Model Railroad Benchwork
Model Railroad Benchwork, Build A Solid Foundation
Whether you run ho, n, o, or z scale on your layouts, one thing is sure. You have model railroad benchwork involved in some way. Model railroad benchwork is the foundation of your railroad, and as such you must be sure to make it sturdy and secure. This is the one part of model railroading it does not pay to skimp on. So, whether you build it yourself from scratch, or have invested in a model railroad benchwork kit, avoid wobbly and shaky cities and rail lines by building it sturdy.
As mentioned, if you want to be up and running in a hurry, and don't have time to plan out your benchwork, or time to build it, you can always order one of the benchwork kits available. From the small apartment layout to a large basement empire, benchwork kits can be ordered and then assembled in a weekend or so. This saves you a ton of time, and you can be assured that your benchwork will be steady and secure.
Otherwise what can you do? Well, there are plenty of benchwork building books available, and for some people, do it yourself benchwork is one of the most fun and rewarding parts of model railroading.
In regards to benchwork books, anything put out by Model Railroader is very good. Especially if written by Linn Wescott – the king of model railroading.
Well put together benchwork may have a spindly appearance, but be assured that it will go a long way towards keeping derailments to a minimum. You will not have much BHA (big hand action).
Obviously, the first step in planning your benchwork is to determine how much room you have available, and how much you will actually be able to utilize. For realistic operation, it usually is best to stay away from the 4 x 8 plywood scenario, although plenty of unbelievable layouts have been built on old doors and such. But if you have the room, a bench designed and built for a specific rail plan is best.
So figure out how much room you have, figure out how much time you have, and decide if you want to outsource the bench building, or design and build one yourself with a bit of help in the form of books or online tutorials if you need them.
For a great all around guide to model railroading, take a look at www.modeltrainhelp.smmsite.com
|