I have had this brainstorm for awhile now. Now that THE Train Trailer is a washout (literally) I decided to give it a go. I went to Home Depot and bought a damaged prehung 32 x 80 HCD. (you can see the small damaged area on the top right) I bought a couple of 4 1/2 inch decorative shelf brackets and a couple 1 1/2 inch angle brackets for the inside top. I got two 3 foot lengths of chain and 4 eyebolts. I mounted the door sideways on the wall at the end of my bed...it only hangs out 4 1/2 inches from the wall ! It looks like its going to work just fine ! I was going to frame in the left side...which is the bottom of the door when used as a door. Then it dawned on me...I have a lightswitch back there I need to get to !! So for now...I left the left side open. I pull the plastic pin they used to temporaily hold the door closed during installation and slowly drop the door. It works great ! The "Chief" poster is covering the predrilled doornob hole. I plan to fill in both these holes on both sides before I paint it. I will be using Unitrack this time around...so we will see how that works. Yes...I know I will have to take the trains off the layout before closing it up for the night...no big deal. So it starts anew...Gonna go have some fun...LOL :tb-cool:
The only downside to mounting in this way, is very little space to build deep cuts or tall mountains. But it is a smart way to use your space. I like it!
Yea...only 3 1/2 inches of clearance when closed. BUT...not all railroads run thru the mountains. Lots of flat desert in Arizona...LOL :tb-wink: I just temporarily hot glued 3 buildings off THE Old Layout and closed it...works good :tb-cool: Laid a big oval of unitrack down. Unhooked THE Power Drawer out of THE Train Trailer and will fasten it to the corner of the door so it hangs under the layout when opened. It's time to see trains run !!!! :tb-cool:
I can't make out the pictures very well, (white on white to me). If I understand correctly, it hinges / swings down - folds up and the chain supports the outer edge? Great idea!
Ok...today I laid an oval of unitrack... Attached THE Power Panel Yea...the wiring is 'ugly' for now. I will 'dress' them along the right side when layout is closed :tb-wink:
OHhhh...ohhhhhhhhh...what about my scrachbuilt cell tower ? It's 8 inches tall and I only have 3 1/2 inches whwn layout is closed !! No problem...lol. I made a 'hinge from the small spray nozzle you get when you buy WD40. I cut 3 pieces...2 got glued to the cell base...the middle one got glued to the layout !! I ran a length of phone wire thru the 'straw' for a hinge pin ! Now I can fold the tower down and close the layout...So kewl !!!
Thnxs Steve... It's gettin there. As soon as I can afford some turnouts...I'll get the inside loop, yard, and turntable done. This will be a great distraction until I can get something (read: house, trailer, motorhome) to put together THERR Empire again. PLUS....for now... I get to run some trains again WooooooooHoooooooo !! :tb-cool:
You could get rid of the chain using folding brackets. I've seen fold away shelf brackets made from plywood triangles and piano hinge. The hinge mounts to the wall and the triangle folds flat to the wall when not in use.
Thnxs for the input John... :tb-smile: I was going to use a folding ( 2 pieces bolted in the center ) 1/4 inch flat aluminum bar setup. I'm kinda liking the chain...it's see through and really not that much of a distraction anymore. Besides...the chain is more manly lookin...LOL :tb-cool:
Oh yea Johnny....lol. Way back here http://www.trainboard.com/grapevine/showthread.php?137030-The-Dog-Ate-My-Homework!&highlight= is the whole story
Thnxs [FONT=Trebuchet MS, Georgia, Verdana]b-16707... Brainstorms sometimes come out pretty good. :tb-wink:[/FONT]
George I’m afraid to ask and I just went back through your all threads trying to get a hint as to what you mean by a “wash out”, but I guess I have to ask what what you mean?
Basically...just an older trailer :tb-wacky: The roof has been a constant leak. Numerous resealings and it still finds a way in. The roof trusses (2 x 2) where sagging and the water would pool at the roof vent and seep in. I bought some 1 1/2" angle iron and lag bolted them to the trusses...after jacking them back to straight. All was going well. Then we got 3 feet of snow ! The weight of the wet snow sagged the roof again. It even bent the angle iron on the vertical plane !! Thats a ton of weight. I put a large tote I bought from wal mart under the leak. By the next day...the tote was full and frozen over! This time a leak developed at the back of the trailer..along the edge. The water ran all over the layout back there and ran up the whole side...soaking everything. :-( THE Wife and I discussed it...and decided we will wait till we can get something the roof doesnt leak on before we continue with THERR Empire again I got a heck of a deal on almost 200 pieces of various Unitrack...straights and curves...no turnouts. I was chomping at the bit ! THE Wife told me I needed to buy a HCD and get something running...before I drove her crazy...LOL. I bought the door...laid an oval...and am happy for now watching trains running in circles. I have a track plan I found online I like. It takes some turnouts...but...with my train budget being depleted and being on disablity...it will have to wait. It sure is nice sitting here and hearing trains running again though. :tb-cool:
One nice thing about building your own railroad is that it's all what you want!!!! Like Mel Brooks said "It's good to be king!"
