Control center
This bedroom closet is going to be turned into my control center and bookcase. It is only 2 feet (66 centimeter) deep, but big enough to mount all the electronic components needed to control the layout, both digital and analog, at the right side of the closet, for which I have attached shelves.
To the left of the closet, I have attached the same heavy-duty shelves for my collection of railroad magazines and books.
The two little shelves connecting between the left and right side will have tracks on them for testing analog trains, and programming digital trains. Above these shelves, in the open area, I am going to install two magazine racks to hold current Dutch train magazines, which I always buy when on vacation in the Netherlands.
The control center, at the right, will have two desktop computers, two monitors, keyboards and a mouse. (One computer runs only on MSDOS so it does not need a mouse)
Not directly related to the control center, in this room I have two Wifi light switches (one dimmable) a door and temperature sensor, as well as a wifi speaker on the far right near the window. This room also has a window AC unit.
Home automation is my thing, so when the door opens the light in the entry way will come on. (if it is during the dark hours)
The dimmable light switch controls the light to light up the layout, and the lights will be mounted on the ceiling, out of sight.
Eventually I want to automate a day/night scene, where the lights inside the model houses, streetlights and trains come on, and the room light dim to darkness. This should an assume thing to create and watch.
Before I started to build the control center it was a storage space for all my Dutch trains.
The first mission was to empty the closet and give it a visual check to get the ideas and making sure everything will fit. My monitor does tightly fit in here, with only one centimeter (3/8 inch) of clearance, so I am good to go. It is a monitor without a Vesa mount, so it needs a shelf to sit on.
All empty. Time to start thinking and measuring the sizes for needed lumber.
Attaching the shelf supports.
Attaching the shelves.
Large holes to guide the various cables between the components.
A $6.00-hole drill saw/bit from Amazon does the trick.
First impression after priming.
Fresh from the hardware store, more lumber for the bookcase.
Cut and attached in the same way as the previous shelves.
The test and program track shelves.
And all primed, ready for the final dark gloss paint job.
How the entry way looks to the left. Thats another small closet I will be tackling soon.
And the entry way to the window side.
