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.

Stud wall almost finished

I took a couple days off work so that I could get started playing--building.  The stud wall is coming along nicely.

Yes, I cut the carpeting under the bottom plate--first thing my handyman-friend asked.  I'm certain he was proud until he asked if I had used treated lumber on the concrete floor.  One demerit for the train man.

Purchase the lumber

Today I purchased the lumber to begin construction in the basement.  My workshop is in the basement adjacent to the train room.  There is an overhead door behind me which goes out to the backyard--the pool.  The door is open in this shot so there's plenty of light.  There's only a single standard light bulb in the center of the room--too dim.   We'll have to do something about that--but first let's get to making sawdust and putting up a wall.

A saw table

But first--maybe it would be nice to build a saw table for my workshop.   I drew this up in SketchUp.  The table saw would mount in the cutout space in the top.  I would be able to wheel this around the room and out of the way.

Ready to begin remodel construction

Ok, this SketchUp tool--and the designing-dreaming that I'm doing--is eating up some real time.  I've been learning and doodling with SketchUp for about five weeks.  I've got quite a bit to show for my effort--but it's about time to start making some sawdust.

The wife and I have decided that a hallway would be nice.  Getting to the restroom from the backyard one needs to be isolated from the trainroom.

Building that stud wall for the hallway is the next order of business.

SketchUp progress

A week later and I've got a bit to show for my SketchUp self-training.  I've pretty much figured out how it's going to work for me.  I'm starting to doodle some benchwork ideas along with the official remodeling plans.

Drawing the basement remodel using SketchUp

I downloaded a free 3-D drawing program called SketchUp.  Now let me tell you there's quite a steep learning curve--but after a couple of days messing with it I generated this basement drawing.

I'm convinced it would be worth it to invest the time learning this beast of a program.  I support computers in my day job--so I'm not easily intimidated by computer applications.  I'll just put in the time required to master this program and the investment will pay off in the long run.  I'll have a powerful tool for drawing whatever I need.

Moving Day

Hey, there's old Roundy-Roundy on the back of the moving truck!

Pool clean-up was going to commence BEFORE there would be any railroading.

Thankfully it didn't take very long to get the pool sparkling clean.

We found the Basement

We found the basement--uh--house and made the offer.  The seller accepted. 

And we're Under Contract.

The new train room!

The Dream -- A model railroad of immodest proportions

Follow along as we recreate selected parts of the A&M Railroad in and around Springdale, Arkansas.

In this blog I will document the progress as we construct a model railroad empire in my basement. We will begin construction in south Springdale along Turner Avenue.   Eventually the line will extend as does the prototype from its southern terminus at Fort Smith, Arkansas, to its northern interchange with BNSF RR in Monett, Missouri.