2x4 Foot N Scale Layout: Building the Benchwork

Рет қаралды 120,550

Жыл бұрын

This video: watch how I built the benchwork for the 2x4 foot N scale project layout
Watch the track installation: • Installing Kato Unitra...
For this layout construction, I used a combination of birch plywood, poplar and pine dimensional lumber, and insulation foam board. In the next video in this series, I will cover the installation of the track as well as the basic wiring.
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Product links:
DeWalt Cordless Brad Nailer: amzn.to/3XBvltD
Speed Squares: amzn.to/3IxfJ6h
Kato Unitrack (N Scale): amzn.to/3kl9msS
Kato Unitrack (HO Scale): amzn.to/3kl9msS
TRAIN SETS:
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N Scale Kato Super Chief Set: amzn.to/3B4ISS7
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O Scale Lionel Polar Express Train Set: amzn.to/3EQLcNu
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CONTROLLERS:
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Awesome DCC Starter System: amzn.to/3gZVbbp
LAYOUT KIT:
HO Scale Grand Valley Kit: amzn.to/3uiPvN1 (my first adult railroad project)
Track set for Grand Valley Kit: amzn.to/3VPyzsS
Building set for Grand Valley Kit: amzn.to/3F1b8WQ
N Scale Scenic Ridge Kit: woodlandscenics.woodlandsceni...
N Scale building set: amzn.to/3BsZMu3
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My Resin 3D Printer: amzn.to/3gT2PEH
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Cordless Dremel Set: amzn.to/3VO86Mm
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My Dewalt cordless miter saw: amzn.to/3VNnzfL
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LED light panels: amzn.to/36NZBNy
More Items:
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Digitrax DS74 Units: amzn.to/3M7KBbW
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Пікірлер: 67

@dalerobertson9394 Жыл бұрын

The way you measure things is simply bananas.

@StevesTrains Жыл бұрын

I really need to stop monkeying around like that.

@Haymarket47 Жыл бұрын

@@StevesTrains 😂

@ratroddiesels1981 Жыл бұрын

this is the smartest lay-out i have ever seen . i would love to have one.

@rhendricksonn Жыл бұрын

Having watched every video on your channel, I really look forward to the next installment of this build.

@AnimeHairSyndrome Жыл бұрын

I'm seething with envy right now, just built the benchwork for my first layout last week with just 1/4" ply and 1x4 boards and the whole thing turned into a potato chip! This looks like a much better way of doing things.

@billclark81 Жыл бұрын

Steve, I was so happy to have this waiting for me this morning. I love the concept. I await the next video.

@fictionfreeway 10 ай бұрын

As someone looking to build a 4x6 layout, even though I don't have access to the workspace and tools you have (in an apartment), this video made me feel optimistic about what I'll be able to do in my space. I only have an HO set now and haven't even seen an N scale loco in person yet but I'm very excited nonetheless!

@tony791999 Жыл бұрын

This is really badass for a 2x4 foot layout. When it's done and you see 4 different things moving the result will be stunning!!

@StevesTrains Жыл бұрын

That is the goal! Just have to get my vision out of my head…I think it will end up as a really fun, visually interesting, and exciting layout, but time will tell.

@tony791999 Жыл бұрын

@@StevesTrains it absolutely will, seeing what you've got here... you've finished all the tough parts and it looks fantastic.

@chiparooo Жыл бұрын

Really enjoy these small build videos! This one is really creative. Lots of good info. I enjoy the bits of humor you intersperse throughout too! Thanks for sharing!

@StevesTrains Жыл бұрын

Glad you like them!

@SD45-ET44AC Жыл бұрын

Very impressive. You have quite a talent and hope you will share it with the next generation. Thanks for sharing.

@gsigs Жыл бұрын

Carpentry is my weakest skill so it's really helpful to see how a good carpenter does things. Your small circular saw looks really useful!

@StevesTrains Жыл бұрын

It is great. A dewalt cordless one. Uses the same batteries as my drill, nail gun, and compound sliding miter saw.

@billlinge4598 Жыл бұрын

Love your bananas as a measurement tool! Thanks for sharing your thought processes... very informative.

@StevesTrains Жыл бұрын

They are the standard unit of measurement!

@charlesmcclure5994 Жыл бұрын

That looks amazing Steve you're so talented with your building ability

@kinkong1961 Жыл бұрын

Funny enough I have the same amount of space in our bedroom as my wife likes N scale trains as well as me she loves doing the scenery with me and designing and painting with my airbrushes so this has given me an idea and your layout suits me fine I may add a few more sidings or shunting and may put a 4th level for that and two spurs so that I could in the future add to it and make it larger like putting a six-inch track around the whole bedroom going behind the headboard or on top and a fold down cross the door remotely operated by Alexa with one motor and two micro switches for stopping it in each direction and some wire and a spool you have got my mind working overtime all that will come in the future at the moment the space is taken up with my 3d printer and a large piece of MDF which I shall not use I will use the same as you and do what you have done sandwiching it together between foam can't wait to get started so al the best from john from Rugby UK. england.ps great video and I am a subscriber for quite a while now so thumbs up from me as I always do.

@sailingschooners8668 10 ай бұрын

Very clever, you have given me inspiration.....what a simple idea...

@Rickster5176 Жыл бұрын

Positively outstanding!

@dcctrain Жыл бұрын

Very nice!

@BriansModelTrains Жыл бұрын

Wonderful work.

@tonyromano6220 11 ай бұрын

I like this concept!

@DinsdalePiranha67 Жыл бұрын

I've been known to bring dimensional lumber home from Lowe's in my Miata! It does have to be during the warmer months, though, because I have to either put the top down or at least unzip the rear window for it to fit.

@daniellesmith1059 4 ай бұрын

Thanks. Very cool.

@kensbackshop6399 Жыл бұрын

Awesome steve

@StevesTrains Жыл бұрын

Thank you!

@jackheninger5471 Жыл бұрын

Looking pretty good Steve. For you or anybody else considering using those plastic clamps, they work pretty well until plastic fatigue sets in and they litterly fly apart scaring the *$&#! out of you. One of the nice things about them though is that some of them are adjustable.

@StevesTrains Жыл бұрын

Yeah, I’ve broken one before…I only have two clamps that are all metal. But they don’t have rubber on the gripping surfaces so they will mar stuff which is why I don’t use them unless I’ll be cutting or heavily sanding down those surfaces. I really need to invest in a bunch of good clamps of different sizes. You never have enough.

@andycrawford9870 Жыл бұрын

I use Unitrack in HO. All pieces are marked on underside. Hard to read occasionally so I use a black Sharpie pen and write it on underside. No more problems. I also have a box of one each of the cardboard packaging for each type. Good reference for future.

@StevesTrains Жыл бұрын

They were all marked but some only had a part number instead of the length or radius. Usually they have both but the small ones in n scale just don’t have much room.

@normanrowe2831 Жыл бұрын

Hello. This, by far, is the sturdiest 2’ by 4’ layout EVER. I’m enjoying the series. One question…..what is the length of 4 bent bananas? See ya next time.

@StevesTrains Жыл бұрын

Exactly equal to 4 bananas!

@DmitriyBB Жыл бұрын

Очень интересно. Классное видео!

@JohnR406 Жыл бұрын

You should check out the dangers of wearing rings when working with power tools!

@StevesTrains Жыл бұрын

Mine can’t come off unfortunately unless I cut it off

@Linda_Eskin 14 күн бұрын

@@StevesTrainsThat’s not a bad idea - cutting the ring off. A jeweler can enlarge the ring. Better for your finger. (My dad had the same issue.)

@DavidKiviat Жыл бұрын

Watching your videos gives me the confidence to finally get started on my own first layout! I see you've experimented with a variety of different techniques for the frame (plywood framed with poplar, dimensional lumbar frame filled with foam, the sandwich method you used above). What framing technique would you recommend for a simple one level 2 x 4?

@StevesTrains Жыл бұрын

I would probably just do half inch birch plywood with 1x3 pine framing underneath. You can put a layer of insulation foam board on top in whatever thickness you want if you plan to have any terrain that extends below track level (rivers, etc).

@chuckmaddison2924 12 күн бұрын

I ordered a Tomix starter set today with some extra track, which could take it out to about 2.4 meters and 560 mm wide. Should have got a switch or two. Anyway, see what happens.

@StevesTrains 12 күн бұрын

I do want to check out the tomix track sometime.

@musicman8942 Жыл бұрын

Hopefully with everything scenicked you won't have to lift things too often. Loving your benchwork and I've built a fair few layouts (mostly HO) over the years. And like Norm Abrams says: 'you can never have too many clamps'. Questions: Where did you get your wood? Like a Lowes or Home Depot? And do you let your wood sit where the layout is going to be so it gets acclimatized to the environment? I learned that lesson the hard way here in the Northeast - got the wood home and started building the benchwork. Get back to it a couple of weeks later and everything was warped and twisted.

@StevesTrains Жыл бұрын

Yes, wood was picked up from Home Depot and sat in the garage for several weeks (not on purpose for that long, just didn’t have time to work on the project).

@scooterinvegas1 4 ай бұрын

I was wondering how many bananas that cut was going to be.

@leftylou6070 9 ай бұрын

Wow! Look at all those barely used tools. Did you buy them all for this project? Looks good.

@StevesTrains 9 ай бұрын

I’ve built 20 layouts in 20 years, so plus I’ve built a lot of things around the house, redid almost all the baseboard moulding in the house, done built in shelves, tree house in the backyard, etc. they get a lot of use!

@tonyromano6220 11 ай бұрын

Your way is much better than a door, door is loud and too hard and bouncy. 2” masking tape is ok clamp you also could have use through bolts. Also frame with hardwood vs foam to edge. Make you build much simpler and stronger.

@razorbackjack7880 Жыл бұрын

Is there a way you could have the track change elevations in a small layout like this? Im new to the whole model train concept and was thinking about something that does that.

@StevesTrains Жыл бұрын

Sure, but you end up with steeper grades on a layout this size which limits how long your trains can be and may result in some locomotives not being able to make the grades (assuming you wanted something like this where the track looped up from the lower level to the upper level.

@musicman8942 Жыл бұрын

@@StevesTrains Not to mention that with Unitrack or any other track system like this it's not easy to make grades with smooth transitions at the top and bottom. For me if it's going to have grades use flextrack.

@John2E0GTU Жыл бұрын

What do you do if you only have one pair of shoes please?

@StevesTrains Жыл бұрын

Yeah, you are unfortunately completely out of luck in that case.

@brianhill2634 10 ай бұрын

Hi Steve, is your layout 4’x2’ bench overall length measurement or is it internal measurement? Thanks Brian

@StevesTrains 10 ай бұрын

Internal, so the wood on the sides adds another inch or so in each direction. The boards I used are about a half inch thick.

@bcsferromodelismo3822 Жыл бұрын

🇧🇷🚂👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

@tonyromano6220 11 ай бұрын

You saw blade is dull.

@tonyromano6220 11 ай бұрын

Rerailers in the back……hidden area.

@andreepeterpasche1895 6 ай бұрын

How big are your Shoes? I've size 12!

@StevesTrains 6 ай бұрын

Usually size 12. Sometimes a 13. They are almost exactly a foot long. I can walk off measurements pretty accurately on things.

@andreepeterpasche1895 6 ай бұрын

@@StevesTrainsOkay. I'm 6 foot 6. With small feet.

@nathaniellampman2052 6 ай бұрын

Yes impressive. Having separate loops and no grades to connect each loop together still gives you limited amount of cars you can run on a train.

@StevesTrains 6 ай бұрын

If it was larger I would connect the levels, but the grades would be really steep in this size, though still doable. A six foot instead of 4 foot length would make that work out easier.

@762forest_railway Жыл бұрын

BNSF？

@StevesTrains Жыл бұрын

That BNSF unit is my longest diesel so that is what I was testing with. In terms of the layout location I was thinking more like southwestern PA or something like that. But, obviously BNSF wouldn’t run there. But then I have no CSX stuff and only one Norfolk Southern unit that doesn’t run well at the moment.

@762forest_railway Жыл бұрын

@@StevesTrains I have Santa Fe's F7A