matt280we'd like to get started with a small layout that we can display in a glass top coffee table
Excellent idea.
When we bought our house about 23 years ago, there was no place for a full size layout. It was going to be a long time before the basement was ready and there were a lot of other things that had to be fixed.
I built a very simple coffee table. The legs and rails were made from 1X4 select pine and the top was a commercial table top sold at the local home center. The table was about 5 feet long by 18 inches wide. The track plan was a simple stub-terminal switching layout.
Instead of putting the layout under glass, the track was attached to the underside. When I ran trains, the entire table could be turned over. Trains and structures were removed between operating sessions.
This worked rather well for a few years.
My children were very young at the time. The small layout was a good fit for my situation.
Children visiting our house would love to crawl under the table and look up at the track.
Happy Holidays!
Kevin
We live in a one bedroom apartment so for now we'd like to get started with a small layout that we can display in a glass top coffee table. We will eventually get a two bed room with the second bedroom having a larger layout. Sadly we aren't very woodwork savy so that's why I was looking to see if an existing piece of furniture was known to be a good start. I'll look into finding any woodshops that might be able to help me with the work.
I like the idea of a coffee table layout and the challenge of designing within the limits of such a finite space. A kinetic variation of the classic ship-in-a-bottle theme.
But why limit to coffee tables? They are usually in the 16 to 18 inch high range. All that bending and stooping. Why not a sideboard or buffet layout? Comfortable viewing while standing. You can always store Granny's dishes someplace else. And who really needs fourteen teapots anyway?
I read an article someplace that some guy rigged up a hinged top to his desk at work and built a layout underneath. George Costanza would be proud.
LINK to SNSR Blog
I am a bit confused about this thread.
Are you planning to build a coffee table layout under glass? Or is it simply a coffee table sized layout.
For my layout I had a local handyman build the benchwork so that it kind of looks like furniture but with a Homosote top that alllows me to install the trackwork etc. Should be doable in a coffee table size with moulding on the sixe for edges. You could even finish it.
Also beware of IKEA furniture its definately not the best quality. Functional yes durable not so much.
Joe Staten Island West
ChoopsI was at ikea the other day. Not sure of the quality but this may get you started. http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/50087072/
That's exactly the kind of thing one would need ... I wonder if the drawer is deep enough (and the drawer bottom is substantial enough).
It also looks like there is a piece below the drawer -- just where a model railroad needs wiring, switch machines, etc. It's one reason many (not all) coffee table layouts don't use a sliding drawer, instead the top is hinged.
Layout Design GalleryLayout Design Special Interest Group
I was at ikea the other day.
Not sure of the quality but this may get you started.
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/50087072/
Steve
matt280For most of these layouts do people create their own coffee table or are there certain tables that are inherently well suited for these layouts?
Welcome to the forum and the hobby.
These tables are typically constructed from scratch. I don't know of any commercial funiture vendors making anything apprpriate "off the shelf".
Googling the phrase "model railroad coffee table plans" will lead to some examples and at least one or two folks selling plans to build an appropriate table -- but I can't vouch for the quality of the plans.
Good luck with your layout.
We're new to model trains and wanted to start with building a display layout in a coffee table. We've seen so many ideas but I'm running into a slight issue of finding a suitable coffee table. For most of these layouts do people create their own coffee table or are there certain tables that are inherently well suited for these layouts? Thanks!