The Madisonville Sub: Construction Update #39 - Adding Valences to the Lower Level

Videos on YouTube

For those of you who are interested, I have posted three videos of the Madisonville Sub on YouTube. You can find them by to a search for "Madisonville Sub"

Valences

In general, it is a better idea to complete your valences before adding track, structures, scenery and other details. Unfortunately, I didn't realize how much a difference it would make until I was working on the scenery around the Southern Kentucky Transfer & Pace Chemicals. It was then, when I started taking a few pictures, that I found myself cropping out a lot of "empty" sky in the photos.

Before Cropping:

After Cropping:

I think it pretty apparent that the second photo is better than the first.

Building the Framework

It should be noted that I am only concerned with the perimeter walls at this point. The center peninsula is a mushroom style design so valences for the lower level were part of the original design. The first section of valence was built of the Southern Kentucky Transfer/Pace Chemical scene shown in the above photos.

Light weight pine boards form Lowe's were used. Note that the front section of 1x4 was left off the frame when it was initially attached to the wall. This was done to reduce weight and make it easier to level and attach to the wall. Corner clamps, carpenters glue and drywall screws were used to assemble the frame. The bottom of this frame work is 20" above the base of the lower level. The frame was attached to the wall (studs) using 2.5"

After the initial framework was installed, the front section was installed. At this point the holes for the LED strip lighting were also drilled.

To the right of the Southern Kentucky Transfer/Pace Chemical scene is the L&N/General Motors Plant scene. Directly above this scene is a portion of the upper stating yard. The staging yard is only12" wide and the lower scene is 24" wide, the valence couldn't be attached directly to the staging yard framework. Brackets were made from 1x2 and 1x4 pine. Again corner clamps, carpenters glue, and drywall screws were used to hold everything together.

The valance is made from 3/16" tempered Masonite. The bottom of the valence is 18" above the lower bench work. This is the perfect height for anyone around 6' tall.