Content removed due to a completely frak'ed up and incompetent Kalmbach customer service.
That is a most excellent looking and functional set up you are building up. I am casting about thinking up my own first layout and that is some great stuff to consider all the way around. Looking forward to watching your construction as you work your way through this all.
Should it ever become necessary to replace the small casters with a bit larger units, you could always notch the bottom corner of each leg and set the larger caster in the resulting recess. This will allow larger wheels without increasing the overall height.
Hornblower
SveinI used a 16mm steel tube as a hinge. No need to crawl under the layout to do the wiring:Top side of layout in storage posisition:Svein
I used a 16mm steel tube as a hinge. No need to crawl under the layout to do the wiring:
Top side of layout in storage posisition:
Svein
I'm sorry but we won't be able to give you your wiring "Merritt Badge" if you haven't crawled underneath and dripped hot solder on yourself.
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
Svein Now, time to run a train:
Now, time to run a train:
That is one beautiful sight! Congratulations on posting the first pics of 32a in it's right environment!
Big grin, Stein
If your surface is warping, you might just need to put more bracing on the underside of it.
Re: height adjusters
Try to find something called a "Tee Nut" in your local hardware store (hopefully they carry them where you live). Here's a link to a photo - it's the one on the very bottom:
http://www.toolstation.com/shop/Fixings/NutsandWashers/d90/sd920
A tee nut can be used with a standard threaded bolt to make a height adjuster assembly. Drill a hole in the bottom of the wooden leg, insert the tee nut into the hole, then thread the bolt into the tee nut and adjust as necessary. Voila - a height adjuster.
Dan Stokes
My other car is a tunnel motor
Svein wrote: galaxy wrote: A word of warning: I found that if anyone leans on the outer edges of the layout for any reason, it will want to tip even when "Secure pinned" into the horizontal position. Also if weight of what is on top of the layout (scenery track etc) is disproportionate on either side, layout will not "balance" well when in the horizontal position, and want to tip.Thanks for the warning Galaxy!YOUR WELCOME! I FOUND OUT THE HARD WAYI haven't planned any kind of "locking" device when the layout is in horizontal position, the layout is free to pivot around the center. I want the construction to be as simple as possible yet functional.HAVING A LOCKING PIN IS A GOOD IDEA! I BALANCED IT IN THE HORIZONTAL POSITION, DRILLED A HOLE THROUGH THE SUPPORT LEG AND INTO THE DOOR. THEN I JUST USED A LARGE LONG NAIL AS THE LOCKING PIN ON EACH SIDE AND EACH LEG UPRIGHTS. EASY QUICK AND SIMPLE.A removable brace like the one you have is one alternative, but as the center leg footprint on my layout is only 70x116cm, I don't know if this will be enough to keep it stable. YOU ARE RIGHT- THE SLANTED BRACE DOES STABILIZE IT, BUT IF SOMEONE STILL LEANS HEAVILY ON THE EDGES......THAT IS WHY I MENTIONED THE REMOVABLE (OR FOLDABLE UP UNDERNEATH) LEGS TO GO AT THE OUTER EDGES. ALSO, I DESIGNED THEM TO BE "SELF STORING" WITHIN THE CENTER LEG.4 corner legs will probably be a better solution for me. I figure that a well balanced layout will be easy to hold in horizontal position while fastening the legs on one side, the added weight of the legs vil then prevent the layout from tilting the other way before the second pair of legs are fastened.LOTHAR HAS MENTIONED ONLY HAVING ONE ON EACH END, AS LONG AS NO ONE LEANS ON CORNERS, ONE ON EACH END MAY BE OK.Any thoughts?Svein
galaxy wrote: A word of warning: I found that if anyone leans on the outer edges of the layout for any reason, it will want to tip even when "Secure pinned" into the horizontal position. Also if weight of what is on top of the layout (scenery track etc) is disproportionate on either side, layout will not "balance" well when in the horizontal position, and want to tip.
A word of warning: I found that if anyone leans on the outer edges of the layout for any reason, it will want to tip even when "Secure pinned" into the horizontal position. Also if weight of what is on top of the layout (scenery track etc) is disproportionate on either side, layout will not "balance" well when in the horizontal position, and want to tip.
Thanks for the warning Galaxy!
YOUR WELCOME! I FOUND OUT THE HARD WAY
I haven't planned any kind of "locking" device when the layout is in horizontal position, the layout is free to pivot around the center. I want the construction to be as simple as possible yet functional.
HAVING A LOCKING PIN IS A GOOD IDEA! I BALANCED IT IN THE HORIZONTAL POSITION, DRILLED A HOLE THROUGH THE SUPPORT LEG AND INTO THE DOOR. THEN I JUST USED A LARGE LONG NAIL AS THE LOCKING PIN ON EACH SIDE AND EACH LEG UPRIGHTS. EASY QUICK AND SIMPLE.
A removable brace like the one you have is one alternative, but as the center leg footprint on my layout is only 70x116cm, I don't know if this will be enough to keep it stable.
YOU ARE RIGHT- THE SLANTED BRACE DOES STABILIZE IT, BUT IF SOMEONE STILL LEANS HEAVILY ON THE EDGES......THAT IS WHY I MENTIONED THE REMOVABLE (OR FOLDABLE UP UNDERNEATH) LEGS TO GO AT THE OUTER EDGES. ALSO, I DESIGNED THEM TO BE "SELF STORING" WITHIN THE CENTER LEG.
4 corner legs will probably be a better solution for me. I figure that a well balanced layout will be easy to hold in horizontal position while fastening the legs on one side, the added weight of the legs vil then prevent the layout from tilting the other way before the second pair of legs are fastened.
LOTHAR HAS MENTIONED ONLY HAVING ONE ON EACH END, AS LONG AS NO ONE LEANS ON CORNERS, ONE ON EACH END MAY BE OK.
Any thoughts?
-G .
Just my thoughts, ideas, opinions and experiences. Others may vary.
HO and N Scale.
After long and careful thought, they have convinced me. I have come to the conclusion that they are right. The aliens did it.
Svein wrote: galaxy wrote: A word of warning: I found that if anyone leans on the outer edges of the layout for any reason, it will want to tip even when "Secure pinned" into the horizontal position. Also if weight of what is on top of the layout (scenery track etc) is disproportionate on either side, layout will not "balance" well when in the horizontal position, and want to tip.Thanks for the warning Galaxy!I haven't planned any kind of "locking" device when the layout is in horizontal position, the layout is free to pivot around the center. I want the construction to be as simple as possible yet functional.A removable brace like the one you have is one alternative, but as the center leg footprint on my layout is only 70x116cm, I don't know if this will be enough to keep it stable. 4 corner legs will probably be a better solution for me. I figure that a well balanced layout will be easy to hold in horizontal position while fastening the legs on one side, the added weight of the legs vil then prevent the layout from tilting the other way before the second pair of legs are fastened.Any thoughts?Svein
Svein, Check at this sit out.
http://www.stationroadbaseboards.co.uk/cart_brackets.htm
They have a folding bracket for legs along with others ideas.
Johnnny_reb Once a word is spoken it can not be unspoken!
My Train Page My Photobucket Page My YouTube Channel
Svein,
Very nice work ! Lots of luck with your new layout. As a board newbie, I'm very excited to see your layout progress.
Pete :-)
Before this appeared the first time you mentioned it, I had already built one with a hollow core door covered by foam. Almost exact style of design. I based the design on a gaming table I saw.
I solved some of the problem by putting a removable brace from the base up and out to the edge(slanted). Further resolution would be removable legs to secure under the outer edges when it is in the horizontal position.
Best drawing I can give you:
______LAYOUT_____________ OR: _____LAYOUT__________
! ! / ! ! ! !
___!__ ! / ^brace ! ___!__!___ !
() () ! () () !
^-removable prop legs--^
You did a great job putting your set-up together. About 35 years ago, I made a similar arrangment for my small layout. It was no where near as good looking as yours. I'll be eager to see the layout come to life.
Ted H
Svein wrote: This may happen if you don't drill holes first...:
This may happen if you don't drill holes first...:
Been there, done that!
Nice work.
OK,
First of all, if it were me, I put larger-wheeled casters on that thing. Larger wheels will go over any kind of bump easier than those little things you have on there now.
Secondly,
I was very lucky, the layout is perfectly balanced. The hinge has no resistance at all, with a gentle tap with my finger it tilts into vertical position, the upper crossmember prevents the layout from tilting the other way.
If after you add scenery you find it is no longer blanaced, you can always add lead weights to the under side of the table to balance it out.
You might want to permanently attach a couple small, cheap levels to the edges to help get it ready to run trains. Another thought would be to add fold-out legs to the corners like a card table has to add stability while running trains.
Are you going to add a box top to it of some kind to protect the scenery?
HarryHotspur wrote: loathar wrote:Nice work! And I bet it can double as a train catapult if you push down on one side really hard!LOL! Sorry, but that's a funny thought. I hope he doesn't have any cats.
loathar wrote:Nice work! And I bet it can double as a train catapult if you push down on one side really hard!
LOL! Sorry, but that's a funny thought. I hope he doesn't have any cats.
Oh, I think it would work as a cat-apult too! It might teach Miss Kitty a lesson, too.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
- Harry