Scenery Progress
July 27th, 2009
Making good progress on put down terrain this week.
When I changed over to concrete tie track, I decided to eliminate the crossover I had planned. So I thought I would try embedding some wood tie track into the terrain to look like some old abandon track. I think it came out pretty good (see pic #3). I’ll repeat it on the other side now.
And the beginnings of the staging level begin to appear. Installing the wall mounts for a 12″ shelf.
Shaun, the scenery is coming along nice. Quick question, what’s the distance between your staging and upper level? I’m debating how much clearance to give myself between the bottom level and staging.
Hi Phil,
Thanks for the comment.
From the top of plywood on the staging deck to the top of plywood on the lower deck is 6.75″ just about.
From staging deck to the upper desk would be about 20-21″.
Once I install 5/16″ plywood and unitrack, the staging deck has about 2.5″ of clearance for trains.
Shaun,
depending on the reach-in depth, I’d be a bit concerned about ham handing cars and locos in 2.5″ of clearance. Perhaps you need to cut off a bit of the bottom of the lower level fascia in strategic places for reach ins.
Like the abandoned crossing however – cool idea.
The staging deck will only be 12″ deep, but I don’t really plan on doing much handling of cars while they are parked on the deck.
Most of the trains will be unit trains that just pass on through the layout, so only the engines will need to be shuffled around on those and I can do that on the lift using a Rix rerailer.
But the idea of “access points” in the fascia will be on standby certainly until I see how everything plays out.
Oh, I didn’t even think of this either until I was looking at the picture above, but the clearance on the staging level is only to the bottom of the shelf brackets. From the bottom of the shelf bracket to the plywood base of the lower deck is probably close 3″.
So if I do need to reach and remove something I’ll have have a little more room in that area without causing mass destruction.
Shaun, thanks for the info on the spacing. I’m planning 7-8″ of separation and only 12″ reach so I’ll be following how the clearances work for you closely.
Glad to help.
Good luck on your layout. I’ve got you bookmarked now to follow your progress (and got ya linked here at the site). I’m jealous of your basement sized layout.
*curses the fact homes in the south don’t have basements*