Hi,
I was fortunate enough to work for Tom Metzler Hobby Center in Indianapolis (oldest in the state) from late 1999 until we closed in March 2007. It started as Bob Steele Hobby Center after World War 2. I bought several of the display cases from him, and use these as a "curtain". My layout's lowest level is four feet above the floor(which gives me plenty of room to work underneath, and gives the viewer a "closer to apparent ground level" view). This allowed me to put the cases on rollers, and glide them in and out of position, if need be. They hide the underneath, and give a lighted, dust free area to store yet display rolling stock, etc. Besides, they look good, and bring back happy memories of the shop . Were it not for them, I think I would have used an appropriate curtain material, on retracting supports like on a window. Then, I could get them out of the way if needed. If you are in your basement, be sure any water problems are resolved (as I am sure you did before the layout started), and keep the curtains a few inches off the floor.
Hope this helps!
Larry
She can cook too!
Jim
Sturgeon-Phish wrote: My bride made this for our layout. It is held on with velcroJim
My bride made this for our layout. It is held on with velcro
WoW! Very nice Me Likey Likey! I like the wood finish edge too... nice touch! No wonder you married her!
Doug Murphy 'We few, we happy few, we band of brothers...' Henry V.
What about a shelf unit that would pivot on one side, maybe with a roller on the free side to swing on a hinge attached to the bottom of the table and on the floor???? This would allow storage that looked neat, and still have access to the underside of the layout.
rlplionel wrote: Someone else alluded to this earlier in the thread, but you could also build display shelves below layout level.
Someone else alluded to this earlier in the thread, but you could also build display shelves below layout level.
Hey rip, are those Rock Island 2031 ALCo FAs I see languishing on your storage shelf?
Jack
IF IT WON'T COME LOOSE BY TAPPING ON IT, DON'T TRY TO FORCE IT. USE A BIGGER HAMMER.
My curtain hide a bed that rolls under the layout. When I got permission to use the spare bedroom as a trainroom, it was with the condition it could still be used as a guest bedroom. This is an old picture but you can see the edge of the bed in this pic.
My better half was at the fabric store and found a roll of light denum on the sale table. It is light grey and black: think engineers coveralls and hat. She is sewing it like a curtain with vecro on the top. Makes for tons of storage and if i need to get under the layout i just peel back the curtain. Its a great place to store the boxes of stuff we all collect. Fabric was $3.00 a yard, velco was about $10.00. All in, cost about $80.00. Plus a nice dinner out.
Mike
One idea I have seen in these pages of past, the guy purchased a few rolls of black fabric that he used a staple gun to make pleats every 3 inches. Then, he used stained oak to make a cover to go over the staples to dress it up. Looked very nice. Can't remember who posted, sorry I can't give propper credit.
God Bless,
dennis
TCA#09-63805
I went to walmart and Jo-ann fabrics and got a couple of yards of Duck cloth...the same stuff that they use to make Cornhole bags. It works really great. It is heavy, and hangs well.
Wes
A wall of Lionel Boxes from rolling stock engines accessories etc.
laz57
Celebrating 18 years on the CTT Forum.
Buckeye Riveter......... OTTS Charter Member, a Roseyville Raider and a member of the CTT Forum since 2004..
Jelloway Creek, OH - ELV 1,100 - Home of the Baltimore, Ohio & Wabash RR
TCA 09-64284
well for mine I made some rolling 3 shelf carts it acts as a view block and is functional as well to hold all of my rolling stock not in use and locos too. otherwise dress goods store is good choice a few layouts ago we had a christmas printed material around its perimeter. its downside is when you want access under layout mine invariably fell down at most inconvienient time.CB&Q
Great question. I found that I had a huge roll of black heavy mill plastic, the kind you use for landscaping. I cut it into 50" strips and hang it from the bottom of the facia until I decide what I want to do long term.
I found fabric stores to be a great resource for layout skirting material. That's where I obtained my layout skirting years ago.
I have been trying to find something to use as a "curtain" for my layout. (the thing that covers the bechwork up to the track).
Can anybody give me a reference to where you got yours?
"Lionel trains are the standard of the world" - Jousha Lionel Cowen
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