Hey guys... I literally have a basement to build as big a layout as I would like. Pretty excited about it. However, don’t have the time to build from scratch the framework. I am very interested in what Mianne looks like they can do.... has anyone had an experience with them or know someone who has? Looks like they have a great reputation. Any help would be most appreciated and any others to that do this time of framework to consider would also be appreciated.
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I have Mianne and it's great stuff. They will work with you on your benchwork design. It is really easy to assemble and goes together very quickly. No mess and only a few hand tools needed to assemble. I think it was like a #3 phillips screw driver, rubber mallet and a level. Been a while since I got mine.
Call them and Tim will help you work out your design and answer any questions you might have. There are many happy Mianne users here on the OGR forum and I have not yet seen any negative comments. Only downside is that it may take a while to get your order as this is their busy season. I would highly recommend it, I think you will like it and will be quite satisfied.
What a terrific response and truly appreciated. Thanks for taking the time to give me the download. I definitely will be reaching out to Tim. Again, thanks!
My previous three layouts, all spare-bedroom size, were all built with Mianne benchwork. My current layout platform was custom built by my renovation contractor, so I have a whole lot of Mianne components currently stored away in boxes in my garage. As soon as I find the separate box with all the hardware in it (I have not located it since my move a year ago), I will likely sell most of the framework, aside from enough that I may use for a small tinplate layout in the future.
I really LOVE the product and the ease with which it goes together and comes apart when needed. After several moves over the years, I pat myself on the back for having chosen this benchwork system for those various layouts. Saved me a ton of time and money. Beautifully made and backed by great customer service.
I'm eagerly awaiting the arrival of my Mianne benchwork, I hope it comes soon! 
Here's what I'm getting. The rear shelf is for a small town scene with a trolley track. The layout is 20 x 12. The nice thing about this benchwork is you provide the drawing of what you want the layout bench to be, and Tim at Mianne does all the work to figure out the exact parts you need to do the assembly.
Thank you kind sir! Truly appreciate it Allan. I have a huge space in my home.... and I’m excited to get started ... will be sure to post when it all begins.
gunrunnerjohn posted:I'm eagerly awaiting the arrival of my Mianne benchwork, I hope it comes soon!
This is something I would seriously consider. I have the space for it.... how long will it take from when you order until when you receive it John? Thanks for the response. Truly appreciated.
Hard to say, but it's several months. I'm hoping to get mine soon, it was ordered the first of August. I was promised before the York show, so he's still got time. 
I forgot to mention that you can also easily reconfigure if you want to make changes, or add on later so you don't have to do it all at once, etc. They also have several 'kits' available on their website as well as a catalog that I believe has even more kits in it. Anyway worth a look if you haven't visited there http://www.miannebenchwork.com/. They also have some videos of assembly and other info.
gunrunnerjohn posted:Hard to say, but it's several months. I'm hoping to get mine soon, it was ordered the first of August. I was promised before the York show, so he's still got time.
Ok... good to know... so I better get going ...sounds like its a bit of a wait. Again, appreciate the info. Thanks.
gunrunnerjohn posted:I'm eagerly awaiting the arrival of my Mianne benchwork, I hope it comes soon!
Oh my, you got the lift gate too! 
I've got to figure out a way to use one of those somehow, when I expand.
I'm a sucker for gadgets, and it was actually a functional piece for this design. Since I have the open center, that's probably where it'll be operated from, gives you access to everything.
rtr12 posted:I forgot to mention that you can also easily reconfigure if you want to make changes, or add on later so you don't have to do it all at once, etc. They also have several 'kits' available on their website as well as a catalog that I believe has even more kits in it. Anyway worth a look if you haven't visited there http://www.miannebenchwork.com/. They also have some videos of assembly and other info.
Yes I did visit and downloaded his catalog to see my options and get some ne ideas as well. Very impressed. Thanks again!
Here's a link to my layout done with Mianne benchwork, I LOVE it!!!
This great thread has provided useful information and much-appreciated reassuring testimonials for guys like me who have been looking for a "painless," mess-free way to quickly erect quality benchwork for their planned layouts. Thanks, everyone!
Mianne is simply the best.
Delivery: I ordered at the October York Meet and my benchwork was delivered 2.5 months later. Probably typical.
You won't regret owning Mianne.
Bob Delbridge posted:Here's a link to my layout done with Mianne benchwork, I LOVE it!!!
This is truly fabulous... do you have any pics with it all done? What did you use for the top? What kind of wood? Thanks again!
Steve,
I used 1/2" thick plywood or there abouts, the hardware to mount it to the frame comes with your order.
No pics to speak of as I haven't finished it yet. I do have all the track down but I'm running trains to see if there's any problems with the track before I start scenery. It might be another 6-9 months before I make anything permanent. I stink at scenery so it may be a while!
The frame work is a couple of inches narrower than the actual room size. I cut the plywood to fit against the walls so there's a slight overhang on front and back. You tell Mr. Foley what your needs are and he'll make it to suit, he did an excellent job on mine, everything fit perfectly. I think I had one leg left and that was because I forgot to account for a box that covers some duct work coming from below to the upstairs room.
I decided after 4 HO scale layouts with open-grid track work that I might not even have enough years left to build a model railroad, when I re-started with O gauge18 months ago. I didn't want to spend 2 years of whatever I had left building the benchwork the way Model Railroader shows. None of my HO layouts ever actually ran- the track was never smooth enough or electrical work good enough AFTER months and months of work. Then I would move.
I contacted a few of the modular tables people- and basically got an unsatisfactory response, or no response at all from most of them.
So- I called Matt Hewitt in Indianapolis- who will build the tables to your track plan, and deliver them, then set them up. Viola!! Time to lay track!! About the same cost, too. https://www.benchridge.com/
Bob Delbridge posted:Steve,
I used 1/2" thick plywood or there abouts, the hardware to mount it to the frame comes with your order.
No pics to speak of as I haven't finished it yet. I do have all the track down but I'm running trains to see if there's any problems with the track before I start scenery. It might be another 6-9 months before I make anything permanent. I stink at scenery so it may be a while!
The frame work is a couple of inches narrower than the actual room size. I cut the plywood to fit against the walls so there's a slight overhang on front and back. You tell Mr. Foley what your needs are and he'll make it to suit, he did an excellent job on mine, everything fit perfectly. I think I had one leg left and that was because I forgot to account for a box that covers some duct work coming from below to the upstairs room.
Thank you Bob! I am looking forward to getting started. This thread has been extremely helpful. Truly appreciate your feedback. Look forward to updates as well. Have a wonderful Sunday.
I used 1/2" sandply (maybe it was sanded ply) from Home Depot. Tim said that was what he used. It's very nice and solid plywood and it's smooth too. About the same price as their birch plywood only it looked better, IMO (more plys as I recall). I had Home Depot cut it into sizes I could manage and they did that at no extra charge. Also helped with getting it in my old station wagon, er, SUV as they say these days. I have some pictures from when I assembled mine, I'll see if I can find and post them, they are here somewhere. Layout is not finished as I intended to add on to it, but after 3-4 years now I still can't decide on a final plan...
Found the pictures.
This was their 6' x 16' kit. It took me about 8 or 9 hours total, including unpacking, reading the directions, sorting all the parts, going to get the plywood and installing it. Home Depot is fairly close, within 8 miles or so and I went on a weekday so they were not busy. One thing I would probably do differently is make the plywood extend out past the legs and frame. I may still do that when I add on or at least add a piece where no adding on is done. I think it looks good as it is, but I have seen others post theirs with the extra sized top pieces and it looks very nice. Nicer than without, IMO.
Note: The Mianne benchwork is made center of leg to center of leg (or center of frame to frame). I think they explain that on their website or in the catalog? But the actual kit is I think 1-1/2" or so larger all around (5/8" or so per side). If you are going wall to wall this matters and needs to be taken into account. If you are putting it in the middle of the room it only matters if you want the extra size to cover the legs and frame. Hope I didn't make that too confusing?
Time to finish that puppy Tom! 
Indeed it is, I'm way behind on this, like years behind! Just can't seem to figure out what I want to do with the rest of it?
Just fill the space available with benchwork, it'll come to you.
rtr12 posted:I used 1/2" sandply (maybe it was sanded ply) from Home Depot. Tim said that was what he used. It's very nice and solid plywood and it's smooth too. About the same price as their birch plywood only it looked better, IMO (more plys as I recall). I had Home Depot cut it into sizes I could manage and they did that at no extra charge. Also helped with getting it in my old station wagon, er, SUV as they say these days. I have some pictures from when I assembled mine, I'll see if I can find and post them, they are here somewhere. Layout is not finished as I intended to add on to it, but after 3-4 years now I still can't decide on a final plan...
Found the pictures.
This was their 6' x 16' kit. It took me about 8 or 9 hours total, including unpacking, reading the directions, sorting all the parts, going to get the plywood and installing it. Home Depot is fairly close, within 8 miles or so and I went on a weekday so they were not busy. One thing I would probably do differently is make the plywood extend out past the legs and frame. I may still do that when I add on or at least add a piece where no adding on is done. I think it looks good as it is, but I have seen others post theirs with the extra sized top pieces and it looks very nice. Nicer than without, IMO.
Note: The Mianne benchwork is made center of leg to center of leg (or center of frame to frame). I think they explain that on their website or in the catalog? But the actual kit is I think 1-1/2" or so larger all around (5/8" or so per side). If you are going wall to wall this matters and needs to be taken into account. If you are putting it in the middle of the room it only matters if you want the extra size to cover the legs and frame. Hope I didn't make that too confusing?
This is fabulous!! Giving me things to definitely think about for sure.
And with the bottom cross members you can make shelves to lay across them. I had some 1x8 and 1x10 pine boards which I used to make shelving.
gunrunnerjohn posted:Just fill the space available with benchwork, it'll come to you.
I'm beginning to think that just might be the way to go!
If you've been looking at it for three years, it's definitely the way to go!
Steve, to add a little to Bob's great idea above about shelves below the benchwork, here's a simple example of one way to customize the Mianne benchwork.
After talking to Tim a couple of times about what I was wanting to do, I decided to add some extra holes in the legs for more shelves later on. You can see the extra holes (middle ones) in the second picture in my post above. I think they were 12" below the upper holes as I recall. He just added those in for me when he was putting together my order after we had talked about it.
Shortly after I got the benchwork assembled, I ordered the extra cross braces and parts for the extra shelves. I also ordered one of Mianne's transformer carts at that time. I'll see if I can find another picture of the added shelves for you.
Found a couple of pics, shelves and transformer cart.
GRJ, according to the dates on the pictures I've been digging up it's a tad over 4 years...I better get on that pretty soon!
Looks like I have to come over and crack the whip!
I just looked at posts in the link I provided.
I talked to Tim in November 2017, the order was finalized in January 2018, and delivery was in March 2018. So 5 months from initial contact to boxes on the front porch for my 12x30 layout. If you think about all they put into that’s not bad.
By that schedule, I should be seeing boxes in the next couple of weeks, I hope that works out.
I'm a really big fan of Mianne Benchwork! When moving from PA to CA four years ago, I took apart my benchwork, packed it up and put it on the moving truck. Re-designing for my new space was fun and the rest is history. Having a layout in the home living space involved staining the benchwork, trimming down the legs 4", etc. Here are a few pictures:
gunrunnerjohn posted:Looks like I have to come over and crack the whip!
That trip could easily be sidetracked with electronics, Diptrace, PCB, o'scope (I'd go get one!), etc. lessons! Hmmm...those things could have possibly already added somewhat to the delay!
(Also, see pics above from Strangtrain, very nice and more shelf space too!!)
Strangtrain, I was hoping you would post pictures of your finished Mianne, I think it really looks nice. I almost mentioned it here earlier. Thanks for posting.
I like the shelves, I'll have to consider something like that for mine. Great place to store extra rolling stock.
When fully assembled with plywood on top, this benchwork is rock-solid. What I appreciated the most about this product is the fact that I was able to keep my finished train room clean during assembly. No sawdust to vacuum out of the carpeting and no running back and forth to the garage to cut boards (other than the plywood and homesite top). Also, if you want to add to your benchwork, just tell Tim what you want and he will make it. It isn't cheap, but you get what you pay for.
John
gunrunnerjohn posted:I'm eagerly awaiting the arrival of my Mianne benchwork, I hope it comes soon!
GRJ,
Looks like you have a nice healthy amount of space. Are you going to share your track plan with us, or is it still in progress?
The track plan is still in major flux. I'm probably going to switch to Gargraves track and Ross switches for the final plan, but I think I'll toss a loop or two temporarily of the Fastrack I have to tinker around with different scenarios. I have some ideas, but I need to see how they work. I tried to make the benchwork so I could reach everything and just use as much of the available space as possible.
Spoke with Tim this AM. The original building that housed the shop for Mianne Benchwork was sold. Tim had to locate another facility (nearby) and have riggers move all of his equipment. He then had to get it all set up and back into operation which has now happened. He figures it set him back by about a month but he is now back to making shipments everyday. All of his contact information remains the same. He is also preparing for York and hopes all will stop by the booth and say hi. As usual, my wife and I will be at the booth assisting Tim and his wife Lynn.
Al
I'm hoping I see mine soon, I'd love to get started.
Oh, I had to open another Mianne topic, didn't I!? Well, if money was no object, I would have already sent for a custom order for my whole layout. Money has been tight as I have been working part time for over a year now. However, everyone did get me looking at Mianne kits again, and the Model 02-24 kit would actually work perfectly for the portion of the layout I plan to start building first. Soooo..... $419 + 10% shipping is $460.90! That is what I need to come up with for now! Worry about the rest later! I do have the last payments for two locomotives I sold coming in this weekend! What to do? 
When it is all said and done, instead of having trains and no layout, I'll have a layout and no trains to run on it!
I'll let you know what I do later!
Mark, I think you probably have a few trains to run already, get working on that benchwork!
Checking out their website and prices, which I think are reasonable. I’m so going with them when I retire and move. Hope they are still around by then.
You are right John!!!
Mark,
Maybe one other thing to think about, Mianne is extremely easy to add on to (or modify if you want to make a revision here or there). Not to mention it is extremely easy to assemble and goes together very quickly (along with all the other great features). With the basic kit you can than just order additional parts to expand, you don't need another complete kit. Which will save you some $$$ when you add the next part and Tim can help you with part selection too. Clear as mud, right? I think they mention that (much better than I do) somewhere on their website of in the catalog.
This is what I planned to do from the start, just didn't think it would take me this long to come up with a final plan. I could go on and on here, but I don't want you falling asleep right here in the middle of the thread. Looks like nice furniture too! (BTW, can you tell I really like this stuff?) Anyway, good luck with what ever you decide (not trying to influence you here or anything like that).
Yes, Easy is good! My carpentry skills are okay, but I definitely want to hide all of it after! LOL
I only have basic tools, so this looks great too. Then factor in how it is so hard to find good wood that won’t warp, and I see Tim has that problem addressed. Then too, woodworking isn’t my hobby, only a means to an end, like wiring. So fast is good too.
Yes I can see that it should be easy to add on. Also, if I move I can take it apart and use it again, even in a different configuration if necessary. All good things. I talked with Tim, I guess his wife, and Al at York last October, so I saw it first hand.
I had decided to just put shelves along the walls in the 11 x 11 room last winter which was easy, but now that my wife offered the family room I have one long brick wall, built in bookshelves under the windows, and a wood paneled wall so I want the layout to be freestanding in this room.
Glad you got to see it first hand, that is impressive too. After my wife saw it she asked about making a table out of it. Take a look at Strangtrain's stained and finished layout in a previous post here. It's really nice looking, it is furniture!
I considered all that you have as well, and no mess! And as you say if you move it's fully reusable and reconfigurable when you get to your new place. It was just perfect for me. After considering everything I thought the cost was pretty reasonable too. All the advantages far outweighed the cost for me!
I agree Strangtrain's looks great! The darker stain really makes it look like furniture. I would have my layout top extend out from the frame a few inches just to have the legs receded back a bit so I'm not kicking them all the time. I have taken that into account when comparing the Model 02-24 kit to my layout plan.
Good plan. That's the only thing I messed up on, not extending the top on mine. I wasn't sure how it would all turn out when I placed my first order? I didn't really think about it until my grandson brought it up. He wanted more room to drive cars around the layout perimeter. I can still fix it when I expand I think, for the most part anyway. Unfortunately, I think my grandson is getting too old to want to run cars around like he used to.
It doesn’t take long for kids to outgrow anything, and especially grandchildren I would think given how fast time flys and how slow we work when older.
I just got off the phone with Tim Foley, and placed an order for one kit that will take in my 12' 3" wall under the windows perfectly. I already have a roll out section of benchwork for 2 turnback loops that will but up against the one corner of the kit. It will take me all winter and maybe longer to get to the point when I need to order another kit or custom project. That will be for the 3rd and longest wall and turnback loop. Thank you everyone for the positive advice.
Mark Boyce posted:I just got off the phone with Tim Foley, and placed an order for one kit that will take in my 12' 3" wall under the windows perfectly....
Congratulations Mark! Have fun assembling the benchwork and building the layout. I'm sure you will like the Mianne parts. I have two such layouts and I think they are the absolute best way to build a layout.
MELGAR
Thank you Melgar!!
Tim said he could ship about 2 weeks after he gets back from York. I won’t have time to start until all my and my parents’ leaves are cleaned up anyway. They are only starting to turn colors now; late here in Western Pennsylvania
I wish I had asked Tim Foley for some more of the brackets used to tie down the plywood top. I found some at Lowes but they're metal. I have a few spots that I would like to keep as flat as possible.
I didn't have the patience to order small sections at a time, I wanted the whole enchilada to hit me at the same time!!!
I barely have mine running and am already thinking about adding an island or 2, it never ends!!!
Good luck Mark!!! This benchwork has made building fun again.
Bob, I went back to Tim's video, and I see the brackets you mentioned, and I have seen them before in metal also. Yes, he says put them on the legs, but I can see where you may want them mid span to snug the top down.
My decision to order only part of what I need for the overall plan was strictly financial. I would have rather bought it all at once also.
Thank you. Yes, I find carpentry to be a chore, and as I get older, it has become painful too! This should be fun!!
Doing all the carpentry for my layout would simply be a bit too messy in my basement, and I don't have another place to work. My old house had a dedicated woodshop with all my large woodworking tools.
I talked to Tim, he's working on mine, but he probably will get it done about the time for York. Since my wife is nursing a broken wrist, I doubt she could drag the boxes in while I'm at York, so he'll ship it on Monday after York.
Congratulations Mark! That's good news. I think you will be quite happy with your new benchwork. It's is really nice stuff and very easy to assemble. I sure like mine. You guys are making me want to add more...
Bob (and Mark), you can get more of those brackets from Tim. I got more of them myself, when I ordered my extra shelf braces and transformer cart. I could not find any like what Mianne uses anywhere else. As Mark said above, I added some to the cross braces in a few places for some extra hold down on the plywood top. Actually you can get any of the small assembly parts you might need from Tim.
GRJ, that's good news on yours too! I know you have been waiting a while! That has got to be exciting to hear it's finally on the way. Sorry to hear about your wife's wrist, hope she makes a quick recovery.
Bob Delbridge posted:I wish I had asked Tim Foley for some more of the brackets used to tie down the plywood top. I found some at Lowes but they're metal. I have a few spots that I would like to keep as flat as possible.
I didn't have the patience to order small sections at a time, I wanted the whole enchilada to hit me at the same time!!!
I barely have mine running and am already thinking about adding an island or 2, it never ends!!!
Good luck Mark!!! This benchwork has made building fun again.
Here"s some plastic corner brackets made in Germany, on the Bay, item#
Just a comment on securing plywood atop a Mianne framework:
I am completing a 10' by 5' layout on a 9' by 4' Mianne frame. I placed two 5' by 5' pieces of 1/2-inch 9-ply birch plywood atop the Mianne frame, aligned them with the framework, then got under the table and glued four 3" by 3" by 1/2-inch thick blocks to the underside of the plywood (not to the framework) at each inside-corner of the Mianne framework. I left a small clearance (perhaps .01" or .02") between the edges of the blocks and the framework to allow for differential expansion - which has never been evident. I applied layers of extruded pink foam atop the plywood to create the terrain. There are three cross-members in the frame so each 5' by 5' piece of plywood is supported at the center of the table, 6 inches from the other three edges, and in its middle. I did it this way because I wanted to be able just to lift the plywood off the framework and take the layout elsewhere if I move. The weight of the plywood has been sufficient to keep it, and the track surface, perfectly flat. I did not find it necessary to fasten the plywood to the framework. It simply lays on top and is kept in position by the small blocks at the undersides of the corners. Just my two-cents...
MELGAR
MELGAR posted:Just a comment on securing plywood atop a Mianne framework:
I am completing a 10' by 5' layout on a 9' by 4' Mianne frame. I placed two 5' by 5' pieces of 1/2-inch 9-ply birch plywood atop the Mianne frame, aligned them with the framework, then got under the table and glued four 3" by 3" by 1/2-inch thick blocks to the underside of the plywood (not to the framework) at each inside-corner of the Mianne framework. I left a small clearance (perhaps .01" or .02") between the edges of the blocks and the framework to allow for differential expansion - which has never been evident. I applied layers of extruded pink foam atop the plywood to create the terrain. There are three cross-members in the frame so each 5' by 5' piece of plywood is supported at the center of the table, 6 inches from the other three edges, and in its middle. I did it this way because I wanted to be able just to lift the plywood off the framework and take the layout elsewhere if I move. The weight of the plywood has been sufficient to keep it, and the track surface, perfectly flat. I did not find it necessary to fasten the plywood to the framework. It simply lays on top and is kept in position by the small blocks at the undersides of the corners. Just my two-cents...
MELGAR
Maybe you have some pics?
The top photo shows the corner of my Mianne benchwork looking upward at the bottom of the plywood. You can see the square block, which is glued only to the plywood, that fits into the inside corner of the Mianne framework. I used one block under each corner. This accurately positions the plywood atop the frame, prevents it from moving, and allows the plywood and anything attached to it to be quickly lifted off the layout.
MELGAR
Melgar, I like it a lot!!! I too want to be able to take the top off in case we move. We are in a split entry house that my wife's grandparents had built when they were at least 10 years younger than we are now. My wife has had one knee replaced, and both of us need a knee replaced, but now insurance wants us to wait until we are on Medicare. That's 3 years for me, but 6 for my wife. I don't know how she will do it. Anyway, we have had to move at times where I had previously said we weren't going to move. Eventually I can picture us in a house with one floor living space.
That said, I have had good success with my Christmas layout just sitting on top of a heavy duty folding table. Once I take buildings off, it can be lifted off and stowed away. Same with your layout. Take off buildings, etc and take the top off. Thank you!!!
Great job! For my plywood top I just used the fasteners that came with the Mianne kit but I like your approach.
johnstrains posted:Great job! For my plywood top I just used the fasteners that came with the Mianne kit but I like your approach.
I also have another larger layout, built 19 years ago, on which I secured the plywood to the frame using the Mianne fasteners from underneath. With those fasteners, it would be a much more difficult job to disassemble the layout for moving or scrapping. That's why I did the current layout as described.
MELGAR
Melgar, I like that too. The one thing I did wrong on my Mianne was not extending the plywood top out over the Mianne framework. Maybe if I ever get to my planned expansion I can fix that! I like your side rails or fascias too, good idea.
My plan is to extend the top out over the frame some too. I don’t want to be kicking the legs.
I am just starting my dream layout at age 62, I decided to use Mianne Benchwork due to its ease of assembly. I plan to ask you guys that have used Mainne a lot of questions, always go to the wise I say.
Well, you're right, it's not cheap, but it does go together very easy. It's great when you get mostly assembled and then change your mind, just shuffle the pieces.
Robert, I was 62 when I started building my layout with Mianne Benchwork. It certainly is easy to put up, and as John said, you can change it around easily too. I started building mine sitting on a chair since I have damaged sciatic nerves and I had total knee replacement on the horizon for the other leg. I ended up with just a basic around the room layout in an 11x11 room. I made it fit okay, by also putting in metal brackets on two walls to hold a simple tabletop.
Hove you placed your order yet?
Order placed, waiting like a kid at Christmas. Should be here in a few weeks.
Hey Robert. Just curious. How did you place your order? I called numerous times with no luck and about the same amount of emails so I ended up printing the order form and mailing USPS. I sure hope it gets there. To add to the other comments. Mianne bench work is outstanding. Very easy to work with and change as needed. Very precise and extremely well made.
Mark
@rkricko posted:I am just starting my dream layout at age 62, I decided to use Mianne Benchwork due to its ease of assembly. I plan to ask you guys that have used Mainne a lot of questions, always go to the wise I say.
Good choice. Mianne is dream benchwork. My wife enjoyed helping put it all together.
You'll love it.
@Mark Zeigler posted:Hey Robert. Just curious. How did you place your order? I called numerous times with no luck and about the same amount of emails so I ended up printing the order form and mailing USPS. I sure hope it gets there. To add to the other comments. Mianne bench work is outstanding. Very easy to work with and change as needed. Very precise and extremely well made.
Mark
Mark ... Have you met Tim at York? I talked to Tim a few times at York before I ordered (at York) and so I had a face-to-face relationship. If you've met him, it might help to let him know that. Not sure ... but worth a try.
He was always responsive to me ... even though it took four months to get my benchwork built.
Tim was always responsive to my calls, but he does run a significant backlog, so it will take some time to get your benchwork once you have the configuration in his hands.
Mark, I was going to try placing my order of odds and ends today, but never got to it. Maybe tomorrow.
You made a great choice with Mianne Benchwork. I’ve had mine for over a year and love it. So many options. Mine is a 8x9 with a 5 ft. Extension for a yard/ engine servicing area. Check out my FB page Pocono Model Trains I made a series of videos on the Benchwork assembly process. Tim was great to work with.
Hey Robert,
I have never had the pleasure of meeting Tim in person. Actually. I've never been to York. I was born and raised in York Pa until I joined the Navy in 1975 right out of high school. I used to live off of West Market street about a 5 minute drive from the fairgrounds. I moved away and now have about a 6 hour drive to get there! Hopefully I will get to York in the near future. Anyway. I did mail my order request yesterday. I only need I-Beams 30" and 48". I have enough of everything else. I am expanding and got a bit carried away with the right of way!! 
Mark
Don't exaggerate Mark, it only takes 5 hours to York from Virginia Beach.
John, if Mark drives like me, he has to add that extra hour! LOL
Mark, well you graduated from high school one year after I graduated from mine.
I have been at York twice, and talked with Tim once. I did not place my original order at that time, but sent it in A few months later and then called too.
Hey Steve,
Mianne Benchwork looks great! Gotta be a huge time saver and I can see it's very well done.
However, as an old carpenter, I would never miss the satisfaction of overbuilding my own benchwork.
Like you, I am just getting started. I look forward to watching your progress. I will be posting mine as well.
DL
@rtr12 posted:Steve, to add a little to Bob's great idea above about shelves below the benchwork, here's a simple example of one way to customize the Mianne benchwork.
After talking to Tim a couple of times about what I was wanting to do, I decided to add some extra holes in the legs for more shelves later on. You can see the extra holes (middle ones) in the second picture in my post above. I think they were 12" below the upper holes as I recall. He just added those in for me when he was putting together my order after we had talked about it.
Shortly after I got the benchwork assembled, I ordered the extra cross braces and parts for the extra shelves. I also ordered one of Mianne's transformer carts at that time. I'll see if I can find another picture of the added shelves for you.
Found a couple of pics, shelves and transformer cart.
How do you add shelves and how was the transformer cart modified. Did you have Mianne do that.
Thanks for your help.
WaynePa,
I talked to Tim at Mianne about being able to add some shelves for storage later on. We decided on a height for the shelves and Tim added some additional holes in the legs of my original kit for more cross braces for the shelves. A month or so after assembling my main kit, I decided to order a Transformer Cart and also ordered all the cross braces and parts needed to complete the shelves at that time.
The Transformer Cart is a Mianne kit, should be in their catalog or on the website somewhere. As I recall, I talked to Tim about that one too and he also added a lower shelf and all the required parts at the time I ordered.
It's all very customizable and Tim will work with you to get you what you want. Almost anything can be modified to fit your needs and they will work with you to get what you want. I talked to Tim a couple of times and he helped me get things just the way I wanted them.
@Mark Zeigler posted:Hey Robert,
I have never had the pleasure of meeting Tim in person. Actually. I've never been to York. I was born and raised in York Pa until I joined the Navy in 1975 right out of high school. I used to live off of West Market street about a 5 minute drive from the fairgrounds. I moved away and now have about a 6 hour drive to get there! Hopefully I will get to York in the near future. Anyway. I did mail my order request yesterday. I only need I-Beams 30" and 48". I have enough of everything else. I am expanding and got a bit carried away with the right of way!!
Mark
Mark,
Did you receive your Mianne parts order yet? Mine came yesterday, and I have them all installed.
I hate to impose on you for more information on your Mianne benchwork but the space you used seems similar to what I have to work with, Could I trouble you for your track plans and Mianne dimensions? Email is in my profile and thanks for the help
@hokie71 posted:I hate to impose on you for more information on your Mianne benchwork but the space you used seems similar to what I have to work with, Could I trouble you for your track plans and Mianne dimensions? Email is in my profile and thanks for the help
Picture shows the Mianne table frame on my 10’-by-5’ layout.
The plywood top consists of two pieces of birch plywood – each piece is 5-feet by 5-feet (a 10’-by-5’ piece cut in half for portability if the layout must be dismantled for moving). Table length 120 inches, table width 60 inches. Track is just an oval with Atlas O-54 on the curved ends connected by 5 feet (60-inches) of straight track on each side. No track cutting required. Width of oval is 56-1/4 inches and length of oval is 116-1/4 inches. This leaves just under 2 inches from the edges of the track to the table edges on the curved and straight parts of the oval.
The Mianne legs are 1-3/4 inches square by 42 inches in height. On my layout, the dimensions across the outer faces of the legs are 106-1/2 inches in length and 50 inches in width. From the picture, you can see that I used three legs along the length and two legs across the width. The two beams along the length are each 50-1/2 inches in length and the single beam along the width is 46-1/2 inches. There are two intermediate (46-1/2 inch) cross-beams to support the middle of each piece of the plywood top. I also included a leg in the center of the table and lengthwise and crosswise beams to make the frame more rigid.
On my layout, the top overhangs the frame by 5-inches on each side and by 6-3/4 inches on each end. I did this to reduce the amount of floor space taken up by the frame.
Tim Foley at Mianne Benchwork will assist you and recommend whatever pieces are needed to make your track plan and table size.
MELGAR
Thanks Melgar, that is a big help. I have been exploring Mianne layouts like this one and stangtrain's, I appreciate the shots you posted.
Has anyone built a 2 or 3 level Mianne Benchwork free standing layout?
If you can afford Mianne benchwork buy it. It will save you from the headaches of dimensional lumber.
2011 6x16 layout:
Main level.
Subway level.
Engine yard level.
Peter
Fast Forward to 2021......new space, bigger layout. Sent Tim at Mianne the plan. He already knows what I have and sent me what I needed......
Lots done.....but, lots to do!
Love Mianne Benchwork......I am a poor carpenter (and that's an overstatement).
Peter
@dennis32 posted:Has anyone built a 2 or 3 level Mianne Benchwork free standing layout?
Dennis,
Check out my two posts with pictures of my Mianne Benchwork going up......the 2011-2021 layout may be what you are asking about.
Don't hesitate to ask any question and I'll do my best to answer it.
Peter
Peter, your 2011 layout photographs are the best I’ve seen of a multi-level Mianne layout. Still, I’m not quite understanding how the lower level stringers are attaching to the tall legs. I’m familiar with single level Mianne. Are those joints as sturdy as the joints to the top of the legs?
Peter, thank you, this was exactly what I needed. Can you tell me the heights you used for your 3 levels?
@Mark Boyce posted:Peter, your 2011 layout photographs are the best I’ve seen of a multi-level Mianne layout. Still, I’m not quite understanding how the lower level stringers are attaching to the tall legs. I’m familiar with single level Mianne. Are those joints as sturdy as the joints to the top of the legs?
Tim added another row of holes about 1/2 way between the floor and the main level. This may not be answering your question. There are special stringers for the cantilever section…….let me find a picture.
Peter
@dennis32 posted:Peter, thank you, this was exactly what I needed. Can you tell me the heights you used for your 3 levels?
I can’t remember exactly. The Main level is standard Mianne. The 3rd level is about 16-20” above the Main level and the subway level was about 1/2 way down to the floor. Tim would have the exact specs.
Peter
@Putnam Division posted:Tim added another row of holes about 1/2 way between the floor and the main level. This may not be answering your question. There are special stringers for the cantilever section…….let me find a picture.
Peter
No, you answered it fine. I think I wasn’t thinking when I first looked at it! 🤔 😄
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