Suspended layout.

Hello,
Im designing a N Scale layout with the dimentions of 5'x2', 2'x4', and 3'x2' (If that was confusing to you, it's three 'rectangles' connected together to give an odd shape for maximum coverage of the available space). Unfortunately, also due to lack of space, I must suspend the layout from the ceiling and make it so it can be pulled up and out of the way when not in use. Does anyone know how to do this cheeply and effectively?

Much thanks,
Alex

P.S. I will also try to post my layout design when possible.

 

I'm going to have to do something similar in my garage to keep my center peninsula out of the way when not in use. I'm planning to use a bike hoist/ pulley system to get it up to the rafters. If you make very basic stands for the benchwork, you may be able to lift all of it out of your way.

 

Im pretty much looking for help on the whole thing. As for framework, none yet, but its probably going to be 2 layers of plywood (bottom layer for staging), and insulation foam for the landscape to keep it light and simple.

 

I did this for my son when he was little. I mounted pulleys to the ceiling over his bed which was center in the room with head against the wall. I made a bed frame with the bed posts all the same height and cut plywood to fit on top then used soft strong rope to pull it up when not being used. I didn’t have much money when he was little so had to improvised with what I could get cheap.

Anyway this is a drawing of the pulley system that I used. The drawing shows the pulleys for one side but I had one for each end of the bed with the two ropes going through a single pulley on the wall with the clasp below. I thought about using a winch because he was 6 years, but he had no problem pulling it up and tying it off so I left it alone. He used that system for 5 years until I moved.

As far as the frame work you can use a 1x3 or 1x4 frame with 1 ½ or 2” foam in between. Oh if you decide to use a plywood platform do not use MDF or partical board because its too heavy.

 

I have my layout on a lift in my garage.. it's about 5' x 9. I've got a 2:1 ratio pulley system and a boat-trailer crank. I use a cordless drill for the cranking.

here are some pics of the project:

Picasa Web Albums - Tim D - Modular layou...

 

Oh wow, that’s what I did except it wasn’t for my train layout. I built mine to store my Christmas decorations. Since I only use it once a year I mounted the winch up high to get it out of the way and I used steel cables because the “boat” as I call it is pretty heavy with all the Christmas stuff. I also made special pulley mounts out of some scrap pieces of steel.

 

Great idea! I will use something similar. Very simple and inexpensive to build. The reason I want it to be able to be pulled up and out of the way is to keep the space completely usable for storage (Thats what it's used for now). Basically, its just to get my parents to let me build this thing (Yes, Im only 13. Ive enjoyed building diaramas and things for years, and messed with a small undetailed N Scale layout when I was younger. After spending countless hours on the game Trainz, I finally picked up a book on complex model railroad management, and was instantly hypnotized, so after months of research and tooling, I finally got everything ready). Sorry for that little bio about me. My layout is actually quite interesting. Even though it has a surface area of 24ftsq. I was still able to incoorperate a mainline, a branchline, 4 stations (which simulate towns), a yard, turntable, and engine shed into the design. The problem is, because of the small space, all grades have to be 3°, which is pretty steep, but the only grades are on the branch line, which go up to a logging area and coal mine, and because my layout is based on the late '40s-'50s, it will probably be displayed as an aging branchline with only small and infrequent traffic. I will try to put up the blueprints I have later tonight.

 

Looks like a lot of good ideas here.

Another from Andre Kritzinger.

Photo from his website:

 

Oops:membarrassed:, spelling was never one of my strong points.laugh:

 

Ok here's some blueprints with some tabs on basic info underneath. For anyone who doesnt have a Facebook, sorry, but this is the only photo hosting site I have at the moment.
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