Help with my First N Scale Layout.

[k0ncept]

some progress on the cleaning as promised


Now I just need to get the Desk Cut down and turned around and place it where that window is on the left, then that will allow me to move those base cabinets to where they fit best and still allow me to build a shelf between them to house the TV and DVR.. Then I should be all set, im thinking of building the layout as a U, as suggested, and place it where the desk and base cabinets are located now in the picture, that would give me 11ft 4" Wide and 5ft 8 deep on the right hand side where the door is, and give me the full 9 ft on the left hand side with the possiblity of branching off and creating a yard on the other side where my desk would be, coming down the left hand side toward the door, OR even a drawbridge to place for a complete around the walls connection.. The possibilities are driving me mad.

[joed2323]

I still think you should remove those cabinets. That way you can put up a nice backdrop, the cabinets will obstruct the backdrop.

You may still want to remove the desk area, how big is the desk?

Good job on cleaning up the storage unit so far

[k0ncept]

that desk is over 5ft wide and 31" deep without pulling out the keyboard, the KB drawer is 16" when it's fully pulled out.. after looking I also agree, I should remove the upper cabinets if I can find a good spot to mount them in maybe my other shed, or garage, or maybe some of them can be incorporated under the layout for storage too....

[joed2323]

Thats a good idea, if you put them under your layout you would have good storage...

Get-er-done lets go, cant wait to see some benchwork going up

[railfan]

Where are the trains? This is already taking too long!!!




Mike

[k0ncept]

Originally Posted by railfan

Where are the trains? This is already taking too long!!!




Mike

im sweating my old ass off hehe dang hot today! Ok I just got the desk moved and flipped around not cut down, I can do that later.

What I am wondering now is, how wide to make the benchwork? and I am still not dead set on any track plan, and this is REALLY Slowing me down, I am thinking of going with the plan I posted on page 1 with a few changes, but now im thinking if I added a helix or 2 I could really shake things up for some REALLY long running trains... I will be shooting up to home depot and picking up a bunch of 1x4's to get started here in a bit...

[joed2323]

I would try and build your bench work to 24 inches wide with your 1x4s.
You could always lay down some plywood over the 24inch wide bench to make it up to 30 inches wide, since you are alittle uncertain. 30 inches is about the max you want to go so you do not have reach issues.

Im not sure if what type of bench work you are wanting to build? The plywood may not work for you if you decide to go L-girder.

I think you should stay 24-30 inch wide range anything else and it will be to wide for your room plus it will be too wide for your arms. If you ended up going bigger then this you could always make access hatches.

Adding a helix or 2 really expands your horizons. You could have staging on the lowest level, staging is a must.

Btw- does that door swing into the inside of the room? If so this may be a issue.

[k0ncept]

Originally Posted by joed2323

I would try and build your bench work to 24 inches wide with your 1x4s.
You could always lay down some plywood over the 24inch wide bench to make it up to 30 inches wide, since you are alittle uncertain. 30 inches is about the max you want to go so you do not have reach issues.

Im not sure if what type of bench work you are wanting to build? The plywood may not work for you if you decide to go L-girder.

I think you should stay 24-30 inch wide range anything else and it will be to wide for your room plus it will be too wide for your arms. If you ended up going bigger then this you could always make access hatches.

Adding a helix or 2 really expands your horizons. You could have staging on the lowest level, staging is a must.

Btw- does that door swing into the inside of the room? If so this may be a issue.

Yes that damn door does swing to the inside... Here are some updated pics to get a better idea..

This is when you first enter the room looking to the right



Looking at that same corner from the far corner of the room, from that back wall to the door jamb is 5ft 8"



This is the area to the left of that corner all the way to the left back corner, 11ft 4" in total width.. and that back wall running left to right would be 9ft total...




For the benchwork, I am thinking it will be a combo of 1x4's and playwood, im thinking of using 3/4 ply to run across the cabinets and use them as bases, then in hte areas where I dont have bases, I can use tradional framing, I am worried by just slapping ply on top of the cabinets that wiring might be a problem, but I will come to that when I get there, I am using unitrack, as I cant get any flex track to save my life in N scale and I have to say I am impressed with the way unitrack works, I just dont like it's pre-fabbed look, so I was hoping to maybe use some flextrack here and there where needed, I am pretty good at laying track but uni-track is a no brainer and really easy to work with lol, it either fits or it dont..

What I am hoping to get out of this layout is some decent staging, switching, long running trains, lots of scenery with elevation, mountains..
I want to be able to work in a little logging operation, as well as tie some other industries into the mix even as far down to the Hardware store.. I want to have some breathtaking scenery with the trains flowing I know I want too much, I just need to find a happy medium.. I just need to figure on a good trackplan that I can complete.... With the way the windows are laid out in this room, it seems all the mountains will have to be along the big wall, and any helix's would have to be at either end.. I can actually go wider as well, and leave access underneath if need be in some places, esp the helix areas...

[railfan]

For my N scale...I use cheapest ($12 per 4'x8' sheet) one quarter inch panel plywood from lowes.....on top of light benchwork frame made of economy 1"x3" pine sticks....and screw the frame together with fancy 1-1/4" self tapping wood screws.....no pre-drilling needed in soft pine.....goes together quick. Comes out quite strong for N scale. I made this frame to put a door on top of.....but for 1/4" plywood I will add more cross pieces of 1"x3" to screw the thin plywood down to. For me this makes real nice strong super affordable benchwork......but some folks won't trust this lightweight of material. This frame is for a 36" x 80" platform.


Mike

[k0ncept]

Nice!! I just got back from HD, nabbed a bunch of 1x4's and some 2x2's and all the playwood I will need.. For the Ply I ended up with 5/8 Fir, it was the best deal they had... I was looking for the correct foam for the top of the plywood, but I didnt see it... I think it's extruded foam correct?

Last time I did a layout we were still using hermosite on top of the ply, I really like the ide of a foam layer to carve as I wish....

Back to HD/Lowes in the AM..