The OP was the one who mentioned "Lionel HO", I didn't see any problem w/ Arthill's response. I had O27 years ago, but the Lionel HO was not much to work with. Not sure if the OP misstated the scale, let him explain....
Modeling B&O- Chessie Bob K. www.ssmrc.org
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ARTHILLMy main work bench is a 4x8 sheet of plywood, suspended from the ceiling. Fastening the pullys to the rafters needs to be done in a way that they are secure and not pull out. A eye bolt would work. I then have eye bolts in the corners that fasten to "S": hooks on the ends of the cables. The cables are nylon and fasten together with a large ring. The single "pull" rope then goes down the wall to a Boat winch mounted on a stud. I drilled a hole in the locking mechanism for a safty pin. It has worked for 25 years. For the layout table, you will need to make it sturdy enough so it can't flex, because there is no way to keep it stable with the ropes during raising and lowering. Lots of bracing is the key. Good luck. By the way, What is Lionel HO? They only made a couple of inferior engines and no track. If you really mean HO, there are MANY things better than Lionel.
Art:
I assume you adressing me with your question about Lionel, need to re read my post ole buddy. I said I had Lionel when I was a kid, it was Lionel O gauge. I still have a couple of pieces including a Lionel O scale Hudson, which are very rare and I have been offered some really big bucks by visitors to the layout, so it got placed in a location where it can be viewed but not touched or stolen.
I also said I have been HO since late 1950's in my post, and I can guarentee there is no Lionel around the HO, nor have I ever owned any Lionel HO.
Your one year younger model railroad friend, Bob Miller
I would also consider a hindged method as described. You could still have some elevated areas and structures. This would just require that the layout be hindged enough away from the wall for the clearance needed. If you wanted an 18" tall mountain just allow for a 20" fixed shelf that the remainder of the swing up portion would attach to. Some stop blocks and latches would secure the layout in the up position. For all the intricate pulleys, cabling, counterweights and safetys, I would go the swing up. The layout would need some sort of folding or removable legs anyway. The drop down would only require 2 hingded legs and would be quite stable since it would be securely attached to the wall.
There was an article a few years back in MR where the builder had a garage set up suspend on a pulley system from the ceiling and it was a pretty complex system as it has to pull the entire layout all at the same time. I would not use cords but rather wire or steel cables. I know they sell pre made systems for storing pick up truck caps and larger items. I posted a link below for a similar system .It might behoove you to take advantage to use someone else's technology and adapt it to your layout.
http://www.stacksandstacks.com/heavy-lift-storage-hoist-maximize-garage-storage?id=176&sku=108613&utm_medium=shoppingengine&utm_source=googlebas
What you want can be done, but I can't help you on the how. Way back, in the 1940-early 1950 era my dad, who was a locomotive engineer for Santa Fe built a Lionel O gauge layout for us on an enclosed back porch. Since my mom had her washing machine and other stuff in the porch also, I could only put the layout down when running or working on the layout. I know however dad rigged it, it worked very well, but 60 years ago fades the memory. I do remember that we eventually went into the attic, Dad installed ceiling panels, floored the flooring and we moved the Lionel up there where it remained until after I graduated from college in 1959 and moved away (and started into HO).
Bob
I'm not sure this is an option, but have you considered a hinged system? Since the front end of a car is relatively low, the layout could be attached to the wall at the end of the garage opposite the door. Instead of rising out of the way, it would only have to tilt. This would be a much simpler mechanical option than raising the entire layout.
It would, however, require removal of all the engines and rolling stock prior to liftoff, but that might be a wise precaution even with a vertical-lift system.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
"Yes, years ago I successfully suspended a layout with no problems. The layout raised and lowered evenly, and the layout remained perfectly level. There are tricks to accomplish this.
First, you must use a cord type that does not stretch at all. I used plastic-coated steel cable. It's about the same diameter as clothes line, but very strong and it does not stretch.
I used four cables, one at each corner of the layout. Using small pulleys, the cables ran to the corner of the room, where they passed through a set of very closely-spaced pulleys and down to a counterweight.
The cables must be secured to a common point so that they remain "synchronized." I made a counterweight--an open wooden box that held blocks of steel that I could add to as the layout changed weight--and all of the cables were permanently anchored to the top of the box.
At the other end, each of the cables was attached to the layout using a turnbuckle. The turnbuckle allowed me to adjust the height with great precision. Each turnbuckle was adjusted until the layout was level.
Hope this information helps.
--David
http://whiteriverandnorthern.net/chapter_5.htm"
I tried to sell my two cents worth, but no one would give me a plug nickel for it.
I don't have a leg to stand on.
I am a Grandad who wants to build a 4x8 layout (Lionel HO) gauge in my Garage for my grandkids - trouble is (for space reasons) that I have to suspend it from the ceiling and lower it when I want to use it - My problem is how to rig it so it can lower/comedown and sit onto (removable/foldable legs) (I do want to add some height to the table to give it a 3d look (say some mountains, perhaps a tunnel etc - my design is going to be set with an African Safari scene and a small rural African village and 1 local depot.the rigging is my main headache - once I have this clear in my own mind - I can start detailed planning. Any input would be apreciated