At MRB we create sturdy, pre-made benchwork, perfect for building a reliable base for model railroad tracks and scenery. Crafted from top-grade birch plywood, our modular sections come unassembled with all the hardware you need for straightforward assembly. Designed to fit layouts of any size or scale, our benchwork can be customized to suit your needs. We also offer professional track planning services and handle custom projects to help bring your layout ideas to reality.

MRBenchwork started out as a hobbyist and in 2010 he created Model Railroad Benchwork (MRB). To date the company has created over 100 custom layouts and shipped thousands of modular pieces of benchwork out to customers.

All scales are welcome and your benchwork will be designed to support your scale. We have worked with everything from Z to LGB including LEGO “L” gauge.

The main difference between modelrailroadbenchwork.com and other layout builders is that we concentrate on benchwork, not complete layouts. This ensures you get the highest quality benchwork possible built your way at a price that’s hard to beat.

ModelRailroadBenchwork.com offers a wide range of model railroad products, including benchwork, track planning tools, accessories, and more. Explore our store for quality items designed to enhance your train layouts.

Due to the build to order nature of ModelailroadBenchwork.com Products, there are no refunds or exchanges offered. If a product is defective, (broken or missing) The defective component will be replaced free of charge provided photographic evidence of the defect is provided. MRB does not replace items with non function related cosmetic damage as it's impossible to make a claim with Fedex for it. Furthermore I understand that my order will take 12-14 business days to manufacture and then ship unless I have also ordered Curved benchwork products. If I have ordered curved benchwork I understand that one (1) additional day will be added to the standard 12-14 business days for each piece of curved benchwork ordered. This is due to the glue-up time required for curved products. What are business days? Monday - Friday. MRB observes all Federal holidays and is typically not in operation during the following: • Martin Luther King’s Birthday 3rd Monday in January • Washington's Birthday (Third Monday in February). • Memorial Day last Monday in May • Juneteenth National Independence Day June 19 • Independence Day July 3rd -5th • Labor Day 1st Monday in September • Columbus Day (Second Monday in October) • Halloween (sorry it's my favorite and MRB's business anniversary day) • Veterans Day (November 11) • Thanksgiving Day and the Friday after • Christmas Holiday December 24 – January 2nd • Election days (as needed)

Train clubs making bulk purchases for club or personal use may be entitled to a discount on non-customized products. A minimum combined order of more than $2,500 is required. Please email us the club, club link(s), the project(s) for details more details.

"Modular" refers to something that is made up of smaller, separate units or components that can be easily connected, rearranged, or moved. In the context of layouts, it means the design is divided into sections or pieces. Even MRB's custom layouts are built modular. This ensures that, if you ever need to move, you can easily relocate your layout without having to dismantle or damage it or your property.

All MRB products are constructed from cabinet-grade Baltic birch plywood. Modules are built with 3½-inch tall, ¾-inch (18mm) thick strips for durability.

All modular benchwork by default comes with pre-drilled holes for wiring. These holes allow you to easily wire your layouts without the hassle of having to drill holes or secure wires to the underside of your layout. If you would like to drill holes only where you need them, then you can save 10% on items that comes with holes by selecting "no holes". [Selecting "No holes" option does not affect Pocket Hole Joinery, which are always included].

Pocket hole joinery is a method of connecting two pieces of wood by drilling an angled hole into one piece and then driving a screw into it to join it with another piece. This technique allows for strong, hidden joints, providing a clean and professional look without visible screws on the surface. All MRB benchwork includes pocket hole joinery to assemble the modules.

MRB products ordered with holes before Dec 2024 included bolt holes. These allowed you to bolt modules together. Modules produced after Dec 2024 do not include these holes at all unless made via a special request. Why did MRB cancel bolt holes? All of our custom work gets attached to each other with screws. This method is more secure and has no wiggle room that may dislodge scenery. This has been our recommended way to attach modules and the website now reflects this moving forward. I have older benchwork, can I still get bolt holes? Yes, for $10/module. Your benchwork order must include "holes" option. Add a special note at checkout you would like "bolt holes added" and we will send an invoice.

Yes. Whether you are a flat top or building mountains of track climbing over each other, MRB's benchwork will work.

The difference between H legs and L legs lies in cost and stability. H legs are more affordable because you get two legs for nearly the same price as one L leg. However, for tables wider than 3 feet, L legs are recommended. H legs over 3 feet can become unstable (and why MRB has a maximum 36" leg width for H legs). It’s perfectly fine to mix and match H and L legs based on your project’s needs. When MRB quotes a modular layout we tend to use one or the other

A power drill is highly recommended but not required. All you will need is a #2 robertson “square head” screwdriver or bit and a 7/16 inch wrench. Please note the bit you need is included in the starter kit. (https://www.modelrailroadbenchwork.com/product-page/power-drill-starter-kit) If you are buying benchwork without wiring holes you may want a 1" drill bit for any adding wiring holes.

To assemble a module: - First find the 2 boards without pocket screw holes. These boards will be marked with lines with an “x” next to it approximately every 12-16 inches. Align the boards next to each other so that the x’s are on the same side of each line. - Take a board with pocket screw holes in it and place it vertically on top of an x aligning the side edge of the board to the line next to the x. - Place screws in the 2 outer holes leaving the 2 center holes empty. WARNING: You CAN strip the screw holes out please take care to not over drive the screws. Practice blocks are available in both starter kits. The two center holes are extras meant to be used if you happen to strip out a screw or assemble the module in a non traditional manner to accommodate a river or turntable for example. - Once you have secured every board to one side flip the assembly over being cautious not to change the orientation and place the assembly atop of the other board with the x’s on it and secure each board in the same way. Visual instructions are included with every Starter kit. YouTube instructions: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lW73ZQrBQac https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5bEKBVeKCXs

While the first module may take extra time to get the hang of, once you have you can assemble a standard 24×48 inch module in less than 5 minutes. A 10 module layout fully assembled with legs and leveled can be completed in about two hours.

Attaching modules together is easy. Simply slip bolts through the pre-drilled holes and tighten. Alternatively, you can screw the modules together with your preferred fastener. Legs come with one inch screws for installation. * Jan 2025 Update We are moving away from bolt holes in modules, as with the bolts there is still some give/movement between modules that aren't secured with screws. All of our custom layouts use screws instead of bolts, so moving forward we recommend attaching modules with screws.

As of Jan 2025, MRB products will not include bolt holes with the wiring holes. Bolts holes are not perfectly fitted and can shift the benchwork. Since we only use screws to attach modules together in our custom benchwork, we have moved to recommending screws to attach modular work together as well.

For bigger benchwork or benchwork that overhangs the size of the table, we recommend 3/4" plywood. Table surfaces should be no thinner than 1/2". (None of the Modular benchwork includes a table surface.)

We highly recommend Pre-drilling and using coarse thread drywall screws to secure your benchwork surfaces.

We ship to every US territory and state.

Orders placed through mrbenchwork.com can be picked up from Lakeland, FL. At checkout, after selecting your destination (US/Florida), toggle the drop down from "STANDARD - $$" to "Pickup - Lakeland, FL". Shipping will not be charged. MRB will call to schedule a pick up time frame. Custom orders can be delivered or picked up, as discussed via email/contract. Note: Delays in pick up may incur fines for storage of product.

All products will be shipped in sturdy cardboard boxes. Each box can hold up to approximately 60 LBS and will be shipped via FedEx unless you request another service. Shipping rates are calculated at checkout. Custom projects can request a shipping quote via e-mail, which will take up to one week to have done.

In the rare event a box is damaged in the mail, MRB will replace the missing or damaged items once we have received a photo of the damaged box for insurance purposes. Please Note: We do not replace items with cosmetic damage as it's impossible the make a claim with Fedex for it.

Track planning services start at $2,500. This includes 20 hours of design time and one revision. Track plan pricing goes up depending on size and complexity of the build. Before a track plan is started, MRB will collect a deposit (typically $800), and collect the balance after approval has been given for the final layout. At approval and payment, the finalized track plan and high quality images are sent.

Plans are typically crafted after shop hours, allowing us time to research and refine your design. Depending on the size, complexity, and subject matter, plans usually take 6-8 weeks to complete.

What’s Included? A custom layout plan tailored to your space, scale, desired industries, and specific requirements. One revision to ensure the plan fully captures your vision. A comprehensive list of the required track. A color-coded diagram for easy assembly, showing where each part goes. A quote for custom benchwork. What’s Not Included? In-home consultation. 3D renderings. Detailed placement of buildings or small structures. Track planning based on a specific prototype.

Send an e-mail (info@modelrailroadbenchwork.com) and include the following: Name Address Phone number (a quick phone call will be required to ensure nothing is lost in translation) Detailed room drawing with measurements in inches, include placement of doors, windows, obstacles, walkways and areas "off limits". Scale Type/Brand of track, including the code (e.g., Code 83, Code 100). Minimum track diameter for main lines and sidings. Any special items to include, such as turntables, specific bridges, tunnels, uncouplers, etc. Major Industries Grades or Multiple Decks Types of trains you intend to run, operable accessories, realistic running, switching or something in between. Your track idea, examples (3-4) of track plans you've liked or want to emulate. If you intend to order benchwork from us (modular or custom).

We use Railmodeler Pro for Mac. Track plans will be delivered via e-mail with the raw file as well as high quality images.

If you have a viable track plan, then you do not need our track planning services. We are happy to quote benchwork for your project, whether it's modular or custom. If you are unhappy with your track plan from another individual or company, or wish to modify it, we can redraw it and add any changes. Typically these types of redraws are billed as if it's a fresh track plan.

After initial contact I will work with you to develop a benchwork plan that best suits your needs and send you a quote. Once an initial deposit is received, construction will begin. At the same time an approximate completion date will be given and you will be kept up to date as to the progress of construction. Once the project is ready for delivery you will be contacted to arrange for payment and a delivery time/date. After delivery, final installation will begin.

Custom benchwork construction cost varies widely but generally from start to finish a custom layout can cost as little as $20 – $35 per square foot. An average single level layout with no curved benchwork averages around $20 a square foot with legs and a table surface. More complex layouts will vary. Please contact me for a quote or to schedule a consultation.

Milestones are the points in a contract that MRB collects payment to continue working. These vary contract-to-contract depending on several factors including size and estimated length of the project. MRB has two different contract types. Custom Benchwork (woodwork, furniture extras, and finishes only) Track & Wiring (track, switches, bridges, switch panels, turntables, wiring, etc) Milestones are found on both contracts due at different times. Example Milestones & Numbers: Benchwork Milestones Deposit - $1000 Ready to Start Build - $5,000 Cost of Shipping - Quoted after build is complete, and only if you are not purchasing Track & Wiring for your build. Track & Wiring Milestones Deposit - $1,000 Material Deposit - $4,000 Track & Wiring Ready - $4,300 Ready for Delivery - $4,300 Final - $4,300 What do each of those milestones mean? When are they payments due? (Listed in the order due.) Deposit(s) (on both contracts) hold your place in line and are due at time of signing. Contracts are only considered valid once they are signed and deposit(s) have been collected. Material Deposit (on Track & Wiring Contracts) allows us to order all product before starting on your project. Due 2 months before the scheduled start on your project (or asap if starting earlier). This allows us time to find out-of-stock products, reorder incorrect products, order custom bridges or other specialty materials, etc. Ready to Start Build (on Benchwork Contracts) is when we are clearing out the previous project and have the materials ready to go. We are cutting and starting to assemble your benchwork. This milestone is due upon starting your project. Cost of Shipping (on Benchwork Contracts) is only for customers who have a Benchwork ONLY quote. After Benchwork is complete, we will get an accurate cost of shipping and invoice it to you before shipping out your completed benchwork. Track & Wiring Ready (on Track & Wiring Contracts) is when the Benchwork is complete and we are starting labor on Track & Wiring. This is due before we start laying track. Ready for Delivery (on Track & Wiring Contracts). When the project is complete and ready for delivery this milestone becomes due. We use this to book rental truck, hotels, flights, etc. Final (on Track & Wiring Contracts) is due on the approval of installation on site. Why do my milestones look different? Milestones vary depending on the project. We recently finished a large project that ended up using a different set of milestones as the shop space required to build ALL of the benchwork and then do track and wiring was not tenable. In another case, we collected both deposits for holding a place in line and the materials deposit on the same day as the project was small enough to schedule only 1 month out between big projects. On an upcoming job, the project is so large that it will take us months to build just the benchwork, so taking one upfront payment may be detrimental and we will space it out. Why are some of the payments exactly the same? Why are some different? We attempt to make each milestone similar in cost, however consideration must be made for ordering parts up front as well as labor cost through the project. TL;DR: Milestones are as custom as our benchwork.

Construction time for any given layout can vary widely depending on the complexity, size and location of the proposed layout. For your convenience a construction time estimate is included with all quotes and upon request.

Yes, HOWEVER because the woodshop has to be reset to make these unique modules, there is a 10 module minimum. NTrak modules for example are typically around $170-$240 each depending on the features requested.

Your benchwork can be finished in many ways to suit your needs. – No finish – Painted – Stained – Cabinet Doors and Drawers – Stained or Painted Facia – Any Combiniation of the Above

I've been avidly watching your videos and it seems that you sometimes have used 2x4 legs and other times used L shaped legs. Can you explain if one method is better? Two by fours are cheaper and will work for your projects, as we have used them in the past. Once MRB determined a method of making L legs faster, we moved to exclusively using L or H legs for custom layouts as the legs have a stronger hold and thus need less cross bracing.

For silence I was planning to use the thick 'styrofoam' sheets you mentioned and glue them to homosite. Under the homosite I was thinking of using a 'rubber' based underlay that is used as the underlay for 'ruggable' brand rugs. Everything seems to grab onto this underlay material and it supposedly reduces sound. I have the material left over from rugs that I no longer own and have no other use for it! Would you recommend this? Do you think it is too much? Would you have another suggestion that might be better or simpler? The advice I provide is dependent on what scale you model and the track you are going to use but generally I advise against modeling on top of foam board as if it's not perfectly secured to everything top and bottom, it acts more like a drum than a sound absorber. Really in most cases some automotive sound deadening adhered to the bottom of the plywood subroadbed and a fabric table skirt will do more to deaden sound than any of the other fancy stuff people do. Good track work also helps significantly but it takes effort.