This page is generally oriented for those who are building a medium to large layout (one that is in a dedicated troom for the layout). For those of you who are building smaller layouts, there will be sections that you find informative too.
The Western Washington Short Line is a HO multi-deck layout freelance - prototype railroad model in the 1950s based on my interests in Class III railroads, traction, logging and coal mining. It is a two deck walk in design that has approximately 200 feet of mainline.
The WWSL is located in an unfinished basement 30' long by 25' wide. It has entry from inside the house and of course its heated and cooled. Compared to other locations where I've had previous iterations of the layout, this is prime real estate!
Construction Project Process
The basement wasnt ready
for a medium sized layout. It was going to take some work. If you have
been following the Layout Design Process part of this blog you will
remember that a number of 'givens and druthers' made in several of those subsets. Those 'givens and druthers' come into play
in the construction process. Those s'givens and druthers' are located in:
- Resources available
- Layout planning
- Construction
Heres how we integrate those 'givens and druthers' into reality.
Step 1: Get a Clear Vision
You have an idea about what you want your layout to look like. Here we asking the question: What's your layout construction vision?
If youv'e ever been on a construction site or been involved in a hourse rehabilitation, you know first hand that deconstruction and construction is a dirty and cluttered area. If you add living on location, then its potentially even worse. The longer you are in the construction phase, the longer you have to deal with the project disadvantages.
For starters, you can familiarize yourself with what other railroad
modelers did/ or are are doing. Model Railroader, Model Railroad Craftsman,Model Reailroading are excellent sources of material for simple and basic layout
construction ideas. An even better idea is to check out the internet for layout construction. Here are a couple of layout blogs that I have found particularly helpful:
STEP 2: Think about the future
How long are you gong to be there? If you own the property and you intend to live there for years to come a layout room remodel is a significant investment of your time and money, and quality work will last you a lifetime. If youre only going to live there a couple of years, extensive investment may not be cost effective.
If you rent what will the landlord allow you to do? As a landlord I dislike the tenants making holes in my walls.
Think ahead to get the most out of your remodel.
STEP 3: Choose between DIY or hiring pros
This is all about making the project possible. There are two real question that need answering:
- How much renovation will be necessary to achieve the layout vision?
- What are your skills and abilities when it comes to the project?
- How much time do you have?
You can either opt for DIY or hire contractors.
Layout room renovation may be beyond the time and skills available to the home owner. If its a huge project, it probably be impossible to go full-blown DIY. As a landlord with the skills to renovate my basement, it was a long period of time for me to get it ready ..... and parts are still not done after 3 years. That’s why most homeowners prefer to work with experienced and skilled contractors to get it done, and get it done quickly. This can come from an in-house team or hire a few subcontractors to work on some specific areas. Don't forget local building codes, permits and inspections can play a big part in a renovation project ... including costs.
Layout construction is often considered to be DIY. There are contractors out there that will do layout design and construction if you so choose to go that route.
STEP 4: Consider your utilities
Your utilities such as water, gas, and electricity may put some constraints on your layout room. Its not generally cost effective to change the floor plan or path of the house utilities, though it can be done with the help of a remodeling professional. When I bought the property I now live in, the basement layout was the number 1 reason i selected that particular property.
Two factors influenced me. First, the stairway was against a wall and was a straight line shot to the outside. Second, the utilities were also against the walls, allowing the layout to have unimpeded access in general. Access to the furnace, electrical box, water meter, etc is unimpeded, or within reason. This allowed the lower right hand corner to serve three functions: utilities, workshop and crew lounge. The only environmental upgrade was a dehumidifier added under the set tubs.
STEP 5: Keep in mind structural requirements
Each city or building jurisdiction has its own unique requirements above and beyond the current building code. Each house has structural supports that are essential for safety. In my case my basement has a stuctural support beam running down the length of the basement. Two lolly posts located equidistantly along that length support the beam which supports the floor beams. Removal of those beams would result in the first floor collapsing into the basement. If i wanted those beams removed so i had free space throughout the basement, I would need a structural steel beam to replace what I have in place now. Putting a steel beam in the basement was going to be next to impossible.
Most often the layout builder will face a load bearing wall. Those can be relocated but a structural engineer will be the one to help you work out how this will impact your home.
In my situation if I were to upgrade the basement with drywall walls, etc it would change the home's value and increase the property taxes, more than the total value of the lumber and drywall costs.
STEP 6: Make a funding plan for your project
There’s nothing worse than not knowing what the project is going to cost until after the work is done. To keep track of the costs, you need to know what you're going to need and how much its going to cost. Since I am at the home improvement store every couple of days because of my job its no big deal to pick up the odds and ends I needed to do my basement project. Your mileage may vary!
To solve this problem you need to have a materiel list. And a price list. Here's an easy materiel list I made up AFTER the fact to capture my costs in building my layout, in this case, basic room preparation. Hopefully you have a sympathetic significant other.
Each aspect of the project can have its own materiel and price list. So far I'm tracking Benchwork, Module Construction and Right of Way. I'll have to start tracking Electrical, Scenery, Locomotive and Rolling Stock, and Structure cost.
If you're going to consider your layout room a home remodel, then a home equity loan may be the best idea. For me it's cash and liquid assets.
STEP 7: Keep track of your project plan
Theres nothing like researching, then planning a great project and then forgetting about it! Save yourself from the stress, and keep track of everything. I made a binder for each functional area (see right sideboard) and put in notes for all the layout room ideas I found interesting. You can create categories with the use of tab dividers, so organizing and monitoring is easier too.
General Guidelines
In my blog I have numerous entries about the design and construction of the layout. My layout design process captures my successes and blunders in three areas: Deconstruction, Room Preparation, and Benchwork.I have identified the following guidelines for constructing the layout room.
Safety. You Are Responsible For Your Own Safety! Its important enough to say twice: You Are Responsible For Your Own Safety! And look out for the safety of your family and guests.
Prepare for construction. Plan first. This
includes order of work, material storage locations, lumber cut lists, electrical fixtures, outlet
boxes,wire etc, supply lists etc.
Deconstruct everything that needs to be removed as one project. Get it done and get rid of it.
Clear the layout room completely. Store both railroad and construction supplies away from the layout room. Co-locating supplies will only result in delays in construction throughout the project. If you can't clear out the layroom room completely put all the supplies against the one wall you're doing last so you dont trip over it or have to move it more than once to complete the project. I can't count the number of times I have had to move stuff.
Initiate construction activities based on the following rules:
- Top to bottom. With an empty layout room you can wire ceiling lights and install drywall efficiently. Finish the floor. If its a concrete floor consider epoxy painting it to seal any concrete dust before putting down the final floor (tile, carpet, etc).
- Outside to inside. Building that peninsula down the middle of the layout room before you finish constructing the far outside wall is not a time saver.
- Maximize the use of factory sides/ends.
- Measure twice (3 times is better), cut once. Write down the measurement before marking and cutting. I always admired Norm Abrams (from This Old House fame) for his small scrap piles. I'm not Norm Abrams.
- Gang cut identical sizes at the same time, even if its going to be a while before you get to those parts.
Finish one sub-project before starting another. There is an inherent efficiency doing the same activity multiple times til completed rather than working in fits and starts. For example: install and wire ceiling can lights before installing wall outlets.
Keep the construction area clean. One location for tool storage. One location for screws, nails and small parts. Cut materials outside if possible. Sawdust and/or drywall dust inside moves all over the house. Waste materials should be put in trash cans and moved outside at the end of the work day. If you think the small material is salvagable then put it back in the stock pile. Pick up the dropped screws and nails and return them to the small parts storage area. Vacuum at the end of the work day. Your significant other (or your bare feet) will appreciate it.
References
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