Train layout in Christmas Tree

[gear-jammer]

Looks like we are back to On30 again.  HO was too small after all. 

Sue

[gear-jammer]

Milly,

I had not thought of a donation.   Thanks.

The oval is a great idea.  I think that we are going to support it with boxes of equal sizes.

Sue

[Anonymous]

As the event is for charity, has your friend contacted any local model shops to see if they will loan/ donate any equipment? She could offer to place some signage in the area to advertise any business who could help. As for design, if the radius allows, I would be tempted to use an oval rather than a circle so the train 'disappears' into the tree, rather than just running aroun the outside. This would also allow you to place any floor standing supports closer to the trunk of the tree, helping to disguise them.

[gear-jammer]

Milly,

Great idea.  On30 was exactly what we suggested.  It looks like the funding is not there so she is looking at HO.  I have not heard from her is 3 days, so at this point I just working on the support.

Sue

[Anonymous]

Presuming you want the O gauge so you can see it better in the tree, why not compromise with Bachmann (or similar) On30? That way you'll get the larger trains on HO track plus the trains tend to be of lighter prototypes so shouldn't be quite so heavy in model form. Maybe a Shay or Climax logging train in a tree would be approprate? As for the balance, if you have the funding, rig two trains up on the same track with DCC control so they follow each other at opposite sides and they should help balance each other out. Good Luck!

[Wdlgln005]

You could go with a Nscale set & a circle of EZtrak. Get a round table from BBB or LNT. Get a small tree to set in the middle. Check out the church series of ornaments from Hallmark. They are designed to be used with a 35-50 christmas light set or 3.5 volt & 0.6 watt.

Get some LL, Bachmann or MP plastic buildings. You don't have to be fancy. just have enough that you can't see the whole circle of track.

For a train, you could use the LL Little Joe or a Atlas mogul. Get a set of Athearn shorty Overtons or longer Overlands. An Athearn/MDC Consolidation painted in the same roadname will be excellent.

Check out the MTL holiday setups to get an idea. I'd also try a Zscale setup. You could get crwative finding smaller ornaments to be modified into structures. Using the 40% off coupon at Michaels or Hobby Lobby may help keep the co$t down! Be smart & shop cheap!

 

 

[gear-jammer]

Boiler-man,

The tree will probably be an 8-10 ft Noble Fir.  They are the Cadillac of christmas trees in the Pacific Northwest.  It could be larger, but we will not know until the last minute.  We will need support from the floor.  In Washington, our main trees are Noble Fir, Douglas Fir, and Grand Fir.  There are other species that have become popular over the years, but usually the Noble is the tree of choice.

Sue

[rrandb]

I will restate that if you use a 1/2"  furnitre grade/no voids plywood it will have plenty of strenght. It comes in 5' x 5' sheets for about $45 a sheet. Most of it is now made in Scandinavia from tress with less knots?  It is stiffer than a $25 sheet of 3/4" construction grade plywood. It has more layers, more glue and no knots/voids in any of the layers. Ask any cabinet maker or company that builds displays if you doubt me. The constant shifting of the weight of the train circleing around the tree will very likely produce swaying ornaments or wobbling decorations if you attached it to the truck. Think of your washing machine when the clothes are on one side when  in the spin mode only slower. Same concept. I have seen this movie before.. You may brace the legs to the weighted base of the tree but not much higher. Listen to me now and beleive me later. Or attach it to the tree and you will be adding legs later. This is besides the fact that it is a living tree and any attachment points would need to be such as to not damage the tree. Build a modular/2 piece, circular but free standing layout and add a tree to the middle. Decorate tree and train accordingly. Have fun and post photo's. Next year everyone will want one. Good Luck and Happy Holidays

[Boiler-man]

I would think that the size and species of the tree would play an important factor in this project.

If the tree was a 12 foot Ponderosa pine the train could be supported off of the trunk providing the tree has a good stand.

[gear-jammer]

Because of E-bay shopping, my friend is considering HO.  I think that life will get easier.   

With all your help, I am still trying to decide the best support for the structure.  Do you think that 1/2" will be enough for HO?  We have always used 3/4" or greater.

Sue

[Dave-the-Train]

Hey!  If she can hit the chairman of the board or the guest celebrity she could sell it for even more!

(Not that that's the sort of thing i would plan...)

[gear-jammer]

Good idea.  I wonder if she has actually considered supervising the the train.  Can you imagine a runnaway train during bidding?  She figures that the train will sell for $5000.  Everyone in fomal attire with champagne in hand as the train goes sailing off the layout. Ouch.

Sue

[Dave-the-Train]

Another "spot the problem before it arises"... Don't forget to get in plenty of minced pies and refreshments for the layout operators

[gear-jammer]

I appreciate the great suggestions.  You guys always think of the problems before they happen.  I am hoping with your help that we can premake the pieces and assemble them quickly.

Thanks,  Sue

[rrandb]

The main drawback to attaching trackwork to the tree is any motion or vibrations of the train will be transmited directly to the tree and all the ornaments etc. etc.. Not a big issue in "N" gauge but can get worse as size increases. I would strongly suggest that even HO be both isolated and self supporting. Throw in the Lionel boat, car and helicopter on flat cars and she will have most travel modes covered.

[Budliner]

Bachman made an N gauge set that was designed to go in a Christmas tree.  It's probably out of production but should be available on EBay.  Merry Christmas, Lou

never seen that

sounds cool

[gvdobler]

I have one of the N gauge sets made for a tree.  It is a pain in the neck to level and support, so I usually just have it on a coffee table.  The problem is that there are only 4 supports, maybe 6 would be better.

It uses a track similar to EZ track and supported by plastic rods at a 45 degree to the trunk of the tree. I think I could do better with real EZ track and wood dowels painted green. 

If you were to use Lionel's Fastrak and support it with round dowels that went straight to the floor, they might support the weight of O gauge.  They would be somewhat hidden by the branches since the tree gets bigger at the bottom.  Then you would just have to tie it horizontally to the trunk to keep it upright.

Good Luck

 

[MisterBeasley]

Sorry, she thought that HO was small.  I guess that she is thinking O gauge.

Ouch.  O-gauge is heavy.  The structural requirements to support an O-gauge train are pretty extreme.  I think what you need is a circular loop of track, roadbed and plywood, about 5-inches wide, with cuts on either side so each piece is a semi-circle.  Then, you'll need 1x2's to support it, probably every 2 feet or so.  Paint the 1x2's green so they'll blend in with the tree.  If you can get away with it, use 2x4's, because they'll give you more stability.  Hmmm, the more I think of it, forget the 1x2's.  They aren't going to cut it, except may be as extra intermediate supports.  Add horizontal supports from leg-to-leg, too.  If you do it right, you can probably put the train up maybe 2 feet into the the tree.

[rrandb]

The only difference is your layout will be modular. The legs at the joints will be "L" shaped instead of "T"'s and the legs flat sides will joint the modules in 2,3 or 4 sections as is appropriate.  Remember the second module only has to be large enought to clear the trunk. Think of a small bridge and it could even be a brige decorated for christmas. A couple of multi plugs and she's railroading. Gauge is no different just wire the branches up further. The fire retardant and supression remark made me assume artificial. Unless its a live tree it can still be two parts. Just cut and reassembled with a threaded dowel rod as in table leg. As a Union Decorator for the convention industry there is not much we have not seen. Think of this as just a stage prop that only has to last till Christmas. Do not get lost in the details as by next year you will want to change everything from what you learned this year and so the idea stays fresh. Check the radius you need for your gauge or your track may only be two feet off the ground. Remember "Radius" is only half the diameter of your track and the wood will be slightly larger. A 24" HO radius is a "4 FOOT"  circle. "O" is twice the size of HO (half-O) and G is even larger. GOOD LUCK. Unless your tree is in the atrium of city hall "G" is going to be a strech. Even "S" will be a challenge. There was a reason the trains set in a tree was offered only in "N" gauge

[gear-jammer]

Lou,

Sorry, she thought that HO was small.  I guess that she is thinking O gauge.

Thanks,  Sue

[gear-jammer]

rrandb,

The trees are live trees so the circular layout will have to be two pieces. 

 Your idea  is similar to what I have been putting together in my head.  The 3/4" plywood sounds about right because she is thinking that she wants to use O gauge.

Thanks,

Sue

 

[lvanhen]

Bachman made an N gauge set that was designed to go in a Christmas tree.  It's probably out of production but should be available on EBay.  Merry Christmas, Lou

[rrandb]

I have a friend who is decorating a Christmas Tree for a charity event.  The theme for the tree is travel.  She is wanting to have a train actually running in the branches of the tree.  She was thinking about using a Christmas Train like the Orient Express. 

Does anyone have any suggestions on how to support the track within the tree or a suggestion for roadbed?  The fire retardant and preservative do make the tree quite stiff, but I am sure that we will need more support. 

Please help. 

Sue

What your want to do is build a cicular layout that is free standing and able to support itself and the train. The tree should seperate in the middle that is it should be made in two parts. The height of the layout should match this joint position in the bottom half of the tree. Place the layout over it with a hole in the middle for the top of the tree to be mounted. Attach the top of the tree. Decorate accordingly so it appears the train is going around the tree. With appropriate garland and paint the layout should dissapear into the tree. You could even drill holes in the edge and insert additional branches to further the illusion the train is part of the tree.  Since the layout is self supporting it should operate as any other as long as you leave enough clearance for the train I.E. no hanging branches, ornaments, tinsel etc. etc.. The roadbed can be as simple as E-Z snap track with plastic roadbed.. The layout base can be 3/4 inch plywood cabinet grade / no voids as there will be less warping.. Not the stuff at HD/Lowes thou they may be able to order it. Depending on the size you need you can add a second layer of plywood as a stiffiner back from the edge so it does not look so thick. Legs can be as large as you need (you did not say what gauge) as they will be inside the foliage or behind the skirting. Two peices of this plywood cut to size and put together to form a "T" (when seen from above) will make sturdy legs. Diagonal bracing as required. Think of a large doughnut with legs and a tree growing out the middle of it. Good Luck!

[gear-jammer]

I have a friend who is decorating a Christmas Tree for a charity event.  The theme for the tree is travel.  She is wanting to have a train actually running in the branches of the tree.  She was thinking about using a Christmas Train like the Orient Express. 

Does anyone have any suggestions on how to support the track within the tree or a suggestion for roadbed?  The fire retardant and preservative do make the tree quite stiff, but I am sure that we will need more support. 

Please help. 

Sue