recommend buying tools with power cords. So I bought a
corded Ryobi power drill ($39.99, Home Depot prices). You may
need to pick up a drill bit index ($19.99) or a masonry bit as
well, but in my case I have drywall and I was able to use brass
screws to make pilot holes.
The second expenditure is fasteners: a box of 2" brass screws
($7.50, HD) and a box of 50 wall anchors ($11.69). I'd add a
stud finder with deep penetration and electrical detection
($19.99) to guard against driving screws into power lines.
Otherwise, my pilot holes were made by first driving a pilot
screw into the wall and then inserting a wall anchor only if I
didn't happen to find a stud. This work was entirely accom-
plished with my drill, the Phillips apex bit, and a 16" tape mea-
sure ($8.48).
For shelving I selected 12"x14" metal shelving brackets for
$2.99 each at Ace Hardware. I ultimately needed 17. Make
shelving from a sheet of 4'x 8' sheet of plywood ($25.64) if
your store will cut it down into 12" strips by whatever length
you need to make it around the room. You may have to add a
2'x4' handy panel ($5.98). One of my 6-foot shelves has to span
the window, so I used a 1x3 to reinforce it ($2.99) and a hand
saw with miter box ($7.96) to cut it. The handsaw will indeed
cut the plywood, and while it may be a bear to do it this way,
the savings is in the sweat equity!
We need a base underneath our railroad so we can model
scenery that is below grade. While many will swear by only
blue or pink fine-grain foam, I figure if white coarse-grain bead
board is good enough for Woodland Scenics, it's good enough
for me. Having used it more than once before, it's no better or
worse a material than any other.
Third Place Layout for $500 - 4
The shelves are 12" wide, but with 2" foam we could extend
this width up to perhaps 24". I personally would not go much
past 20" or even 16”. In the shallow areas, my system will allow
for a 2" base, while in the deeper parts, I have as much as 6"
of depth below grade. My "bridges" across the doorways will
consist of a foam 2x6 with a reinforcing foam 2x4 beam placed
Present Budget $500
Description
Cost
Quantity Sub Total
Tax/shipping [all project]:
Best Estimate: 10% 1
$50.00
Ryobi power drill
$39.99
1
$39.99
Box of 2" brass screws
$7.50
1
$7.50
Box of 50 wall anchors
$11.69
1
$11.69
16' Tape measure
$8.48
1
$8.48
Metal Shelving Brackets, 12"x14"*
$2.99
17
$51.00
Lumber, 1"x3"
$2.99
1
$3.00
Handsaw with Miter Box
$7.96
1
$7.96
Foam Sheet 2"x4'x8'
$16.98
1
$16.98
Foam Board 2"x4"x72"
$2.98
2
$6.00
Foam Board 2"x6"x72"
$3.98
2
$8.00
Razor knife with snapoff blade
$9.97
1
$9.97
Plywood Sheet 15/32"x4'x8'
$25.64
1
$25.64
Plywood Handipanel 15/32"x2'x4'
$5.98
1
$5.98
Expenditures to this point:
$252.19
Table 1: Initial purchases.
MRH-Jul 2013
