Everything on model trains, model railroads, model railways, locomotives, model train layouts, scenery, wiring, DCC and more. Enjoy the world's best hobby... model railroading!
Workbench Extention
Don asks readers:
I have a layout on a 4x8 workbench. I now want to add on to this bench with another 4x6 bench. How do I connect the track so it can be separated if the benches have to be moved? The scenery I can get myself, but the track laying and alignment is something else. And how do you get the track without a gap?
Readers can comment below.
5 Responses to Workbench Extention
Leave a Reply
SUBMIT YOUR QUESTION
Download Your Free Catalog
Use Tiny Railroad Micro Controllers
Model Train Help Ebook
Put the benches together, lay the track across both and then cut the rails so the benches can be separated again with something like a dremel cutting disc.
You’ll need something to be able to make the electrical connections, but soem electrical wire, small plugs and soldering should sort you out there.
Hope that helps.
Having the same issue myself for a small 4′ x 6′ layout that I needed to be able to “pack away” when not in use. The three methods (two of which I have used) that I know of all require first having a good flush fit between the sections with locator pins that will ensure exact alignment each time. (I have been blogging my progress here – http://peppergroyne.wordpress.com/)
Option 1) I allowed a small extension of the track connectors and a little bit of flexibility at the ends of each section so a positive connection could be made each time
Option 2) Stop the track short of each end of the base board and use a removable connecting piece that acts as a bridge between the track sections(similar to the FRE-MO folks)
Option 3) This is the trickiest one and not one I have been able to experiment with yet. Finish the tracks perfectly flush with the base board ends and then run wiring under the layout using some form of plug-based connector between the two ends so you can plug and unplug as necessary. If your baseboard alignment and track laying is very good, there should (in theory) be no gap to worry about.
Hope that helps as I am still learning and experimenting with solutions for this as well 🙂
Don,
You’ll find a number of module construction tips right here using this blog’s search function. You can also do a Google search for “model railroad module” which will generate many sites to help you out. Here is one I found just a minute ago using the Google search description I suggested:
http://www.modular-model-railroads.com/category/module-construction/
Hope this helps,
Geof from the US
Hi, I recently re-started HO at age 52…here in South Africa, clubs hold 2 or more wooden boards together with G-clamps underneath table near the matching sides. Easy to adjust. Electricals are fed with looped cables to be plugged into any kind of connector (like male-female) all underneath the layout. Regards, Gert
As a longtime modeller and Elect
tech I find the Peppergroyne option
#2 the best and easyest way with these additions. The bridge track is often lost so solder stranded drop wires to the center of your bridge track bottom of the rails. Cut grooves so the wires can pass between the two tables and back under one table just long enough to reach track power. when the tables are seperated the bridge track will hang down under until needed again. Good Luck email me if you need more info.