My first posting on the Model Railroad Hobbyist forum

Today I made my first post on the forum at Model Railroad Hobbyist eZine.    If you aren't a regular reader I strongly recommend it.  The modeling is excellent.  There are lots of great people on the Forum and the price is right--free.

I've been working hard drawing trackplan ideas.  I posted this view of my basement hoping that some of the regulars would offer suggestions for how I might best utilize my space.  I picked up a couple good ideas.

Click here to see the entire post.

Maybe this benchwork isn't the way to go

I'm re-thinking my simple around-the-walls single-deck benchwork.  I realize with these wonderful supports I'm blocked from ever adding a second lower deck--without requiring major modifications.

Lighting for the workshop

I decided I'm tired of the darkness in the workshop.  I picked up three two-lamp florescent fixtures at Lowe's.  These really helped bring my workshop out of the Dark Ages.

Benchwork about 60% done

I'm seeing good progress on the around the walls benchwork.  I'd guess I'm about 60% complete.

Around the walls benchwork construction

It's not like I haven't been working in the basement.  I kinda got stuck on the question of a center peninsula.  After several weeks of analysis-paralysis and on the suggestion of my friend Ray, I decided to just "start building a railroad".   This planning stuff is optional--apparently.

I embraced the idea and began building single-level benchwork around the entire basement.  Here's how it's going so far.  Notice the white paper signs on the wall.  I'm playing with the idea of modeling the A&M Railroad in Springdale, Arkansas.  The signs denote LDE (layout design elements) that I would include in the layout.  Having these named places marked on the wall is helping me visualize how this might actually come together.

I fear the long center part of my space is not wide enough to have a center peninsula.   Building it temporarily has allowed me to take some real measurements.  If I go ahead with it I'm likely to have less than a foot available for modeling on each of the side walls----after leaving three foot aisles on both sides.  I better do some more drawing.  I don't want to compromise on my minimum aisle widths.

Maybe a plan having simple around-the-walls benchwork with no peninsula would fit better.

L-girders and a temporary peninsula

I couldn't resist building some L-girders and temporarily setting up a peninsula down the center of the room.  All my sketch ideas to this point have included a peninsula there.

And notice I've mounted a handful of fixtures to give me temporary construction lighting.