Actually I haven’t noticed any at all. I can only hear the motors turning and a little of the gears on one F8B unit. I don’t have the track glued down yet, because I need some pieces yet, but the Laun is glued down pretty good. After everything was glued down, I still had about ¾ tube opened and I used it up by running a bead around each inside glue joint as if it were caulking. I had to go through about 10 pieces before I found one that I liked at Home depot. When I built one for my grandson there were only about 5 left and the 1st one was perfect, so if it is a new shipment, wait until it’s about half way down. OH, DO NOT BUY IT from Lowes. it is crap.
My layout is built with 1 X 3's and 1 X 4's - I didn't use plywood anywhere and used 1" foam in most places (because I can't find 2" foam very often in Texas). The track is laid on cork that is glued to the foam. It's a little bit noisier than plywood, but super light so I'm willing to make a trade off.
No foam in Texas! I’m going to buy some foam on my way back from West Virginia and I wanted to pick some up in either Oklahoma or maybe in New Mexico. I heard that they sold it in Flagstaff, but I don't know that for sure. Now I’m thinking I may have to pick it up in West Virginia. I was thinking of picking up about 10 to 15 2” thick or combinations of 1” and 2”. I’m only picking up 4 for myself and taking orders for anybody else that wants one in Southern Calif. I’ll probably put the tailgate down and cover with a tarp. Depending on how many orders I get, I might be able to close the top and leave the tailgate down.
Since it held up so well falling down the stairs, I decided to build a cover for it to keep the grandson and cat out of it when I’m gone. I have tomorrow off, so I’m going out to buy the materials right now. I have to go to both Lowes and Home Depot. Lowes has very nice straight pieces of 1x lumber and Home Depot has the 1/4” laun. This way I can start on it 1st thing in the morning.
When I first started, my best friend talked me into starting my benchwork before I knew what I was doing. I dreamed of a HO empire and shoehorned a 6'x12'x40" monolith into a 13' x 17' room, made from 2x6's and 1/2" plywood. I don't have benchwork, I have a floor. Four years later, I am confined to a wheelchair, and can hardly see over it. So I have decided to try N scale. I got a table, a plan, and won some Unitrack and a loco on epay. The table is 35"x60", turnouts are #4, curves are 12 3/8, grid is 2". When I get some pics, will start a new thread.
My layout I used 2x4's and for the legs I used 4x4's. I have cabinets and shelfs under it. It is shaped like a distorted "U". It is not that heavy but it is not going anywhere. The top I used plywood with 2 inch foam on top. It is stong because I can sit on it to get to the back of it,still working on it. I'm about 250lbs. Rick
Wow, sorry to hear about the wheelchair. This is exactly why I’m in to lightweight portable layouts, you never know what’s around the corner. They are adaptable. If you have to move, they can pick up and go or in your case if you need it lowered, you just find a lower table to set it on. I have a smaller portable layout that I built a few years ago. I was not thinking about weight, only size and I was surprised at how heavy it was. It takes two people to move it. I used 2x2 and ½” mdf only because I already had it in the garage. It was left over from something else, but what a mistake. Below is a photo of it just before I covered it up with a tarp and put it up in the rafters.
MDF can be a downright bear. I bought a 4x4' piece of 3/4" for a subwoofer enclosure for my Jeep. Good lord, trying to wrangle that thing out of the back I thought I was going to injure myself. Nice looking layout though, Atlas track I assume?
Well I started my cover and I decided to make it in two pieces hinged together so I can fold it up. I had Home depot cut the ¼” Lauan Plywood to size and then went to Lowes for the side because the wood at Home depot was so warped. I cut up the pieces last night and started gluing them together this morning. I forgot the liquid nail glue, so I had to used carpenters yellow glue. We’ll see how well it holds, but I’m not throwing it down the stairs to see.laugh: Here is the 1st piece
Yes, its code 80. I gave it up because I didn’t like the turnouts and I could not run long passenger trains.
Just as a point of reference (according to the great Norm Abrams of "The New Yankee Workshop"), screws or nails are used really to just hold things together while the glue dries so you really don't ever need to get around to it.
My dad has a 8'X12' N scale layout that has a frame made of 1"X2" lumber with a 2" piece of stryofoam for the base of it. What I like about theh foam is not only is it easy to work with, but maily it is extremely lightweight. The 2 8' sections fold face to face against one another when transporting to shows and together they might weigh 15lbs. This might be an idea for you since you do have a rotator cuff problem.
I absolutely agree. This thing was supposed to be just quick a little project to check out my new trains and new Unitrack. I figured that I could set it up in my wife’s sewing room for her to use for her sewing stuff when I not using it. I got a little carried away. It probably was when I saw my 10 car UP passenger train wind around the bend for its very first time.
You went hardcore on the framing. I just built a 72" x 37.5" ladder frame using 1x3 Poplar for the sides and 3x3 for the rungs at approx 17" on center with a 1" blue foam top. I needed something lighter than a HCD due to my herniated discs. The whole thing only weighs 14 lbs. I am hoping to keep it under 30 lbs with track, scenery, and structures. Sleeper: We have blue foam in 1"x 2' x 8' here in Vegas at Lowes along with the white stuff in 1", 1.5", and 2" in 4x8 sheets. Home Depot only carries the white stuff in limited thickness.
For the wires I use Eye hooks you can get them so they crew in or use the ones that come with the sticky bottoms. The noise of unitrack is slight but I put mine over rubber pads from the art store. A few large sheets does the trick. ANd not even a 1/16" thick. Cheap also $.99 2'x1' sheet.
14 lbs, that’s great! I should weigh mine. You do! I go to Vegas all the time but never thought to look for foam at Lowes. Last year I went to the Home depot Web site to check stock for the pink stuff in every place I could think of and the closest place I could find was in Santa Rosa Calif. Which is where I bought the stuff I got. They had one place listed that was closer, but when I drove all the way there they didn’t have it. I was really upset and decided to call before going the distance again. My daughter is going to Vegas next weekend, maybe I can let her use my truck and pick some up.LOL No, she wouldn’t get caught dead in a place like that.laugh:
The 2x8 (Dow Corning blue) stuff is cheap too. It is five something a sheet. The only caveat is that I hear only two of the Lowes in Vegas carries it (they have plenty in stock). I only know of the Summerlin location (Charleston/I-215 right near Red Rock National Park) since that is the closest one to my house.
Hinged Covered Layout Ok I finally got the cover built. This will keep the grandson out. It is not sanded and it is in the unfinished state. The glue is not completely cured so I don’t want to move it much. I had to use carpenter yellow glue and it made somewhat of a mess. I wanted it done today because tomorrow I’m going to the train show in Long Beach. I used my Air gun to shoot nails in to help hold it together until the glue completely dries. I’m very surprised at how easily it opens and I only need one hand t open it. I also used 1x4s to give me a little room inside so that I can leave my train on track with the cover closed. I was looking at 1x6s but decided not to because it might look start looking like a coffin. Don’t want anybody to get the wrong Idea. My new layout Cover in closed position. Layout Cover Partially Open - Front cover folds up and back. Layout Cover Half Opened – It shows how much clearance I have. I have 4" in between structural and 2-1/2" under the 1x2s. Layout Cover Fully Open - Cover in fully opened position. Cover is unfinished, but I’m planning to have a background in the lid. And so much for weight! I guess I can’t mention that aspect anymore. LOL I haven’t really moved it around, but I think it’s still manageable.
