3.0 Construction

Modeling Information

Here are the overviews of the construction activities that were taken to construct the railroad layout. Each section discusses a series of construction possibilites for layouts. Select the appropriate hyperlink to get to the constuction page that discusses the activity.

3.1 Construction Concepts 3.2 Layout Room Amenities 3.3 Benchwork 3.4 WWSL Stud Wall 3.5 WWSL L-Girder Framing 3.6 Backdrop 3.7 Valence / Fascia 3.8 Lights 3.9 Section / Module Design 3.10 Helix 3.11 Transfer Table 3.12 Car Card Holders 3.13 Pen / Uncoupler Holders 3.14 Car Drawers 3.15 Under Deck Skirting

Benchwork Specifics 3.3.1 Open grid benchwork 3.3.2 L-Girder benchwork 3.3.3 Shelf benchwork 3.3.4 Multi-deck benchwork

Track Suppport Specifics 3.3.5 Flat top 3.3.6 Panel    3.3.7 Cookie cutter 3.3.8 Spline

Resources

When it comes to layout construction, the books are ok, but the real gems are the trials and tribulations of actual construction. 

Here is a list of web sites that I have relied on in the past and present when it comes to layout construction. Each of them has an excellent series of construction articles that you will find of interest.

Southern Pacific Cascade Line Bill uses open grid and L-Girder framework and shelf and flat top / cookie cutter track support.

Building the SP Los Angeles Division  Rick uses open grid framework (welded metal) and flat top (plywood/drywall) track support

Conrail's Onondaga Cutoff.blogspot.com  Dave Abeles uses L-Grider framework and flat top (plywood) track support.

Adena Railroad  Chris Ellis uses open grid framework and flat top (plywood) track support.

Chesapeake, Wheeling and Erie Railroad Tom Patterson uses open grid framework and and flat top (plywood) track support.

Signal Station 199  Joe Smith uses a unique stud wall, plywood bracket framework and flat top (plywood) track support.

LK&O  Alan uses open grid framework, wall brackets and flat top (plywood) track support.

New Britain Station  Randy uses a mix of open grid and L-Girder framework, and flat top (plywood / OSB) track support.

PRR - Northern Central  The PRR - Northern Central uses open grid and flat top (plywood) track support. 

The CB&Q in Wyoming Mark Pruitt uses open grid and flat top (plywood) track support.  

modeling the CNW in Milwaukee, 1957  Charles Hostetler uses open grid and extruded polystyrene panels for track support.

For something a bit more non-traditional :

Erie Harlem Station Matthieu Lachance uses open grid framework (luan) and flat top (luan) track support. 

Maryland and Pennsylvania Ted DiIorio uses open grid framework (gator foam) and flat top (luan) track support.