I'm seething with envy right now, just built the benchwork for my first layout last week with just 1/4" ply and 1x4 boards and the whole thing turned into a potato chip! This looks like a much better way of doing things.
As someone looking to build a 4x6 layout, even though I don't have access to the workspace and tools you have (in an apartment), this video made me feel optimistic about what I'll be able to do in my space. I only have an HO set now and haven't even seen an N scale loco in person yet but I'm very excited nonetheless!
Really enjoy these small build videos! This one is really creative. Lots of good info. I enjoy the bits of humor you intersperse throughout too! Thanks for sharing!
That is the goal! Just have to get my vision out of my head…I think it will end up as a really fun, visually interesting, and exciting layout, but time will tell.
Funny enough I have the same amount of space in our bedroom as my wife likes N scale trains as well as me she loves doing the scenery with me and designing and painting with my airbrushes so this has given me an idea and your layout suits me fine I may add a few more sidings or shunting and may put a 4th level for that and two spurs so that I could in the future add to it and make it larger like putting a six-inch track around the whole bedroom going behind the headboard or on top and a fold down cross the door remotely operated by Alexa with one motor and two micro switches for stopping it in each direction and some wire and a spool you have got my mind working overtime all that will come in the future at the moment the space is taken up with my 3d printer and a large piece of MDF which I shall not use I will use the same as you and do what you have done sandwiching it together between foam can't wait to get started so al the best from john from Rugby UK. england.ps great video and I am a subscriber for quite a while now so thumbs up from me as I always do.
I've been known to bring dimensional lumber home from Lowe's in my Miata! It does have to be during the warmer months, though, because I have to either put the top down or at least unzip the rear window for it to fit.
Looking pretty good Steve. For you or anybody else considering using those plastic clamps, they work pretty well until plastic fatigue sets in and they litterly fly apart scaring the *$&#! out of you. One of the nice things about them though is that some of them are adjustable.
Yeah, I’ve broken one before…I only have two clamps that are all metal. But they don’t have rubber on the gripping surfaces so they will mar stuff which is why I don’t use them unless I’ll be cutting or heavily sanding down those surfaces. I really need to invest in a bunch of good clamps of different sizes. You never have enough.
I use Unitrack in HO. All pieces are marked on underside. Hard to read occasionally so I use a black Sharpie pen and write it on underside. No more problems. I also have a box of one each of the cardboard packaging for each type. Good reference for future.
They were all marked but some only had a part number instead of the length or radius. Usually they have both but the small ones in n scale just don’t have much room.
Hello. This, by far, is the sturdiest 2’ by 4’ layout EVER. I’m enjoying the series. One question…..what is the length of 4 bent bananas? See ya next time.
I ordered a Tomix starter set today with some extra track, which could take it out to about 2.4 meters and 560 mm wide. Should have got a switch or two. Anyway, see what happens.
Watching your videos gives me the confidence to finally get started on my own first layout! I see you've experimented with a variety of different techniques for the frame (plywood framed with poplar, dimensional lumbar frame filled with foam, the sandwich method you used above). What framing technique would you recommend for a simple one level 2 x 4?
I would probably just do half inch birch plywood with 1x3 pine framing underneath. You can put a layer of insulation foam board on top in whatever thickness you want if you plan to have any terrain that extends below track level (rivers, etc).
Hopefully with everything scenicked you won't have to lift things too often. Loving your benchwork and I've built a fair few layouts (mostly HO) over the years. And like Norm Abrams says: 'you can never have too many clamps'. Questions: Where did you get your wood? Like a Lowes or Home Depot? And do you let your wood sit where the layout is going to be so it gets acclimatized to the environment? I learned that lesson the hard way here in the Northeast - got the wood home and started building the benchwork. Get back to it a couple of weeks later and everything was warped and twisted.
Yes, wood was picked up from Home Depot and sat in the garage for several weeks (not on purpose for that long, just didn’t have time to work on the project).
Your way is much better than a door, door is loud and too hard and bouncy. 2” masking tape is ok clamp you also could have use through bolts. Also frame with hardwood vs foam to edge. Make you build much simpler and stronger.
Is there a way you could have the track change elevations in a small layout like this? Im new to the whole model train concept and was thinking about something that does that.
Sure, but you end up with steeper grades on a layout this size which limits how long your trains can be and may result in some locomotives not being able to make the grades (assuming you wanted something like this where the track looped up from the lower level to the upper level.
@@StevesTrains Not to mention that with Unitrack or any other track system like this it's not easy to make grades with smooth transitions at the top and bottom. For me if it's going to have grades use flextrack.
I’ve built 20 layouts in 20 years, so plus I’ve built a lot of things around the house, redid almost all the baseboard moulding in the house, done built in shelves, tree house in the backyard, etc. they get a lot of use!
If it was larger I would connect the levels, but the grades would be really steep in this size, though still doable. A six foot instead of 4 foot length would make that work out easier.
That BNSF unit is my longest diesel so that is what I was testing with. In terms of the layout location I was thinking more like southwestern PA or something like that. But, obviously BNSF wouldn’t run there. But then I have no CSX stuff and only one Norfolk Southern unit that doesn’t run well at the moment.
The way you measure things is simply bananas.
I really need to stop monkeying around like that.
@@StevesTrains 😂
this is the smartest lay-out i have ever seen . i would love to have one.
I'm seething with envy right now, just built the benchwork for my first layout last week with just 1/4" ply and 1x4 boards and the whole thing turned into a potato chip! This looks like a much better way of doing things.
As someone looking to build a 4x6 layout, even though I don't have access to the workspace and tools you have (in an apartment), this video made me feel optimistic about what I'll be able to do in my space. I only have an HO set now and haven't even seen an N scale loco in person yet but I'm very excited nonetheless!
Carpentry is my weakest skill so it's really helpful to see how a good carpenter does things. Your small circular saw looks really useful!
It is great. A dewalt cordless one. Uses the same batteries as my drill, nail gun, and compound sliding miter saw.
Really enjoy these small build videos! This one is really creative. Lots of good info. I enjoy the bits of humor you intersperse throughout too! Thanks for sharing!
Glad you like them!
This is really badass for a 2x4 foot layout. When it's done and you see 4 different things moving the result will be stunning!!
That is the goal! Just have to get my vision out of my head…I think it will end up as a really fun, visually interesting, and exciting layout, but time will tell.
@@StevesTrains it absolutely will, seeing what you've got here... you've finished all the tough parts and it looks fantastic.
Love your bananas as a measurement tool! Thanks for sharing your thought processes... very informative.
They are the standard unit of measurement!
Having watched every video on your channel, I really look forward to the next installment of this build.
Very impressive. You have quite a talent and hope you will share it with the next generation. Thanks for sharing.
Funny enough I have the same amount of space in our bedroom as my wife likes N scale trains as well as me she loves doing the scenery with me and designing and painting with my airbrushes so this has given me an idea and your layout suits me fine I may add a few more sidings or shunting and may put a 4th level for that and two spurs so that I could in the future add to it and make it larger like putting a six-inch track around the whole bedroom going behind the headboard or on top and a fold down cross the door remotely operated by Alexa with one motor and two micro switches for stopping it in each direction and some wire and a spool you have got my mind working overtime all that will come in the future at the moment the space is taken up with my 3d printer and a large piece of MDF which I shall not use I will use the same as you and do what you have done sandwiching it together between foam can't wait to get started so al the best from john from Rugby UK. england.ps great video and I am a subscriber for quite a while now so thumbs up from me as I always do.
That looks amazing Steve you're so talented with your building ability
Steve, I was so happy to have this waiting for me this morning. I love the concept. I await the next video.
Very clever, you have given me inspiration.....what a simple idea...
Positively outstanding!
Wonderful work.
I like this concept!
I've been known to bring dimensional lumber home from Lowe's in my Miata! It does have to be during the warmer months, though, because I have to either put the top down or at least unzip the rear window for it to fit.
Very nice!
Thanks. Very cool.
Awesome steve
Thank you!
Looking pretty good Steve. For you or anybody else considering using those plastic clamps, they work pretty well until plastic fatigue sets in and they litterly fly apart scaring the *$&#! out of you. One of the nice things about them though is that some of them are adjustable.
Yeah, I’ve broken one before…I only have two clamps that are all metal. But they don’t have rubber on the gripping surfaces so they will mar stuff which is why I don’t use them unless I’ll be cutting or heavily sanding down those surfaces. I really need to invest in a bunch of good clamps of different sizes. You never have enough.
I use Unitrack in HO. All pieces are marked on underside. Hard to read occasionally so I use a black Sharpie pen and write it on underside. No more problems. I also have a box of one each of the cardboard packaging for each type. Good reference for future.
They were all marked but some only had a part number instead of the length or radius. Usually they have both but the small ones in n scale just don’t have much room.
You should check out the dangers of wearing rings when working with power tools!
Mine can’t come off unfortunately unless I cut it off
@@StevesTrainsThat’s not a bad idea - cutting the ring off. A jeweler can enlarge the ring. Better for your finger. (My dad had the same issue.)
Hello. This, by far, is the sturdiest 2’ by 4’ layout EVER. I’m enjoying the series. One question…..what is the length of 4 bent bananas? See ya next time.
Exactly equal to 4 bananas!
I ordered a Tomix starter set today with some extra track, which could take it out to about 2.4 meters and 560 mm wide. Should have got a switch or two. Anyway, see what happens.
I do want to check out the tomix track sometime.
Очень интересно. Классное видео!
Watching your videos gives me the confidence to finally get started on my own first layout! I see you've experimented with a variety of different techniques for the frame (plywood framed with poplar, dimensional lumbar frame filled with foam, the sandwich method you used above). What framing technique would you recommend for a simple one level 2 x 4?
I would probably just do half inch birch plywood with 1x3 pine framing underneath. You can put a layer of insulation foam board on top in whatever thickness you want if you plan to have any terrain that extends below track level (rivers, etc).
Hopefully with everything scenicked you won't have to lift things too often. Loving your benchwork and I've built a fair few layouts (mostly HO) over the years. And like Norm Abrams says: 'you can never have too many clamps'.
Questions:
Where did you get your wood? Like a Lowes or Home Depot? And do you let your wood sit where the layout is going to be so it gets acclimatized to the environment? I learned that lesson the hard way here in the Northeast - got the wood home and started building the benchwork. Get back to it a couple of weeks later and everything was warped and twisted.
Yes, wood was picked up from Home Depot and sat in the garage for several weeks (not on purpose for that long, just didn’t have time to work on the project).
Your way is much better than a door, door is loud and too hard and bouncy. 2” masking tape is ok clamp you also could have use through bolts. Also frame with hardwood vs foam to edge. Make you build much simpler and stronger.
I was wondering how many bananas that cut was going to be.
Is there a way you could have the track change elevations in a small layout like this? Im new to the whole model train concept and was thinking about something that does that.
Sure, but you end up with steeper grades on a layout this size which limits how long your trains can be and may result in some locomotives not being able to make the grades (assuming you wanted something like this where the track looped up from the lower level to the upper level.
@@StevesTrains Not to mention that with Unitrack or any other track system like this it's not easy to make grades with smooth transitions at the top and bottom. For me if it's going to have grades use flextrack.
Wow! Look at all those barely used tools. Did you buy them all for this project? Looks good.
I’ve built 20 layouts in 20 years, so plus I’ve built a lot of things around the house, redid almost all the baseboard moulding in the house, done built in shelves, tree house in the backyard, etc. they get a lot of use!
What do you do if you only have one pair of shoes please?
Yeah, you are unfortunately completely out of luck in that case.
Hi Steve, is your layout 4’x2’ bench overall length measurement or is it internal measurement? Thanks Brian
Internal, so the wood on the sides adds another inch or so in each direction. The boards I used are about a half inch thick.
Rerailers in the back……hidden area.
You saw blade is dull.
🇧🇷🚂👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Yes impressive. Having separate loops and no grades to connect each loop together still gives you limited amount of cars you can run on a train.
If it was larger I would connect the levels, but the grades would be really steep in this size, though still doable. A six foot instead of 4 foot length would make that work out easier.
How big are your Shoes? I've size 12!
Usually size 12. Sometimes a 13. They are almost exactly a foot long. I can walk off measurements pretty accurately on things.
@@StevesTrainsOkay. I'm 6 foot 6. With small feet.
BNSF？
That BNSF unit is my longest diesel so that is what I was testing with. In terms of the layout location I was thinking more like southwestern PA or something like that. But, obviously BNSF wouldn’t run there. But then I have no CSX stuff and only one Norfolk Southern unit that doesn’t run well at the moment.
@@StevesTrains I have Santa Fe's F7A