What does model railway building benchwork mean; it is the under frame of your layout, it is the structure that supports your subfloor which supports your track work. I like to think of it as the floor rafters in a house that supports the plywood that is sitting on it that is supporting the carpet, wood finished floor or tile flooring. Once you have your layout completed this will determine how you need to build your benchwork for your model railroad.

You can build a simple flat 4 x 8 plywood layout and the railroad benchwork for that is easy to build. In fact you can go to Wal-Mart and purchase a 3 x 6 folding table and that would support the 4 x 8 plywood. But if you want a bigger layout or say you want different elevations for your railroad layout then building that benchwork will become more complicated.

But whether it is a simple layout or one that is complicated building the model railroads benchwork correctly is crucial as it supports your railroad system and makes the setup lay correctly. Make it shorter on one side your setup will tilt or not strong enough your setup could come tumbling donw, not good.

Simple Folding Table Make Great Benchwork.

So you have three choices for having benchwork:

1- Build it yourself

2- Have someone else build it

3- Purchase one (only simple ones are available for purchase).

There is information available (some good and most not so good) for sale that will tell and show you how to build benchwork for your model railroad. I would encourage you to try it yourself, the key to building a successful benchwork structure is to take your time and follow the directions. If you join a model railroading support group you can get all the help you need to achieve your goals.

I have been asked by many railroad modelers what is the best benchwork method and the answer is that there is no one best way to build benchwork. You can choose open-grid or L-girder, free-standing (hung from ceiling) or attached to the walls, or a combination of styles, all can work well and will depend upon your track layout. Use the methods you feel will work best for the space you have to set up your railroad and the layout you want. I once helped my friend build his benchwork and it was so complicated that we ended up getting help from a carpenter. I felt that we could have completed it ourselves but we were under a time frame.

Benchwork with Indent For Standing Closer.

Here are some considerations to keep in mind when building your benchwork. Keep all track work within arm’s reach. Even scenic layouts will need to be dusted and if they are over arms length then it will be difficult to reach. Tables that are wider than 40” should have access from both sides. Everything on your table will either need to be cleaned, repaired or adjusted at some point and you will need to be able to reach them.

When building your benchwork you need to make it strong enough to handle the weight of your plywood and the railroad system itself. The best plywood’s thickness needs to be at least 3/8” or thicker as too thin will likely warp. Some railroad modelers prefer using a product called Homasote. Homasote is a pressed-fiber product that helps with sound deadening. The drawback is it is harder to cut than plywood and nail into it. Some railroaders like to nail there plywood into their benchwork but I have learned this will come back to haunt you. The nails over time will loosen up so to stop this use wood screws instead of nails.

Another trick is to apply a bead of silicone caulking onto of the benchwork where the plywood will lay on; this will stop any possible squeaks that sometimes occur over time and use.

I love adding depth to my tabletop and the right benchwork will add depth to your layout. Most beginner railroad modelers start with a table and put on it a 4’ x 8’ sheet of plywood tabletop but it is somewhat limiting. A flat table makes it handy to try different track arrangements and place buildings and other details, but scenery doesn’t get interesting or real looking until you start to vary the elevations of the track and other elements. If your scenery has elevated tracks, roads, hills, rivers, ravines, lakes and other details it will give a realistic appearance.

This Benchwork Adds Depth to the Layout.

The easiest and most popular way to make these elevation changes is to use what is called the “cookie cutter” method. What makes this method so workable is it allows for a smooth grade transitions and grades as steep or gradual as you want. The flexibility of the cookie cutter method is very flexible. You can leave the table portion in place for towns and large industries, or remove it or recess it for low areas. Keep in mind there are several other ways to build your benchwork. Just be careful where you get your information from on how to construct your benchwork.

Forever a Model Railroader, Billy Jamison!