They do have some good prices. Too bad they won't sell to the 'great white North"

Thank you! That is very informative.

Quote from: Hunt on February 11, 2011, 11:45:36 PM
Cowboy,
Click Here and also look at other pages for more info.

Thanks! Very helpful

Quote from: mabloodhound on February 11, 2011, 10:46:20 AM
...   Ripping 4' x 8' sheets into 3" or 4" strips gives you very stable 'boards'.   You can also make your 'L' girders with the plywood much cheaper than pine or fir and with no worry about future warping.
...  Hard to explain, just remember there is no strength if the screws go into the edge of the top piece ...

Maybe that helps.

It does. Thank you. Perhaps I need to purchase a table-saw.

.. James

Quote from: ebtnut on February 10, 2011, 02:46:08 PM
... If you are building a flat table top layout, the 1x3's on 15" centers should be just fine, especially with a full sheet of plywood for a top.  The L-girder design is in a sense a poor-man's I-beam.  It helps keep the beam straight, and the "L" provides a place to screw the joists to that actually support the track risers for the track.... 

Thank you! I have read quite a bit on the L-girder design, but couldn't get my head wrapped around the benefit of it. Your concise explanation clarified it for me. My table will have a full sheet of plywood (1/2 sheet actually  ).

Thanks to all for your input. You provide me exactly what I was looking for - opinions.

I am about to start building my benchwork and my research has shown that we often over-build our bench.

I am going to use Fir as the frame with a 1/2" Birch plywood - all covered with 2" of foam. My layout goes around the room and will be 2' wide and have runs of 10 and 12 feet. I plan on using cross pieces every 16" inches.

So my question to those who may know: Could I use 1x3 Fir? It is almost half the cost of 1x4.

I have the same concerns, but instead I decided to keep my E-Z Command controller as a spare.

Did a Google search and found this on the very first hit:

http://www.hobbylinc.com/htm/lif/lif21314.htm

TMurray,

I haven't used any of it yet - still in the planning stage. Next step for me is to build the benchwork. I am building a "L" shape table that is 12 feet by 4 feet with the "L" part being another 4 feet (two 4x8 plywood sheets).

I am really new as well, so I have no idea about era. Perhaps the 1980s?

Quote from: TMurry14 on January 10, 2011, 03:27:34 PM
The set I bought was http://www.megahobby.com/images/view.aspx?productId=944  and then i bought the additional EZ track of this...   Bachmann's track pack has nickel silver track ... http://www.amazon.com/Bachmann-Trains-Snap-Fit-Greatest-Railroad/dp/B0006NI3TQ

No suggestions, but just wanted to say this is exactly what I purchased last month to start too. Since then I have purchased eight 36" straights and a 30 degree junction. Now to start the benchwork.

Good luck and I hope you enjoy the hobby.