What this all looked like before...

...the massive train setup we have finished was conceived!

A swimming pool with a swimmer in it!!!  Does the paneling on the side look familiar?  It should!  We reused this for our build!

The paneling on this side was actually framed out with 2X4's and is now the control panel side of our build!

The pool table is still there.  There is plenty of room for playing even with the behemoth train table set up!

Finishing the Build

Took two hours today to get the second shelf in place and attach the stabilizing arm to both shelves.  The build is now complete.  Next step...trains!!!!!

Construction Nears Completion! (Video)

Today we spent nearly four hours putting finishing touches and troubleshooting solutions to problems we created unknowingly in the course of construction but were able to overcome.  I discovered that I am dyslexic...instead of cutting the wood paneling 43 inches, I cut it to 34 inches.  We were able to make a fix but it ate up a bunch of time.  I almost did it again today...telling myself "32 inches...32 inches..." and then measuring out 23 inches.  Whoops!  Here is a video that highlights what we've accomplished to this point!

January 16th, 2013: Homasote Update!

Well, we spent a few hours on Saturday putting the homasote onto the plywood!  The way we did it was to paint a strong wood glue down onto the plywood (working from opposite sides of the plywood sheets) and then maneuver the homasote into position, immediately drilling pilot holes and screwing the homasote down onto the plywood.  It didn't take that long but I broke two drill bits in the process.  In the afternoon, the paneling was put up along the front, tacked in place by a nail at the top and another at the bottom.  Since then, we have discussed methods for attaching a slide-out board for the transformers and flip-up panels for the switches and are watching YouTube videos on how to make mountains and tunnels.  This is a learn-as-you-go project.  I got the glue today for putting together the model buildings we got and ordered a hot wire sculpting tool so we can make our terrain from foam.


Upcoming this weekend will be photos of the paneling that has been put up along the front and sides of the table!

January 5th, 2013: The Table Is Completed

 Started just after 9 AM.  Put the platforms we built last time upside down and put on four legs on each side, bracing them against the cross-braces.  We tied them together with 1X3s on all sides to level everything out.  We did the construction on the tarp to mitigage damage to the brand new carpet underneath.





As we moved them into place, we put carpet fragments under the legs to mitigate damage to the carpet underneath. 



 



It was tough getting everything to line up but we got it done!  We made a trip to Home Depot to get more screws and wood and a new drill bit...I broke the 9/64th bit while we were playing with the second platform.   

 Here is the third platform, which we kept upside down until the fourth one was completed.

All four platforms are completed and put in position!  Note the 2X5 pieces of plywood connecting the two sets of platforms together, leaving a 2X6 opening in the middle so we can work.  

From another angle.

The work opening looks smaller than it is at this wide angle.

From the side.

From the bottom.  Everything is lined up, all systems go!  Next step is to glue and attach the homasote to the plywood, which we'll do next weekend!

We finished at about 5 PM.  8 hours!  Put in a solid work day!  :)