Have built layouts with semihollow doors that are 36 inches wide by 80 inch long.
Arranged in a specific pattern they have homosote on the tops. The tables are latched together with drawer catches. When the doors are latched together they are very stable particularly with the homosote tops. I placed the doors on metal saw horses with leg extensions to bring up the height. I can lean on the table and they do Not budge. They are sufficiently strong enough to hold my Postwar equipment, accessories and loops of tubular track. The layout is three loops connected with return loops to reverse direction of travel. It is full of action For one loco. I originally built this layout with n over head catenary system to run one electric via pantograph and one diesel via track. I will revisit this idea in practice.
In order to facilitate through the table wire passage I did the following.
i used an extra long drill bit wood bit a couple of inches longer than the thickness of the table and homosote. using the appropriate diameter bit, drilled through the table. Detatch the drill from the bit keeping drill bit in place. I cut the straw to just beyond he thickness of the door and the homosote. I placed the close to the same diameter straw over the now vertical drill bit and introduced the straw to the space, by sliding it over the drill bit. [This is kind of like replacement of an endotracheal tube in an already designated place in the trachea, like an introducer or bougie !] Back to the layout, the straw stays vertically set in the table, once stabilized remove the drill bit . One has a clear path insertion to engage the wire without cumbersome resistance, slides right through the straw. Note: the semi hollow doors have stuffing in them that will be a real challenge to pass wires through, ask me how I know! This technique is fast and you can run multiple accessory wires or feeders to the great beneath bus wires if you like.
enclosed are pictures of my original plan on semihollow doors. I sold this layout years ago and missed it so much that I have made a smaller version of it with far less operating accessories.
Semi holow Doors do work.
