When I was contemplating what I wanted the WWSL layout room to look like to the outside visitor I was influenced by an article I read in the Layout Design Magazine. It was an article that polled the LDSIG about layout room amenities and the prevalent thinking of the time. The consensus of opinion was grouped in three areas:
- Layout room construction.
- Layout
- Crew Comfort
Layout Room Construction
Heating and air conditioning are nice touches but any discussion of that
goes beyong the boundaries of this chapter. And climate control is important too. Not only will the layout operate
best if both the temperature and humidity are kept within fairly close
limits, but so will you and your guests.
Drywall is best for ceilings in a model railroad room. Ceiling tiles are distracting and tend to give the room an office or rec-room feel.
Simply painting your cinder block walls, while a step in the right direction will likely not please you in the long run. Professionally installed drywall will make for the best walls. This approach will add value to your home that in some measure you may be able to recoup upon its eventual sale.
Carpeting may be the most attractive and comfortable choice. Carpeting should be: neutral, low pile, and have subtle pattern that can hide some stains. Avoid very expensive carpeting so if it is ruined by a spill you will have less heartache.
Entries from the outside
basement walls, sealed, studded, insualated and drywall
floo, sealed tiled, carpeted
drop ceiling
drywall ceiling
See Craig Bisgeier's Chapter D(8) on Layout Room Prep. But let me weigh in with the following personal observations. For the best appearance your ceiling should be professionally installed. Some will opt for ceiling tiles to be able to reach the gas, water, and electrical lines without having to tear a ceiling out.
Layout
Given that many of today's modern layouts are designed with high benchwork, give some thought early on in designing some areas where children and those of short stature can stand to get a better view of your layout. You could use portable library-type stepping stools or you could build permanent elevated standing areas. If you build a permanent area, be sure to paint it or cover it with carpet that coordinates or matches your existing room surface coverings.
A cushioned surface to stand on is important when you are standing hour
long during construction or during an operating session. If at all
possible, vinyl tile or floor covering should be installed under the
layout area before beginning construction. Easier yet on your feet is
carpeting, though it is hard to find small dropped objects such as
coupler springs on a carpet.
Crew lounge
Being a lone wolf railroad modeler for years, I didnt appreciate the idea of a crew lounge until I was invited to an operating session. The layout was large and the operational challenges were a delight. The only issue that I (and others) had was there was a dearth of 'hanger on's' that crowded the aisles, etc and thus interfered (unintentially) with the operators. I became a true believer in crew lounges, even for my comparitively small layout.
Lounge size depends on how many operators you intend to host and how many of those will not be running trains at any given time. Consensus was that the lounge was best located adjacent to, but outside, the train room. This gets operators who are not currently running a train out of the train room (so they will not be kibitzing and interfering with other operators). It also lets them relax a bit between assignments, making the whole operating session less stressful and therefore more fun.
Those layouts with crew lounges generally had places to sit and tables with the
latest model magazines and some bookcases to hold the inevitable railroad books and research materials. Several layout owners indicated it is nice to have a
small refrigerator for cold drinks and a counter for cookies and snacks, which kept such drinks and snacks outside the layout room.
A neat stool for working on your layout is always handy. I've got two. Guests will appreciate a sofa. I've got one of those too. The fabric should not be too busy. Be sure the sofa is comfortable. A dark color should hide dirt better. You need not spend a fortune on this item.
The WWSL
Here's what I did to upgrade the basement for my layout.
Additional general lighting was installed. Ten can lights with 60 watt bulbs wer installed as general lighting. Layout lighting is extra.
The ceiling was drywalled, spackled and painted. Access panels were cut and installed along water supply lines and drains.
Additional electrical outlets were installed. Eight 2 outlet boxes and four 4 outlet boxes were installed in the laout area and workshop / crew lounge area. The layout is independent of the main house system.
Heating and cooling ducts were insulated. A dehumidifier was installed.
Indoor / outdoor carpet was installed.
The open stairwell had riser's installed reducing the dust infiltration into the crew lounge/ workshop area. Old carpet will be removed and replaced when construction is completed.
The crew lounge has a stereo system, a slightly wide screen TV and internet/DVD connection. A coffee pot and dorm sized refrigerator has been installed. I've even got a two cushion couch for guests!
Reference
Layout Design SIG
Milepost15: Renovating the basement
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