| If you are just starting out with model trains, one of the | | | | Where you located you plywood bench-mark platform |
| first decisions you will need to make is deciding where | | | | is another important decision you will need to make. |
| you will locate your model train and how much space | | | | Many beginners may be tempted to place the |
| you need for your layout. "Bench-work" is the model | | | | bench-work table up against a wall, but this makes |
| railroading term which refers to the surface on which | | | | reaching the far side of the platform very difficult. In |
| you will be building the model train layout. For most | | | | general, it is hard to reach beyond 3 feet on any |
| beginners the best bench-work foundation is a 4 by 8 | | | | bench-work platform. If at all possible, you should |
| foot plywood table. | | | | locate you bench-work in an area where you will be |
| Such tables are easy to construct yourself if you have | | | | able to work on it from all sides. |
| some basic carpentry knowledge, and you should be | | | | After you have decided on the size of your |
| able to find many different 4 by 8 foot plywood | | | | bench-mark platform and its location, you are ready to |
| bench-work model train table plans easily online. If you | | | | start designing your model railroad layout. Since you |
| construct this bench-work platform yourself, you will be | | | | now know the space constraints you are working with, |
| able to decide what height is best for you. Many model | | | | you can use this knowledge to determine both the |
| railroaders prefer a height where they can easily sit | | | | scale of your model railroad. HO scale should work |
| and work on the bench-work, since it is likely you will | | | | fine with a 4 by 8 foot layout, although N scale will give |
| be spending hours perfecting your layout and adding | | | | you even more room to develop your railroad layout. |
| scenery elements. | | | | |