Re-post of my Indiana Layout

[martin.ojaste]

What are you waiting for, go for it!

[John B]

Once again, what you are about to see has been done...but as you will see, I have made a lot of mistakes, bad decisions, and after 10 years the current layout condition will  surprise you.


After considering everything that I wanted to do with the basement, my layout size shrank from the full basement to it's present size of 12 x 24 foot size. I've laid out my space, hung up furring strips and put drywall up for the backdrop

[John B]

Cannot figure out how to post a picture and have a description underneath it and then post another picture below that; so I will have to post individual pictures on at a time.


Joan's sewing room is on the other side of the layout room. I hung drywall on the back of her shelving for the backdrop

[John B]

I've painted the backdrop sky blue and am ready for the framework.[/size]

[John B]

Wrong! This is not the way to build a railroad. I needed solid walls for the train room. So I ripped everything out and put up 2x4s for the wall then insulated it to keep it toasty.

[John B]

The floor was cold so I put in some carpeting. I figured that if I built a layout, the ceiling would be hard to install; so I put in lighting and AC/Heating ducts into the room.


I put up furring strips and installed tempered hardboard this time instead of drywall for the backdrop. I lost a little layout space in the corners because I curved the hardboard instead of butting it up to the walls. I think it will look a lot better.

[John B]

I've painted the hardboard sky blue again and am back to where I was a few pictures back; but this time I started out on the right foot (I hope)

This process probably took 4 months. Remember, I work very slow.Next comes the trackplan. At this point I really don't have a plan yet; although I leaning towards one in particular

NOTE:  I put a plastic drop cloth over the new carpeting...at least I did one thing right

[John B]

We are now looking at December 2005. I am need of a good trackplan here and I needed a little step-by-step instruction to go along with it. I found the Kalmbach Book: the Pennsy Middle Division by Dave Frary published in 1996. It's a little hard to get now; but well worth it for beginners.

[John B]

With track plan in mind. The framework begins. Standard L girder construction. Using 1x2s, 2x2s, 1x3s and 1x4s

I put some plastic down first to keep the carpet clean. Note to self: Don't put plastic under legs next time. You can't get plastic out

[John B]

This is my standard train building garb; sweatpants and a t-shirt.

[John B]

Starting to build the framework for the mountain area.

[John B]

I added a little fiddle yard to the basic trackplan. I didn't particularly like the yard location in the original plan

[John B]

I got some 2-inch foam for the layout support.

[John B]

I cut out a temporary section for a future access area.

[John B]

I transferred the cutout section onto the foam and placed it onto the framework to check the fit and looks.