Model Train Table And Benchwork

The perfect place to start with is a 4 x 8 sheet of plywood, which is the most common method. You have to think about the train scale that you are working with, whether or not you want to be able to transport your railroad table and essentially what your needs will be for your track.

The plywood method can be set up easily and be as complex as you want it to be. You can either build a model train table with this in mind, or just set up the sheet of wood onto a sturdy structure. There's really no rule to this here, it just depends on how professional you feel like being. Placing the board on some saw horses will work, but if you are going to take the time to create a town or complete setting with your layout, you might consider building a table that fits your purpose.

Guide for beginners >>

Doing so will allow you to feed electrical wires to exactly where you need them to go, and will make it easier to reach the middle of the table to work on your track and layout. Some people have had pool tables sitting around and finished the top with plywood, while others have been lucky to find pre-made model train tables at garage sales and auctions.

Luckily, building your own can be fun, easy and inexpensive. The structure is simple, just like any other table. You have a basic frame, 4 legs and must choose a top shape. You can go with oval, or a complete circle, but most people use a nice, large rectangular space for their model train benchwork.

But the advantage of making your own comes back to getting the perfect height, and being able to drill holes where you know crucial wiring components are going to go, which is why most railroaders make their own model train table.