There was quite a web of trackage serving the original GM (McLaughlin) plants in the city, all gone now. The scene now is a park, and the autoparts plant this yard served is now a Costco and box store retail development.
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[TravelingCarpenter]

My current layout is built to Free-mo N standards. I used to be a spaghetti bowl guy, but following the prototype allows the use of the free moN standards and rp’s. Not every piece has to meet standards. For example, I have 15 sections total. Two sections make up one “ module”. So on that module only the ends meet standards, not the joint in the middle. Then eleven more sections make another “ module”. If I do not attach my corners, I have 4 mating faces that are standard. Then there are two 90 degree corners. A module is a group of sections. People are in the habit of calling a section, a module. Sorry for the ramble!

    I built the my layout to the standards so that I will be able to be a part of meets, shows and conventions. My pieces will be part of the operations road show layout at this years national NMRA convention. So I cast a vote for using Free mo N as guide lines to build your layout.

 
That is one possible show configuration.

What ever you choose,, best of luck
TC

[robert3985]

That's a really great plan, Bob. Love it.

Are you going to use Kato Unitrack?      <runs for cover>

@Dave V , Dave...Funny man! LOLOlolol! 

Otherwise, thank you very much!   

Cheerio!
Bob Gilmore

[lock4244]

I should have jumped in earlier, but here goes.

I once had a semi modular layout, i.e., it was J shaped, 12 x 16, and made up of 2 4x12 sections set at 90 deg., and a 5x9 for the peninsula.

It moved twice, before it succumbed to a stretch of 100 days of 100 + heat in my townhouse garage.  Basically, if you think you will move just once or twice (and can get it out of your basement), maybe fewer but bigger sections might make sense.  Tough to move (Had it in an upstairs loft and needed a scissor lift to get it down off the balcony) but far less time in putting it back together.

And, as someone mentioned, there is no need to be totally consistent if it will be a home layout.  Most prototypical switching can be done on a long straight section along a wall, and maybe those can meet Free Mo or other standard, but if you need a peninsula, build that as a 4 x 8 module.

In a perfect world I'd never face the prospect of moving again, but unfortunately that's out of my control so I'll have to hope for the best and plan for the worst. I'm thinking that an 8' x 2' section is about as long as is practical, and I think 2' deep should be sufficient for most of the layout. A peninsula would likely be sections back to back with the end being TBD.

To move I'd have to rush to clear the layout and disassemble the sections, but unsupervised movers would do the moving (yikes).

[Ed Kapuscinski]

What about designing your plan with the intention of it being modular or sectional.

Then see where that doesn't work and then make a decision.

[lock4244]

What about designing your plan with the intention of it being modular or sectional.

Then see where that doesn't work and then make a decision.

Already I'm thinking it'll predominately removable sections with some modules filling in the gaps. Don't have a drawing of the basement so planning is stalled until I do, but possession is 18 days off so not too far off.

[oakcreekco]

A wall shot of the 17" x 9' shelf layout and valance.

Each use the three metal brackets screwed into the wall (studs).

Plenty of HO switching enjoyment, but this size could be a N scale empire.

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[lock4244]

My current layout is built to Free-mo N standards. I used to be a spaghetti bowl guy, but following the prototype allows the use of the free moN standards and rp’s. Not every piece has to meet standards. For example, I have 15 sections total. Two sections make up one “ module”. So on that module only the ends meet standards, not the joint in the middle. Then eleven more sections make another “ module”. If I do not attach my corners, I have 4 mating faces that are standard. Then there are two 90 degree corners. A module is a group of sections. People are in the habit of calling a section, a module. Sorry for the ramble!

    I built the my layout to the standards so that I will be able to be a part of meets, shows and conventions. My pieces will be part of the operations road show layout at this years national NMRA convention. So I cast a vote for using Free mo N as guide lines to build your layout.

 
That is one possible show configuration.

What ever you choose,, best of luck
TC

This could be a good way to build the Oshawa Rwy trackage if I were to include it. Seems perfect for the somewhat meandering line.

[lock4244]

From CN 1970 car control manual, the three maps representing the Oshawa Rwy in sequential order, first map being the north end, second is middle, third is south end:

Zone N (turned on side to represent compass direction, top is north):
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Zone L (turned on side to represent compass direction, top is north):
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Zone J is the yard at the south end of the line. Main from left to right is the Kingston Sub Toronto - Montreal main, then the yard at the jct for interchange when ORwy was a separate entity and all electric, then the ORwy main heads north to zones L & N:
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Track legend Zone J:
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Track legend Zone L:
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Track legend Zone N:
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[dandopinski]

CN car control manuals! An invaluable document to see what was once an urban switching "empire". I have the Winnipeg,Saskatoon,Regina and Edmonton books. So many transfers and "zone" jobs.
 

[lock4244]

CN car control manuals! An invaluable document to see what was once an urban switching "empire". I have the Winnipeg,Saskatoon,Regina and Edmonton books. So many transfers and "zone" jobs.

They are cool and definitely a very useful resource. All of mine are scanned from a collection, so I have to physical copies, but I'm not complaining.

[lock4244]

Tiny update here... I picked up enough lumber to complete six 2' x 4' modules a few days ago (eight if two have no plywood top Menards was short). Not going to be building anything for a little while what with unpacking stuff that was in storage for over a year, but I'm a little closer now. I did set up a Unitrack loop to mess around with in the meantime.

Since I've not decided the scope of what I want to do of my exact theme (other than CN & CP in southern Ontario 1987-89), the modules will be initially put to use for educational purposes... building benchwork, laying track, wiring, etc... none of which I've been exposed to since the 90's, and back them the old man did most of the work (it was similar to the father in 'A Christmas Story' fighting with the furnace - all swearing, not fun to be around lol). Oh, they have this new thing called DCC that I think will prove quite popular, but unfortunately is somewhat of a mystery to me at present, so I'll be looking into that as well.

[Scottl]

Awesome.  The key first step.