How to support a waist-high layout?

Hello, looking to get back into modelling and I have a basic question regarding the initial setup.
I want to have the layout at waist height, but would be grateful if anyone could suggest the best way to build the legs so it's properly supported - with my limited woodwork skills I can see it sagging and breaking if I'm not careful.
Any advice, useful links, or book suggestions would be gratefully received.

 

Depending on how big a layout you're building, can I suggest an oddball way to do it? Instead of building lots of framing, I went out and bought a set of secondhand kitchen cabinets! Bingo. Legs that can be levelled, storage under the railway, and minimal cost, because people usually just want rid of their old kitchen! Even using four cupboards as corners gives you ample storage.

Hopefully you can see what I mean by the pics on my fotopic site (shameless self plug..)

http://modelrailway.fotopic.net/c1509992.html

 

If you're not planning to take it off to shows, why not use brackets screwed into the wall? You will probably need to build the basic framework to support whatever you are using as a baseboard, but B&Q do very cheap grey angle brackets up to around 22" so essentially your railway becomes a shelf rather than a table.

 

I have recently built a baseboard on 2 levels - high level 8'x1' and low level approximately 14'x2'. I am no 'chippy' so rested the frames on top of shelf units with small (3 inch) stilts to make the board level where required for the high level board. Once completed the structure fits snug against the walls and is sturdy, although I haven't tried jumping on it yet!!!

 

How about a pair of very strong braces ?

Sorry ! :-#

 

Does anyone simply buy a trestle table and put the board on that?

I can see brackets are popular, but in my mind's eye I can see the wreckage of my layout to be covered with bits of plaster and masonry...

 

awful joke...i considered offering the advice..."get a job" but thought better of it...

 

Wisecracks don't butter no parsnips / support a layout, delete as appropriate.

And, to be honest, they were both pretty poor efforts.

Now, if it's funny you want... did you hear about the dyslexic who went to a toga party dressed as a goat?

 

aha very good and very apposite as my alta ego is savagethegoat on certain sites...possible its vasagethetoga, guess we'll never know

 

I am very much a dinosaur when it comes to building baseboards - 2x1 framework under a ply baseboard, with 2x2 fold out legs braced together and a further fold-out brace to hold the legs out forming a timber triangle between board, legs and brace, and I've never had a problem with sagging as long as baseboard size is kept reasonable.

If you're getting back into modelling I'd probably recommend Trevor Booth's book 'Baseboard Basics and Making Tracks', published by Silver Link. Available from Amazon and all good bookshops...

 

Exactly the sort of advice I was after, nice one.

 

Hi,

Bit late but better late than never!

Completely agree with traditional 2"x1" timber and plywood though I would if possible say if cost is less of an issue alternative woods may well be better to keep noise down. A book I found quite useful was Cyril Freezers 'Model Railways on a Budget'. This you may be able to second hand. Although written some years ago its got a lot of useful information in there both on baseboards and other layout related things.

For my own layout this was a 2"x1" frame with plywood top. The board was built as a series of frames and screwed to the wall with cheap batons-typically at DIY stores for gardens as legs and this seemed to work fine. An alternative method I've thought about is using old ironing boards though if this was done keeping the weight of the baseboard down would be a priority!

Just one word of warning-check the distance you are able to reach over the baseboard as over around 3 feet deep you will need a way of reaching an engine if it decides to derail.

all the best.

 

One word - "Trestles" They work well. Also try fixing to the inner wall and if using a baseboard with a frame - Then measure the height you need and there you go. Make some legs from the board to the floor - I did my Dads layout and screwed to the inside of the shed and cut some legs to the correct height and screwwed the legs to the frame and to to the floor as well. Works well and still standing.....