Portable Layout Questions

[fwright]

Outsailing86

Are there any HO scalers with portable layouts?  How large is the portable layout?

The Near Sighted Narrow Gaugers in Denver developed an HOn3 modular standard based closely on Free-mo, Sn2, and other modular standards.  When the standard was not taken up by anybody else, the standard was enhanced primarily to make setup faster and easier, and to better facilitate operations.  The standard is published.

NSNG has done 40x40ft layouts I believe at some train shows.  Every layout is different depending on space and modules available.  Module size varies, depending on the subject and the portability needed by the owner.  Width at module set interface is 24".  36" - 40" long modules are common because they can be carried by one person.  Handholds are cut into the end plates to enable this.

How do you bridge the gap between modules? 3" straight track or butt the modules together?

Started out with the Free-mo 2" fitter rails but switched to butt joints.  When setting up a piece of paper should fall at the butt joint between module sets.  Each module set has a circuit breaker, so the butt joints cannot actually touch at the module set boundaries.  Butt joints need to be protected during transport - most module owners have boxes that cover track ends.  Done right, butt joints are much faster at setup and smoother running.

How do you transport the layout? Trailer? Pickup truck? Do you remove structures before travel? How much layout detail falls off during a road trip?

Transport is generally the responsibility of the module owner, with SUVs being typical.  Modules in open bed pickups have to be protected from weather.  Have seen a Toyota Corolla used - trunk and back seat.  For distant setups (not going home at night), a trailer is sometimes used to transport modules.  Structures and scenery are at the option of module owner - most eventually get secured and left on to avoid setup time.  As time goes on, techniques have been refined to both reduce damage and setup time. 

Are legs integrated on the pieces? Or do you support the layout with folding tables?

Legs are separate.  Top-adjustable legs are required.  A threaded rod is used to join the top and bottom sections of the leg, with the top rotating for adjustment.  Bottom leg sections have longitudinal and cross braces.  Top of leg fits into pocket near corner of module.  Latest innovation has been installation of quick bed frame connections for braces to save time bolting during setup.  Many owners have leg bags to carry the legs and braces.  Legs are much simpler to transport, setup, and level compared to folding tables.  Folding tables generally end up at too low a height for pleasant standing operation and/or viewing.

Other points:  Wired NCE DCC is used.  Sometimes wireless works at setups, and sometimes not.  Anderson plugs are used at each module joint for track bus and DC accessory bus.

Fred W

["JaBear"]

“How large is the portable layout?”

Depends on the area, transport, and setup crew, available.

 

 

The original module size, 1500mm x 450mm (approximately 60” x 17 3/4 “) was decided upon by the founders of the local Modular Group, the criteria being that a module could be carried by one person, that it easily fit through doorways, and that two could fit side by side the back of the Nissan station wagon owned by the “senior” founder.

One module was inverted and joined to another module by transport/transport plates, so four modules could be carried in the back of the Nissan!

 

I now regret not taking more photos of the setup procedure, but I was busy helping set up!! Not a good photo but it does show modules in their transport mode, and some of the frames with the fold up legs.

 

Setting Up Ham 13 by Bear, on Flickr

 

“…how do you bridge the gap between modules? 3" straight track or butt the modules together?”

Butt joint.

 

Mod joint by Bear, on Flickr

MJ2 by Bear, on Flickr

 

“…how do you transport the layout? Trailer? Pickup truck?”

One show we were invited to, required the use of a converted 2 horse, horse trailer (towed by the Nissan) and two tandem trailers towed by two utes (pickup trucks) which also had modules on the tray.

 

“…do you remove structures before travel?”:

As a rule, no.

 

“…how much layout detail falls off during a road trip?” 

In theory nothing if the right adhesive is used, in practice, occasionally there may have been a tree, some shrubbery, and a small amount of ballast.

 

“Are legs integrated on the pieces? Or do you support the layout with folding tables?”

Mainly purpose built “table frames” with folding legs, though “end plate legs” were also used.

 

Cheers, the Bear.

[chatanuga]

Here's the video I made of the construction of my layout using Sievers Benchwork.

I have had to take parts of the layout apart twice.  Once when my washer and dryer went out to make it easier for the guys delivering to get the new ones in and the old ones out.  The second time was when my water meter in the basement (over the one staging yard) had to be replaced.

Kevin

[ndbprr]

first consideration is how many people  will do the set up and tear down?

Second use connection blocks for all electrical connections

third i am using hollow core doors on my building layout. very light and very strong.  in essence they are beams.  i get them on craigs list in the free category.  32" are perfect for my needs. 36" are rarer and 24" and 18" are abundent.   comparable to 2" foam in weight and more durable

best system for moving i have seen is in a box truck (u haul) with a sling of rope from d ring to d ring stacked above each other on individual slings

[wrench567]

 I don't have a layout. I have modules. Each module group will have standards. Ours was width of 2 foot increments. Corner modules were 4 foot square. Mine are 1 corner, 1 two foot, and 3 four footers. The mainlines were spaced from the front edge 5,7, and 10 inch. Modules were either bolted or clamped together. Six inch jointer track was used to connect the three mains.

   I removed my structures and trees. Others did not.

  I used a pickup truck with a tonneau cover for mine and another club members single module.

   Someone once took some headstones from my graveyard. Other than that nothing but details on rolling stock damaged. One damaged locomotive from an inattentive operator.

  My legs were removed and carried in one of those long nylon bags you get with a folding chair. Legs fit in pockets on the modules with magnets so they wouldn't fall out while moving it.

     Pete.

[fmilhaupt]

How large is the portable layout?  23 by 51 feet.

how do you bridge the gap between modules? 9-inch (nominal) bridge track/roadbed pieces.

How do you transport the layout? Two 14-foot trailers, a box truck and a couple of pick-up trucks.

Do you remove structures before travel? Some of them, yes.

How much layout detail falls off during a road trip? Not a lot. More ballast than anything. On one 700+ mile trip, we lost about a pound of ballast onto the trailer and truck floors.

Are legs integrated on the pieces? We built forty interchangeable leg sets using jigs. We have to bolt them on at set-up and un-bolt them at tear-down.

 

We built our layout between 1998 and 2003. If we were to do it now, we'd build-in fold-down legs with casters (like the Sipping & Switching Society does) and would run the rails right up to the ends of the modules. That would cut several hours off of the set-up and tear-down processes.

After fiftten years of taking it on the road to places stretching from Hartford, Connecticut to Kansas City, Missouri, we don't move the Operations Road Show layout any more.

 

 

[SeeYou190]

Outsailing86

Are there any HO scalers with portable layouts? 

In 1992 I built an N scale portable layout for Scale Rails Of Southwest Florida. It could have been HO with very few changes. Mainline had 18" radius curves.

Outsailing86

How large is the portable layout? 

4 modules 28" by 70". it was roughly 13' by 8' when assembled.

Outsailing86

how do you bridge the gap between modules? 3" straight track or butt the modules together? 

We butted the modules together and used 5" Atlas rerailers to join the tracks. Only one mainline joint was visible when assembled.

Outsailing86

how do you transport the layout? Trailer? Pickup truck?

It all fit into one plywood box that fit into the bed of a full size Ford F-150.

-Photograph by Kevin Parson

Outsailing86

do you remove structures before travel? 

No. Everything was glued in place.

-Photograph by Kevin Parson

Outsailing86

how much layout detail falls off during a road trip? 

None.

-Photograph by Kevin Parson

Outsailing86

Are legs integrated on the pieces? Or do you support the layout with folding tables? 

There were three legs on each of the end pieces. The sides were supported by the ends.

-Kevin

[Outsailing86]

Hi all. 

Are there any HO scalers with portable layouts? 
How large is the portable layout? 
how do you bridge the gap between modules? 3" straight track or butt the modules togt? 
how do you transport the layout? Trailer? Pickup truck? 
do you remove structures before travel? 
how much layout detail falls off during a road trip? 
Are legs integrated on the pieces? Or do you support the layout with folding tables? 

thanks!