01-17-2010, 01:48 PM
I wonder what kind of shadows your lights will make shining through from the opposite side of the peninsula? There may be none or few, since lighting on both sides of the peninsula will be similar, but one thing to avoid, if at all possible, is backlighting your scenes. Because fluorescent lighting is so "flat" (not casting distinct shadows), some detail is naturally "lost" when viewing. Backlighting will exacerbate this situation, and may cause further difficulties for photography, too.
As for finishing the walls beneath the layout, one thing to consider is the use of that below-layout space. I boarded all of my layout room floor-to-ceiling, but finished (taped and mudded) only the area which shows above the benchwork. If the layout comes out, I'll have to finish those areas, but since removing the layout will also require un-coving and re-boarding the corners and filling all of the holes where the bolts securing the layout to the walls were located, it won't be that much extra work.
Much of my below-layout space is occupied by heavy-duty shelves (3/8" plywood on 2"x4" framing, 16"o/c) and used for storing all sorts of stuff, including tools, toys, furniture, miscellaneous household goods, along with building supplies and train stuff. I intend to eventually cover these areas with sliding Masonite doors, but, in the meantime, sheets of cardboard suffice.
![[Image: Layoutroomphotos002.jpg]](http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b399/doctorwayne/Layout%20room%20tour/Layoutroomphotos002.jpg)
![[Image: Layoutroomphotos010.jpg]](http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b399/doctorwayne/Layout%20room%20tour/Layoutroomphotos010.jpg)
![[Image: Layoutroomphotos006.jpg]](http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b399/doctorwayne/Layout%20room%20tour/Layoutroomphotos006.jpg)
If you're going to have lots of layout wiring beneath that requires access, you probably won't want to block that: mine has only two such areas, one where the power pack and track connection is located, and another where I have an access hatch.
Another consideration, and not just on the peninsula wall, is electrical outlets. I have several of them throughout the layout room, all currently located on the wall under the layout. Only one, near the power pack is readily accessible (which explains why there's an extension cord visible on the floor in many of my layout room pictures). The original plan (approved by the electrical inspector) is to locate new receptacles below the layout facia, fastened to the face of the top member supporting the benchwork, as shown below.
![[Image: CopyofLayoutroomphotos008.jpg]](http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b399/doctorwayne/Layout%20room%20tour/CopyofLayoutroomphotos008.jpg)
Since all of the receptacles are currently mounted on the face of the wall, it's a simple matter to put a blank cover on them, then run BX cable to the new boxes. That way, they'll be readily accessible but not on the layout facia, where someone might accidentally insert foreign objects into them.
Wayne
As for finishing the walls beneath the layout, one thing to consider is the use of that below-layout space. I boarded all of my layout room floor-to-ceiling, but finished (taped and mudded) only the area which shows above the benchwork. If the layout comes out, I'll have to finish those areas, but since removing the layout will also require un-coving and re-boarding the corners and filling all of the holes where the bolts securing the layout to the walls were located, it won't be that much extra work.
Much of my below-layout space is occupied by heavy-duty shelves (3/8" plywood on 2"x4" framing, 16"o/c) and used for storing all sorts of stuff, including tools, toys, furniture, miscellaneous household goods, along with building supplies and train stuff. I intend to eventually cover these areas with sliding Masonite doors, but, in the meantime, sheets of cardboard suffice.
If you're going to have lots of layout wiring beneath that requires access, you probably won't want to block that: mine has only two such areas, one where the power pack and track connection is located, and another where I have an access hatch.
Another consideration, and not just on the peninsula wall, is electrical outlets. I have several of them throughout the layout room, all currently located on the wall under the layout. Only one, near the power pack is readily accessible (which explains why there's an extension cord visible on the floor in many of my layout room pictures). The original plan (approved by the electrical inspector) is to locate new receptacles below the layout facia, fastened to the face of the top member supporting the benchwork, as shown below.
Since all of the receptacles are currently mounted on the face of the wall, it's a simple matter to put a blank cover on them, then run BX cable to the new boxes. That way, they'll be readily accessible but not on the layout facia, where someone might accidentally insert foreign objects into them.
Wayne