Like Joe, it's been too long since I posted anything. My latest project has been to construct a semi-permanent shelf in the shop where I can assemble modules and be able to run trains at home.
Sorry I didn't take any construction photos. It's pretty basic stuff. I already had a wall of adjustable shelving, so I decided to go with that. I lowered the shelf standards to match the height of my table saw out-feed table. Before too long I will no longer need it as I transition from module builder to train player.
Next I bought a sheet of 1/2" CDX plywood. I just barely had room at one end to put up a shelf for an end loop consisting of three alt-corners, two double straights and a junction. That piece of shelf ended up being about 54" x 30", held in the corner by 1 x 2 strips attached to the wall corners, and a 4 x 4 post holding it up under the corner in the room.
Then down the wall, I cut the remainder of the plywood in 18" wide sections, and layed them on the shelf standards. Trying to avoid excess cost, I added splicer boards along the way. I ended up with an 24' x 30' piece at the far end, under the return loop. I just added a leg brace and more 1 x 2 strips on the wal to hold that end in place.
Using shop scraps, I added facia top and bottom with 1 x 2 's and added 1/8" masonite over that to create a nice clean look. You really cannot tell that is is mostly just a hunk of plywood sitting on shelf brackets.
I decided that I needed some lighting for the layout. I found some 24" mini-fluorescents at Home Depot that can be daisy-chained with just one plug-in. I ended up with 7 of them, and mounted them up under the top valence, completely hidden from view.
Next step was to create some type of skyboard to cover up the ugly wafer-board walls and to keep the light from heading up to the ceiling through the wire shelves above the layout. Hobby Lobby matting board to the rescue. I got the last 5 pieces of a nice sky blue and just wedged them in place at the top and stabled them to cleats along the wall just above the shelf. '
It was a very inexpensive, quick and easy project that took me a total of about two weeks, working just in the evenings.
It has allowed me to assemble about 1.75 scale miles of track in a continuous run loop, where I can FINALLY run my own trains at home, without having to wait for a show.
You can view the first run of a train over the layout at this youTube video: http://youtu.be/d3RFmXmTDxk
