Layout Construction

Status as of 9/8/05

Lots of progress has been made recently (last 4 months). Some of the members from our club here in Morgantown have started a round-robin group to try and help each other make progress on our layouts. Therefore, I once again have friends to thank for all the recent progress.

We replaced our furnace this last winter, and it is now GONE from the basement (it is now out in the garage). About half of the suspended ceiling is up, and I have gotten some of the light fixtures in and wired. There are a few new pictures below.

Status as of 11/28/2005

The progress continues! The suspended ceiling and lights are installed in half the basement. The other half will wait for the future. Right now I am focused on getting part of the layout up for the upcoming Mid-Central Region NMRA convention we are hosting in April 27-30, 2006.

The first phase of construction will be Neville Island, and it is starting to take shape. Inspired by the steel benchwork article in the May, 2005 Model Railroader, I am using steel framework covered with 1/4 inch luan plywood and 1/2 inch Homasote. The steel framing has been a learning process. I have built Neville Island as a free-standing, cantilevered table. I could not go floor-ceiling with a stud wall, and I wanted to provide space below for a future lower level. This would have been challenging engineering in wood, and it is more so with the limited ways you can join steel. I still have some areas I want to beef up a bit, but I am convinced that it is overall better than wood from both a cost and climate stability standpoint.

Pictures (click on any pictures for a larger view)

Aaaahhhh! A clean empty basement ready for a layout! The other end of the basement. So that's where all the stuff went. All stuff was moved to one side so that the area would be clear for ceiling, lights, and painting.

Moved stuff to make room for the workbench under the stairs. Neville Island benchwork is ready to start (metal studs on floor in foreground) Another view of the soon-to-be Neville Island benchwork. Note back of new workbench under stairs. Mike Hohn (left) and I work on building the benchwork upside down on the floor. The benchwork height is about 52 inches off the floor with provision for a future lower level. The benchwork is also divided into sections in case I want to move it if I change houses. Eric Hansmann was taking the picture.

One of the middle units under construction. Studs were used left-to-right and track up and down. Front track is not on so it can go around one of the basement posts. "Unit 2" upright and in position. Two more of the hat channels need to be put on top. I chosen Unit 1 in place with all hat channels. Since it is on an end, cantilever construction did not have to be used for this end's leg support.

A view of the underside of the joint between Unit 1 and Unit 2. One thing Different angle. Unit four, which will have the Shenango blast furnaces on it and most of the P&OV trackage.

Different angle. Underside of P&OV end showing construction details. The new workbench.

This shows the basics of how the steel, plywood, and homasote go together. The track is down the front edge (long). The stud fits into the track. The "hat" channel fits on top to provide strength in the long direction (track is very flimsy). Use normal drywall screws to screw the homasote and plywood down to the hat channel. Ready for track. I can almost see the blast furnaces now!

Previous Construction Page


Aaaahhhh! A clean empty basement ready for a layout!	The other end of the basement.	So that's where all the stuff went. All stuff was moved to one side so that the area would be clear for ceiling, lights, and painting.

Moved stuff to make room for the workbench under the stairs. Neville Island benchwork is ready to start (metal studs on floor in foreground)	Another view of the soon-to-be Neville Island benchwork. Note back of new workbench under stairs.	Mike Hohn (left) and I work on building the benchwork upside down on the floor. The benchwork height is about 52 inches off the floor with provision for a future lower level. The benchwork is also divided into sections in case I want to move it if I change houses. Eric Hansmann was taking the picture.

One of the middle units under construction. Studs were used left-to-right and track up and down. Front track is not on so it can go around one of the basement posts.	"Unit 2" upright and in position. Two more of the hat channels need to be put on top. I chosen	Unit 1 in place with all hat channels. Since it is on an end, cantilever construction did not have to be used for this end's leg support.

A view of the underside of the joint between Unit 1 and Unit 2. One thing	Different angle.	Unit four, which will have the Shenango blast furnaces on it and most of the P&OV trackage.

Different angle.	Underside of P&OV end showing construction details.	The new workbench.

This shows the basics of how the steel, plywood, and homasote go together. The track is down the front edge (long). The stud fits into the track. The "hat" channel fits on top to provide strength in the long direction (track is very flimsy). Use normal drywall screws to screw the homasote and plywood down to the hat channel.	Ready for track.	I can almost see the blast furnaces now!