Medium-sized "Portable" Christmas Layout?

[O-GaugeOscar]

I'm seriously considering a new larger, but "portable" layout for my o-gauge railroad "empire".  I've been thinking about an 8 X 8 layout (two 4 X 8 plywood sheets hinged together with a spacer).  An access hole would be cut in the middle.  I plan to fold up the layout for roughly nine months of the year and stow it  in another room.  Has anyone tried a layout concept like this?  If so, how did it work?  What were the biggest obstacles/challenges?  Overall weight?  Hinges?  Wiring?  Access to the center of the layout?  I live in multifamily housing with no basement so a "portable" layout has some appeal.

Any thoughts or comments are certainly appreciated.

Thanks,

[Major]

I made a modular Christmas layout that bolted together.  That kept the weight lower that having hinged. I had six sections, four for the base and two added modules that set upon the others for a raised area.  This worked well for about five years.  Since I am moving I disassemble it and will build a new one after the move.

[scrambler81]

 I've got a 75" square Christmas layout that leans on a wall for 9 months a year, and I've used it the last 12 Christmas seasons. It is 1/2" plywood with 1x4 framing, though it also includes 1x4 1/2 oak around the outside edges. It is pretty darned heavy.

 I'm no contractor, but I'm thinking any structure strong enough to hold those hinges in line would too heavy  to move around regularly. If you go lightweight, I don't see how the hinges would stay together year after year. Mine is solid, but I can still see areas where it has been flexed just a little from all of those trips in and out of the house. I gotta think that doing two separate pieces, then bolting them together at set up would be a better plan.

 Don't know if a tree stand is part of your plan, but for what it's worth, I installed 4 electrical outlets in the center of my platform, wired a switch at the front of the platform, and the plug runs out the back. Plug all the tree lights into the platform, plug the platform in at the wall, and run the whole thing from out front. That is my wife's favorite part.