What to use for Benchwork Materials

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June 9, 2015

Jerome asks readers:

“This will be my first layout when I finally pluck up the courage to get started. I have been doing heaps of reading and research on trains and wiring but taking the first step with construction is harder than I thought. I guess it’s because I’m a bit of a control freak, not very skilled with carpentry, and don’t want to stuff anything up. I have a 12ft x 8ft space and have decided on HO. I thought of using radiata pine for the frame and MDF for the base. Is this ok? What thickness is best? I just need a push to get me started.”

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7 Responses to What to use for Benchwork Materials

Kevin Ching says:

June 10, 2015 at 2:34 am

Hi Jerome,
What you have suggested sounds fine my layout uses these materials with 9mm MDF and they are easy to use and readily available, If you have a hobby woodworking group operating in your area, then ask for assistance they are usually able to help. I used the L Girder type construction using 2″ X1″ and 3″ x 1″ pine timber and Legs of 2″x2″ with bracing to hold it in place. L-Girder benchwork By Jim Kelly in Model Railroader January 1981 if you can get or borrow a copy this will help.

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Mark thornton says:

June 10, 2015 at 9:42 am

Hi Jerome,
I would have a look on U-tube as there are some very good get started tutorials, and some very innovative designed bench work as well. solid and flat is the safest way to begin, the best part of this hobbie , is taking the step into the unknown, sometimes your ideas will work, sometimes they won’t.
frustration and enjoyment live hand in hand.

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skip duld says:

June 10, 2015 at 5:42 pm

I use 3/4 plywood with form board on top to reduce sound it works very I can even run my trains in the bedroom my wife doesn’t here them.

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Don J says:

June 10, 2015 at 10:05 pm

Jerome Your question depends on a few things.1. How handy are you?
2. what type of tools do you have to work with? 3. is your layout going to be a sectional, portable or permanent? This has to be decided first then your question can be answered. using great stuff but you can don’t have knowledge or tools does not help. No offense.

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David says:

June 24, 2015 at 10:52 am

Jerome
Don’t let analysis paralysis stop you from enjoying a great hobby. You’re already in front with a 12 x anything room.
Standard PAR pine and MDF are a fantastic choice – get on with it. Make sure you support the track bed at 450mm centres maximum otherwise you might get some sag. Paint it top and bottom, and the edges too if you want to stop deterioration. Once painted MDF should last forever.
Crikey, I’ve even built a layout on planks from an old shipping pallet – it did the job as long as I needed.

Let us know how you got on – but as the adverts say “Just do it!”

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andew says:

July 15, 2015 at 1:10 am

Hey jerome what I used for a table was an 8×4 piece of playwood 1/4 inch thick screwed into1/2 8ft
lenghts & screwded that to 2/3 3ft legs,it gives me a nice 8/4 layout with lots of room to walk around,very cheap and easy to build.

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steve says:

July 22, 2015 at 1:15 pm

Jerome, My layout is O gauge, but the way I made mine was simple, inexpensive, and sturdy.
I used 3/4 plywood with 1/2 foam insulation glued board on top. For all the framing I used 2×3.
May I suggest for your 12 x 8 layout you make six 4×8 box frames to match your plywood sheet size. Add 2 cross beams equally spaced inside each box. Then while they’re laying on the ground, screw the 4 legs into the corners of each box. Flip it over and do the same thing, only raise the box about 3″ up the legs (I put 2×3 on the floor and rested the frame on it). Then you’ll have the bottom frame 3″ off the floor which makes for easy access, room for your feet , and easy vacuuming/sweeping up as you build more of your layout.
Tip – Remember to cut at least 2-3 access holes so you can reach all areas of the 12 x 8 layout. Tip – cut your foam board 1″ larger than the hole you cut in the plywood ie. foam board 19×19, plywood 18 x 18. That way you can just lay the foam over the hole…no tricky hatch doors, etc.
I made a Soccer field on one, and a Drive In Movie parking lot on the other.
Tip – there are a lot of table height recommendations out there, but whatever you do, make it high enough that you can sit up straight under it, preferably sitting on a dolly. You won’t regret it when you’re wiring.
Hope this is helpful
Steve

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