I have made considerable progress on the benchwork over the past two weeks. The benchwork along the three walls of the basement are in place. So brings an end to the easy to build, 2 foot wide, 90 and 45 degree angle benchwork! As I start along the backdrop wall the angles and benchwork shapes are all odd shaped. This means a lot more measuring, check fitting, and changing the saw angle. Thank goodness for protractors and straightedges. 🙂
The printed track plan on the floor is my guide. From it I measure lengths and angles. Those measurements are then used to build the outer perimeter of the benchwork section in the workshop. Once the basic outline is completed the section is placed on the floor on the track plan print. If all lines up well then cross member locations are marked. In the spirit of full disclosure I must admit not each time has the perimeter layout been correct on the first try. An itsy bitsy angle measurement error can expand to a big error at the other end of an 8′ board. Sometimes disassemble and a little trimming is needed.
After the cross members are installed the section is placed on milk crates and shimmed to set it at the right height. The final zero elevation is to be 53″. So with 2″ scenery foam and 3-1/2″ tall benchwork, the bottom of the benchwork is 47-1/2″ from the floor. A plumb bob is used to align the section with the track plan on the floor. Once in correct alignment, additional shims are placed as needed to make the benchwork section level in both x and y axis. It gets to be a little bit of back and forth action trying to get everything level all the while staying as close as possible to 47-1/2″ height at all positions. The concrete flatwork in the basement must have been done by a pretty darn good mason because the height measurements have not been off by more than 3/16″ when everything is level. That’s some level and flat concrete work!
Here are a bunch of pics from my progress since last post. The irregular angle benchwork begins as I approach the backdrop wall, an area that will eventually become the bridge over the River Styx. Of course, my railroad is in 1969, long before the housing developments were there. This is also the spot where I have to work around that pesky post in the train room. Thankfully, there is only one.
