I am looking for hardware or ideas to create a hidden train table, like a Murphy bed design. It would be acceptable for the table to fold into the wall or retract into the ceiling. Any ideas?
You remember the old ironing boards that folded into the wall. I've heard of using this approach for Nscale. John Barnhill Nor-Cal SP/UP Connection Foothill Rails
Hi Reidberg. I'd say the less joints the better. I had a 9'x4' N scale a few years ago that folded up against the wall in one piece. It hinged on a 6" wide shelf (strong) which gave a similar clearance between the layout and wall when stored - no scenery above 6" high! The shelf also held a 6 road storage yard accessed by tracks at each end which led onto the layout proper, so it formed part of the main oval. To put it away I just ran all the trains into the yard, lifted the layout up against the wall and fixed it with a sliding bolt at each end. Getting the whole lot set so the rails aligned reliably in the down position, and didn't foul when lifted was a bit of a fiddle, but it worked a treat once set up. For hardware look at kitchen/bedroom furniture fittings. They have things for jobs you never thought of! (In the UK Woodfit are a good source, don't know about elsewhere.)
John Armstrong has a plan for a Murphy bed style layout in his book Creative Model Railroad Design Dwight
I wish I could recall what issue it was in, but there was an article a few years back that had a small N layout that folded up into a chimney cupboard. I think it was the same issue that had the O scale Pioneer Valley switching layout project.
A fold up layout will need to be built with good craftsmanship and structural strength to keep everything straight and true while it's moved around and stored. Specialty hiinges that are hidden but yet seperate the joint when folded and pulls it together when opened will be necessary. I suspect that several trips to the cabitentry isle will be required to find all of the stuff you need. I imagine too the the underside will need to look more like a well finished piece of furniture to keep the landlord happy. Have you thought about building a layout and string it on your ceiling? I saw a guy that had one he could store simply by turning a crank and winching it up. I agree the whole issue of maintaing dual purposes for rooms with layouts is a big one. My wife suggested that I build a layout along the walls or suspended from the ceiling in one of the bedrooms. It'd be in HO, unlike the G-scale that most people use for that purpose. I suggested that it loop through all the bedrooms to work as an alarm clock... Didn't go over all that well. LOL Mark.
In my opinion, the fold-up would be the easiest and safest, with a winch to raise and lower it. They can get heavy by the time you get it finished. The wireing will need to be covered in a shallow cavity that can be covered with a furniture grade thin plywood like the "skins" used to make doors. One made for Mr. Downing had a storage cabinet at the wall. Inside was the power supply, and a small crank to raise the layout with. There were support legs that would swing down when the layout was lowered. A piano hinge maintained the accuracy for rail alignment. It was built into his den, and was HO scale. His son left a box car on the track, raised the layout, the car fell, and the boy was grounded for a month! Be careful
I have no opinion on the "fold the layout against the wall or raise it to the ceiling issue". I just wanted to give you an idea of where you may be able to get the hardware that you will need to do the job. Check around your local area for a cabinet maker or fine home builder and ask them where they get their specialized hardware. They will be able to tell you where to buy the hardware that will do the job for you. I don't mean HOME DEPOT or LOWE's either. Most builders have a place where they get good quality specialized hardware. It may cost a little more, but you pay for what you get! I have nothing against HOME DEPOT or LOWE's, they are both good places to get general hardware and building materials, but sometimes you need items that are just not available at either place.
My first layout was built by my dad. It was a 4 x 8' that lifted up against the wall. He built a 12"x8' shelf onto the wall and hinged the 4'x8'x4" layout board onto it. The layout board was totally enclosed. He used two 1x2" legs that folded onto the underside when lifted up. i cannot remember how high off the floor the layout was, but i was only 9 years old, and not too tall It was an HO layout that was an under and over figure eight inside an oval. There were also three sidings. When the layout was lifted up, the buildings and train were stored on the shelf unit. He also had fitted sides attached to the wall and shelf so it looked enclosed when folded up. i hope this explanation helps. Greg. [ 06 January 2002: Message edited by: railery ]
