Christmas Layout

[elvisp]

I am planning my layout under the Christmas tree. I am running Standard Gauge equipment. Last year I had trouble with the lights and signals standing up on the carpet. The exposed wires did not look great.

Any suggestions for a base? Wood? Foam? others? Also would you put the tree on the base or cut the base for the tree?

Does any run a Standard Gauge under the tree? Any suggestions for it's layout?

[rlplionel]

I think standard gauge trains would look good under a tree on a traditional "plywood prairie" type layout. Just place the tree right on top of the plywood board.

Robert
http://home.surewest.net/rlplionel/Robert.htm

[dwiemer]

I will be doing a similar layout in O guage. My plan is to have a plywood base (4ft square) with a platform of plywood (18" square) on a 2x4 frame. I will have two surge protector strips inside the frame to plug the trains/christmas village into. I will have a christmas village backed upto the 2x4 frame under the tree and the trains in a semi square layout around the outside of the village. Place white felt from the crafts store on the plywood to give the winter effect without getting into the loco gears. Hope this helps, and I am open to suggestions to improve this.
Dennis

[spankybird]

We did this thread last year and it may help you

http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=24279