The cam lock is then inserted into it's hole in the girder.
Next, the cam dowel is inserted into the cam lick, and
the girder and leg are locked together by turning the
cam lock a half-turn with a screwdriver. This is much
easier to do that to describe! Turning the cam lock snugs
the girder and leg tightly together, and the assembly
will stay put as long as the layout is up. I assembled
out test unit in an unheated garage and left it through
several months of hot and cold weather, and I experienced
no loosening of the joints.
Mianne legs and girders are assembled into a box either
24"x24" or 24"x30", and these boxes
form the basic grid of layout construction. While you
can design your own benchwork using the system, Tim will
custom-design benchwork to fit your proposed layout at
no additional cost - including custom sized girder pieces
if necessary. The Mianne catalog and website also show
a number of sample layouts with prices. Because the tops
of the legs are octagonal, the Mianne system allows you
to attach girders to make 90-degree or 45 degree angle
corner pieces such as those on our sample benchwork. As
mentioned earlier, Tim recommends that a plywood top (1/2"
or 3/4") be attached to the benchwork and used as
a foundation for the layout. Scenery riders for deviated
track, etc., are then built on the plywood. Mianne does
not supply plywood, but the benchwork kits do include
plastic angle brackets for top attachment. The angle brackets
are screwed into the legs and then into the plywood top
from below. This arrangement allows you to easily separate
the top from the benchwork in the event of a move or layout
change. Because the benchwork is screwed together you
can simply open the cam locks at any time to take apart,
change or add to it.
Assembly
Tim sent us a 4'x8' L-shaped section for testing. The
pieces were all nicely constructed and splinter free,
and the finish benchwork, in fact, was really handsome
to look at! Each Mianne ordered is supplied with a color-coded
custom assembly diagram and well written instructions.
We had our sample assembled in under 2 1/2 hours, including
pauses to write review notes. You could easily assemble
a sizeable layout in one long day.
Everything on our sample fit as it should, and the construction
process, was actually fun. Leveling bolts in each leg
made it easy to get a level tabletop on the uneven garage
floor where we did our testing. Once assembled, the system
was quite stable. Adding a plywood top, however adds significantly
to it's strength. Once of the legs on our sample did have
a hairline crack in the wood. While Time assured us that
would not be a problem over time, he will replace any
piece that a customer is not satisfied with. A number
of threads on the OGR On-line forum (www.oguagerr.com)
have attested to the fine customer service Tim is known
for and long term users seem very satisfied with the MIanne
system. At least one forumite has a multi-level layout
for which Tim custom designed the benchwork. Tim also
told us he is working on a counter balanced vertical lift-out
section that will allow easy access to the center in around-the-room
layout configurations. While Mianne kits are not inexpensive,
I would say they are a great value for the money. Consider
that a kit for a small layout (for example 4' x 12') will
set you back about the same as a good sound-equipped diesel,
and a pretty large layout can be built for about the price
of a die-cast mainline steamer. Then consider the cost
of lumber and the time you're not spending looking for
straight pieces, cutting them, or cutting yourself on
a power tool, in that light, I'd say it makes sense for
many of us to have Mianne do the hard part of benchwork
construction, and save just the fun part for ourselves.
