40 More Feet of Benchwork

This is technically phase II. The first part of that is the L shaped area along two walls. I put studs up along the walls so I could attach the benchwork to it. I was able to put up about 40 feet of benchwork. 20 on top and 20 on the bottom. This benchwork leads to the staging areas. The top picture shows the phase 1 to the right .

Working our way to the left, this picture shows the middle of the area that was built today. The center top and both levels to the left are 12" deep. They are areas that the trains will travel in between towns. There will be a town on the lower shelf in the center of the picture. This area is 20" deep.

The bottom picture shows the narrow shelf leading to staging, which will be to the left of this picture. All of the open area in the front will be filled with benchwork. I will have to have everything done around the walls before I build this section, or I may not get everything into the far corners.

Going Going Gone

The wood rack (above) is in its final stages of life. It was a floor to ceiling rack with many storage shelves. The right hand uprights will stay temporarily, since it is still holding up the benchwork. Below I have added some uprights for the benchwork that will be along the wall. I placed test pieces for the benchwork to see if the width of the shelves and the 30" aisles will be a good fit.

Now I'll clean up the mess I made and see what can be salvaged and what needs to be thrown away.

It has been decided...

..the wood rack comes out.
I have modified my track plan and moved the benchwork away from the wall. This will create a different traffic flow. I still need to decide between 2 "nod under's", a reversal of the orientation of east and west between the upper and lower level.
I have asked friends and people in the Layout Design SIG. It is pretty much a mixed bag of what people like. Right now I'm leaning to ease of construction and no "nod under's". Either way the new benchwork that I'm working on should be basically the same. So, I can be working on the benchwork while I'm deciding.

Wood rack

There is a wood rack in the room that I hoped I could use for getting the track around to the places that I wanted it to go. I wanted to minimize the modifications so that I could still store wood for the wood shop. I originally had a plan that would require a small duck under that wouldn't require you to duck to far, but it always bothered me that any duct under would be too much.
While I was working on the benchwork it occurred to me that the best bet would be to remove, move or modifying the wood rack would be the best bet. So, now I'm rethinking this and see if it will change anything for the better.
Another option would be to make a swinging door for the track and it happens that I have a door that I could use like a dutch door. Time put put on my thinking cap again.

Upper Level progress

The upper level benchwork is completed in the main area. Where is two towns will be located the benchwork is 24" deep and the, other is 20". It is only 15" deep where the trains just run through.
The benchwork was 62 1/2" high and for the widest area where switching would take place, it seemed too deep for me, with no stool. I had to decide how important the height was and whether a stool would be a problem with a low ceiling. I settled on lowering the benchwork down to 60". This gives me a 15" separation between decks, which really doesn't seem to be a problem on the lower deck except for a area where the trains will just run through.
I also can lower the lower level benchwork by as much as 3", just by loosening the supports. Some adjusting will need to be done as I put the grade into the lower level.

Upper Level Benchwork Started

The ceiling in phase 1 is complete. Trying to merge one room into the other was a pain. I got down to the last piece and it wouldn't fit around all those corners. I ended up adding an extra divider and made the last piece into two.

Now that the ceiling is out of the way I have started the second level benchwork. I have gone around two of the four walls. I have a few adjustments and brackets to put in place to ensure everything stays level and secure.

I'll still have the fun of trying to get past the water heater and still be removable, you know, "just in case". Hopefully, I'm thinking ahead for all the gotcha's.

I don't have all the details to get from one level to the other, but I'll at least be able to get the benchwork in and mostly adjusted, until I get into the other room.

It's a little low but....

it is a ceiling. No more worries about insulation falling on your head. I just have to finish a funny corner by the door and splice it into the next section.