My Portable Storable Windup and Electric Layouts

[dsmith]

This past Saturday I attended the Small Layout Design Meet in Findlay, Ohio. I had 2 of my Marx portable layouts on display, one windup and the other my new electric(under construction) layout. I made a video of the event and near the beginning you can see my 2 layouts in operation. http://youtu.be/ZAd8hrN1J8E

[GGNagy]

Wasn't your windup layout in a contest someplace that I will not mention here? I would love to see a writeup on your construction methods. I am also wondering something else. I assume that the track platform folds up to the box to close and make it transportable. There are lots of lovely spots for trans to be transported and displayed. But, where do the buildings go?

[M. Mitchell Marmel]

Veddy neat!  I've devised a "Have Trolley, Will Travel" kit using a fishing tackle backpack.  The main compartment has O27 track and a transformer, the hard-shell base compartment has a couple trolleys swaddled in foam rubber, and lockons, tool kit et cetera are in various pockets!  Works great!  :D

Mitch

[dsmith]

Yes, my Portable/Storable windup layout won 1st prize in last year's OGR forum micro layout contest and a full construction article on the layout appeared in the December 2013 issue of OGR Magazine. The buildings, cars, people and signs are stored in a plastic storage container.