Good morning,

On Tuesday evening I purchased some 1x2 strapping, some screws, and two 4'x8' sheets of hard board, which Lowes gracious ripped into four 2'x8' strips. The Challenge is to replace my entire back drop from end to end, round the corners and eventually box in the entire layout with a "ceiling" and valance at the front. Eventually I will get around to installing LED lighting strips to light the layout and create a box for the scenery.

In the beginning I was never happy with what I had. It was a half-fast attempt to have a blue sky background. As I've progressed, I've decided I need to have a better backdrop and at the end of the day I'd like to have a more finished look to how the layout is presented. I also decided that I don't want to do all kinds of secenry work and have people distracted by the bare ceiling joists, and less then foot of cinder block wall above the backdrop. I'll be modeling mountians and rock walls, so people will naturally look up!

I'll take some pictures tonight when I get started, but this is me officially throwing my hat into the ring.

Hope it works for you . My only comment is when I used the 1x2's to support the masonite backdrop on my last layout , I didn't find them too supportive over a longer distance ....kinda wobbly if I touched the backdrop . Perhaps it was my amateur carpentry or maybe I should have used 2x2's . Maybe others here had better luck with 1x2's.

T

teejay Wrote:Hope it works for you . My only comment is when I used the 1x2's to support the masonite backdrop on my last layout , I didn't find them too supportive over a longer distance ....kinda wobbly if I touched the backdrop . Perhaps it was my amateur carpentry or maybe I should have used 2x2's . Maybe others here had better luck with 1x2's.

T

I agree. I've had time to consider my choice and may exchange the 1x2's for 2x2's instead. I haven't made any cuts other then the masonite so I still might take the 1x2 back to Lowes after work and pick up the 2x2's instead. That said, I was planning to secure the 1x2's to the wall with PL Premium and concrete screws so I was thinking they might be okay. Still have a few hours to think about it. :|

I remember I saw a big layout in Michigan some time ago and the guy used 2x4's for uprights ....long curvy layout ala Jack Armstrong ....and what first seemed to me to be overkill , impressed me by being built like a tank . Not that I would go that route myself .

T

Jeeper's how time flies when you have a job and a family to look after.

I have been working on this challenge though. Slow and steady as they say. I do a little bit each night. I've just about finished framing the wall sections. Which BTW I decided to use 2x3's to frame it. Technically, they are 1 1/2 by 2 1/2 which I had to remind myself of a couple times when making/taking measurements. I have two more 8 ft segments of wall sections to go. I have two installed and am working on getting the hard board up. Alas, the kiddies have to get their beauty sleep so all work stops at 8 pm. We can't have me using a drill driver and making a huge racket in the house. Drives the missus nuts too!

The plan since day one was to measure and cut all the lumber outside to minimize the dust in the house. So I went at it last Saturday as we had an unusually warm day.

I made the cuts for one of the end sections, and chopped what I would need for the four 8 ft wall sections. The last 4 feet or so will require some special attention as I have to maneuver around some duct work. I have a plan for it... I just hope it works... :?




Quick tool plug. I received a Ryobi 18V Lithium Ion cordless saw and drill for x-mas this year from my mom. I have to say, I am really impressed by these tools. Especially the saw. I made about 20-30 cuts with this little biter and it showed no signs of slowing down. I like the freedom of being able to take the tool anywhere and be able to work right away. Cordless tools have really improved a lot.



Here is what I have managed to accomplish thus far. Almost have the one "leg" done. Can't wait to get the rest of the wall sections and get the hard board up. For the corners I've been whetting the back of the hard board with a spray bottle. Enough to dampen it just a bit. I've been finding it easier to bend into the corners when it is a little wet. The added bonus is that when it dries, it then holds it shape.

It's been a bit of awkward lifting getting these sections into place. But so far I'm managing. I work up a good sweat in the process too.

Nice progress!

Nicely done, but with all that framing you forgot something...

Since this is Canada, you might have considered adding insulation and a vapour barrier... Help to keep the train room and the rest of the house toasty warm.

Might not be too late, if you get a Spray Foam Kit. That stuff can be squirted into all sorts of tight nooks and crannies which means that you can get it done without having to move too much stuff out of the way...

Not to mention the Scenery making potential you could have with any left-over foam....

I suppose I could do that TG... hmmm... The back drop at the far corner there partially blocks a window. Which isn't a really big deal as our hot water tank sits in front of the window somewhat too. Although I could frame around it and start adding some insulation. Maybe I will. I must admit I'd thought about while I've been doing this. Something to think about as I plug along. I have considered some sound proofing above the layout as well as my wife has commented she can hear just about everything through the floor... including me talking to myself. :?

I figure as long as I have not patched or painted anything I can still go back and make that improvement before its too late.

Still plugging away at this when I can. Installed another 8 foot section of framing tonight. The only annoying part is that I have to frame around some existing stuff which can make this time consuming. So I make my measurements, step back, take another measurement and then make my cuts. Plus the noise in the house is a factor, I have to be considerate ya know. I checked out the viability of getting a spray foam kit to do the cavities between the framing and found it to be too cost prohibitive. So If I am going to be doing any insulation it will be Roxul and plastic vapor barrier. Not much in the way of pictures as it looks like bare studs surrounded by a huge mess right now. I only have one more section to go, which will require more framing and more finesse getting around some existing stuff. Might get more done tomorrow, then I'll have some pictures to post.

Getting there. I managed to get the framing done on the walls and tacked the remaining pieces of hardboard up. I will insulate the walls and a couple of feet of the ceiling. It just makes sense. I also just need to go and get a couple of bags of Roxul to do it. Oddly enough I already have a big roll of plastic sheathing from when I did work on a cottage years ago. So sometime this week I'll go get my insulation and fill in the gaps. Then I'll permanently installed the hardboard and cover up those screw holes.





The computer monitor on the layout right now is actually going to be hung from the ceiling in the corner at the front of the valence. There will actually be two monitors there which I will use to display a JMRI Operating Panel and other related stuff, like a wireless camera car on the layout. That will happen after I get the backdrop painted.

One more thing. I moved some track too to accommodate my plans to have a saw mill on the layout. This is in the back corner of the layout which would be hard to do once the monitors are up as I don't want to have to move these things once I install them. I had already done the bulk of the work however I needed to spike the final section of spur down. The track on the right is the last section.



The best thing about this challenge is that its also forced me to clean up my layout area. Which has been in disarray for far too long. With this back drop project I'm starting to think of how I'd like to have a couple of friends or family in my layout area to look at my progress and maybe operate some trains. In order for that to happen, I need to clean my act up first which I am happy to report is coming along as well.

I've also started a second project for this challenge. Instead of sitting on my hands looking at the blank hardboard I've decided to assemble some Tichy USRA 50 Ton Box Car Kits I've had for a couple years still sitting in the box. For that I'll start another challenge thread.

Looking good so far. Who would have thought a railroad challenge could be an excellent excuse for home improvement!

Matt