Layout Update Mondays: Benchwork Rehab

Preparing to paint the underside of the benchwork.

As I mentioned a few weeks ago, I am reusing several old modules to build the new O scale layout.  This has involved a bit of demolition over the last week and now it is time to move on to the repair phase. Included in this process is a bit of sanding and paint.

Whenever I build modules, I like to paint every square inch of benchwork. There are two reasons for this. First, sealing the lumber slows the expansion and contraction process every portable model railroad suffers during a show. Going to the Springfield show is a prime example of why this is important. As an example, this layout will go from my heated shop (around 65-70F) into a cold vehicle - which may be close to 10-20F during the end of January. During the drive to the show it will heat up a bit and go into a cool building - probably around 60F. As more exhibitors and the public enters the buildings over the course of the weekend, the humidity will rise along with the temperature. After the show, the modules will go back into a cold car then into the heated shop. This tends to be an extreme and quick temperature and humidity cycle. This causes the benchwork to shrink and swell causing us to have to make setup adjustments all weekend long - otherwise we'd have all kinds of derailment issues.  As a club, we found that painting the modules limits how often these adjustments need to happen to maybe once - worst case twice - over the course of the weekend.

The second reason I like to paint the undersides of the modules is simply a matter of maintenance. It is easy to label wires on a light color paint and if something goes wrong during a show, the lighter color paint makes it easier to see what is going on underneath the layout. Depending on the material used for benchwork, if left unpainted, it can be a bit dark on the underside of the layout making repairs more difficult.

Now back to the shop to paint...