NJCJOE's New Train Room - 06/18/24 - Fascia Installation Completed

looks amazing  Joe !

05/29/24 - I haven't made a lot of progress on the layout lately, mainly due to some outdoor projects taking up my time.

I did install another one of my Miller Engineering signs (Breyers) behind the station. I also built and installed some Bar Mills fence kits I picked up at York. The first was used as a stockade fence around one of the house backyards.

The second fence kit was used as an old beat up privacy fence around the construction yard.

I hope to get to my next planned layout project soon. I want to start installing the fascia.

6/18/24 – I got the entire fascia installed around the layout. I had the 4’x8’ sheets of 1/8” thick Masonite hardboard on hand since the end of last year. I planned ahead and picked it up before I sold my pickup truck. I don’t think the sheets would have survived coming home on the roof of my SUV.

I know many modelers wait until most of their basic scenery is completed before installing their fascia. I decided to put it up a little earlier in the process for two reasons. First, I was tired of looking at the 4’x8’ sheets sitting on the floor under the layout. They were in the way when I wanted to do some lighting wiring. Secondly, I thought getting the fascia installed would give the layout a little more of a finished look for the layout tour during the Anthracite Railroads Modelers Meet in September.

I started by mocking up the fascia with paper strips to see how it would look width wise. I used 6” wide strips for the standard gauge portions of the layout and 8” wide for the O gauge portions. I did this with the thought that it would make the two different layout heights appear to be closer in elevation than they are. I think it does help with that illusion somewhat.

I then added 1”x4” stubs round the edge of the layout where the ends of the bench work joists were not sticking out. This is what I attached the fascia to. As I installed the fascia panels, I would add a double 1”x4” stub to attach the end of one strip and the beginning of the next.

The Masonite was cut free hand into 8’ long strips with a jig saw utilizing a fine blade designed to cut laminate materials. This kept the cuts fairly smooth and the chipping to a minimum. Cut with the front side up, since any chipping will be on the back. I then lightly sanded the edges to clean them up a bit.

I know most people use screws to attach the fascia to their layout. I came up with the idea of using my pneumatic trim nailer to install it instead. I figured this would give me a clean, quick installation with little hole touch up needed before painting. Well, like many great ideas this didn’t work. The Masonite is not dense enough to be held in place with the tiny heads on the brad nails.

I next decided to just use dry wall screws and dive them just below the surface of the fascia. This way I could come back later with a little caulk or wood putty and cover them up before painting. This didn’t work either. Once the bottom of the screw heads hit the face of the hardboard they stopped and would not self-countersink. I determined this was because I was screwing into the end of the joist, with the grain of the wood, which is not strong enough to pull the screw in by itself.

So, since I had to first drill countersink holes before installing the fastener anyway, I decided to try and use nails which had smaller heads than the screws. This worked quite well. I used ring shank nails which provided more bite going into the joists. I will say the fascia was tricky to install by myself. A second set of hands would have greatly helped for this project. But I got it done.

Overall I’m really happy with the look. The fascia definitely hides some of the bench work, providing for a more finished look. I will eventually paint the fascia. Probably after more of the scenery is done since I’ll be leaning over/on the layout a lot and no sense in scratching the paint up. I haven’t decided on a color yet. I am leaning towards a very dark gray with a black skirt. I figure that would blend together with the carpet nicely. We’ll see.

Here are some photos of the finished fascia.

Came out great, Joe. I'm a big fan of installing a fascia to give the layout a clean finished look and used the same 1/8" board as you did. Since all of my angles were 90 degrees and I didn't have to secure any bends, I was able to use my finish nail gun and finish nails to hold it in place.

Mine was a lighter wood which I stained and poly'd. For painting, a flat camo green might work as well.

@NJCJOE, All I can say is Wow, and you have come a Long way from, first getting your basement ready for a train layout (Super Man Cave), painting, building your extensive train bench work, to adding all the trackwork, scenic details, beautiful colored accessories, bridges, mountains, rivers, and O Gauge and Standard Gauge, with an eye for accessory placement and overall operation…. Unbelievable!!! And your already making a really neat facia board… Your work is so applaudable, Congratulations on a well executed plan of action… Thank you for showing us the beginning to where you are now, it’s an amazing Journey… Happy Railroading Everyone

Joe, fascia looks great. I think the color choice you mentioned will work fine and not take anything away from the real spectacle which are the trains and the scenery. Thanks for sharing!

Mike

What a difference Joe, nicely done!

Gene

Joe,

Fascia always transforms a layout and what you have done is no exception. Once you paint it that of course will be another transformation. I think your timing on installation is fine. Now you can complete your subterrain and scenery so that is butts up against the fascia where there are gaps. Nice work and thanks for sharing!

Dave

Joe,

  Very nice, clean and professional look. Good luck with any other progress.

Tom

As with all of your achievements Joe , this looks very clean and crisp. I’m looking forward to the tour.

Jay

Looking very good, Joe!

George

Looks great Joe! Every time I come to your page you always have something extra for me to think about, Like the fences you built! and now fascia for down the road!

Your page along with everything else here is such a great learning tool for the rest of us! Thanks for sharing!

Thanks guys for the encouraging comments.

Joe, the fascia really looks great!  It does make the under construction layout look more finished.

Your layout is a master class in so many aspects - creation of a great space, train-themed decoration, incorporating O and standard gauge tinplate and non-tinplate trains into one layout, use of L-girder benchwork, top-notch scenery, and first-rate workmanship.  Thanks for sharing so many pictures along the way.  Overall, I can't think of a nicer owner-built layout. 

Have you considered contacting @Allan Miller and compiling everything into an article (or series) for the print magazine?

@Mallard4468 posted:

Your layout is a master class in so many aspects - creation of a great space, train-themed decoration, incorporating O and standard gauge tinplate and non-tinplate trains into one layout, use of L-girder benchwork, top-notch scenery, and first-rate workmanship.  Thanks for sharing so many pictures along the way.  Overall, I can't think of a nicer owner-built layout.

Have you considered contacting @Allan Miller and compiling everything into an article (or series) for the print magazine?

I sure wish he would! I would certainly be interested in featuring the layout in the magazine.

The fascias look great Joe. Adds a finished look to the layout that's not finished yet.

Your build from bare concrete walls and floor to now is really a master class in how to plan and build a train room and layout.

Well done Sir!

Bob

@Allan Miller posted:

I sure wish he would! I would certainly be interested in featuring the layout in the magazine.

Allan,

I sent you an email.

@Allan Miller posted:

I sure wish he would! I would certainly be interested in featuring the layout in the magazine.

Sure this happens as it would be a great feature and I would love to read more about it!

I just love your train room/layout design!   You have it so people can walk in and out of those sections and see everything easily from all angles.   Great job, looks fantastic.