Advice needed about Ping Pong table layout

The advantages are, particularly if you already have them, they are inexpensive, easy to set up, and nicely sized for a small to medium-size layout.  One problem that can be annoying is that often they do not weight a lot, so if you bump up against one, it can shift and shake and trains and such fall over.  Best to anchor them firmly to the floor.  

 

Another problem with many is reverberation.  Particularly if you are using Fastrak on them, you will notice that they may vibrate like a drum, ambplifying unwanted "white noise" from running your trains.  If they are particularly light, and thin surface wooden, they can be annoyingly loud.  some reinforcement ribs glued underneath, etc, help a bit. 

This is what my friend has, and is very satisfied. Has a grey indoor/outdoor carpet over it, using FasTrack with no problems. Its the fold up with lock wheels. He can even stand on it, which he did to lay tracks and wire. Noise, I don't notice any with the Command sound engines he runs. I was leary after reading some post on possible problems, but none exist. I been thinking of adding one to existing layout, or put one in garage. The only track he has fixed to the table is a bumper Trolley, then only the bumpers. Nothing else moves.

The 5' x 9' size gives some very useful extra room for more train track verses the 4' x 8' size of typical plywood. 

 

Ping pong size plywood used to be available and may still be.  One-half inch thickness should be heavy enough if you build a frame.  If so you can add your own heavy legs and/or hinges if desired.

 

Just do not buy a flimsy, cheap ping pong table.

 

Charlie

I am using a heavy duty Joola ping pong table which we reinforced underneath.

 

Here are a couple of pictures.  The upper level is 027, the lower level is 0 tubular and fastrack for my modern equiment.   I also have a small 027strip on the lower level for my post war gang car.  I basically can run 4 trains on a 9 x 5 ping pong table.

 

George

I started out by buying a folding pingpong table when it was on sale at Kmarts a couple of years ago...since then I have added three (3) 36x80 hollow core door additions. Although pleased with what I have (see video), if I had to do it all over again, I would build a more "permanent" layout. Not currently planning to do so, but just because I'm actually thinking about it...I probably will do so sometime in the not too distant future. I'm fortunate that I do have plenty of space in my basement...will probably stick with 027 track because I already have a bunch, but will definitely want to use longer runs, elevations and more than my current 027 minimum curves. I keep reading posts about layouts never being done...must be true?

 

 

I didn't use ping pong tables since j couldn't find any used local to me but my layout is the same size as two pong tables in an L shape. Great size and I say go for it!

I suggest using Homasote fiber board on top of your pink pong table. It will absorb vibration and white noise. Also makes it very easy to screw down track.

 

Bob

I used a ping pong table in conjunction with my other platforms due to necessity.   I generally run 0 gauge tubular track but my new GG1, being full scale, could not go that track because of the narrow radius.  So I had to use Gargraves track in order to make the curves and use the full 5 foot width of the table.  I cut a sheet of plywood to go on top so when I screwed down the tracks, they would not penetrate into the table.  The plywood was a single sheet that I had cut into sections to use around the table and used metal brackets to connect them together.  Underneath I placed carpet foam for some sound absorption, but this did not work as well as I thought.  I had to make everything portable so when I was going to take up the table, I removed all the stuff on top (all wiring in the buildings and lights was surface wiring and concealed by the buildings), unscrewed the sections of track where they adjoined a neighboring piece of plywood with the connecting section, packed everything up by putting the sections underneath an existing platform with another portion of my layout, and folded up the ping pong table.  I actually have three separate trains running in concentric ovals on that table as well as a trolley.  The first circle on the outside is the wider Gargraves.  Inside that one, is another Gargraves with a smaller curve radius for another train, the third is o gauge tubular for a third engine; the fourth is 027 on trestles for the trolley--I filled the entire board and still had space in the middle for a town.  At one end, I constructed a tunnel with foam mountains on top in which all the tracks go into and come back out.  The trains and trolley run in opposite directions from each other.  Attached is a photo of the concept with the ping pong table in the foreground.  The photo of the GG1 shows it coming out of the tunnel on the widest oval.  I re-did the layout this year and made some changes.  I will post another photo that shows the tracks on the ping pong table more clearly.

Here's another photo.  I might add that the table is braced to the stationary legs of the adjoining platform.  That plus the weight keeps it somewhat stable--enough that even a bump will not affect anything.

I'm glad to hear that not everyone takes the time and effor to build a massive framework.  i thought i was just lazy.  i use old discarded tables as my framework.  if the top is bad, i'll attach the frame to a sheet of plywood.  last time i built a real light frame and then "dropped" my foam in so that it was level with the 1x4 framework.  that lasted several years.  i got rid of it all and now the bug is back.  i still have some tables.  i also have sheets of drywall in my basement.  i still have a couple 4x8 of foam.  i'm planning on putting the drywall on the tops of the tables and then gluing on the foam.  if i want to git rid of it, drywall is easy to bust and get up the stairs!  jeff

My first permanent layout was done on a 3/4" ping pong table size sheet of plywood. That was about 1960. They still make them. The plan was to use two of these sheets to form the L shaped layout plan shown in an old Lionel catalog. Would you know that time money and eventually college caught up with me and the trains got put away until 1979 when I was married. Its been all downhill or uphill from there depending on the way you look at it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The only real issue I have with using the Ping-Pong table is I wont be able to beat you on it if I visit My serves climb the net on a fwd spin, or return themselves on a good reverse one . Sandpaper, or mush paddles doesn't matter. I should have done it pro.

A loud choice, but a good one still. 

 

 

 

 

Where is the launch pad George?

Wow very impressive and this is on apingpong table.Even the 027 track looks cool.You have some very nice town.

Adriatic, the earlier pictures were taken before I completed the wiring for the rocket launcher.

 

Here are more updated ones.

 

I also did use homosote as the base on the ping pong table.  The upper dogbone is the pink foam.

 

George

I know guys like you--ping pong sharks.  A buddy of mine used to play ping pong with me after dinner when I was in college.  He used to put forward spin and side spin on the ball.  I almost ran into the side of table trying to get to the ball.  I was a constant source of laughter for him--but it was fun for me, too!

That's better .. I'm so easily amused.... It looks like......

"a room I could die in" . Way cool George!

Well, since no one has offered this tidbit, I will.  Be sure to take down the net.  Bob S.

 

The one piece of advice I'd give would be to ignore the Ping Pong table layout contained in the FasTrack book. At one time I gave serious consideration about building a 5x9 layout. This layout does not "close.

 

That said, it certainly could be "fixed". But know that it's "wrong going into the design will save you some time. It is possible that this got "fixed" in later editions, I just don't know.

 

Gilly

Thank you!!!!

 

Maybe I should sell the net I don't need on that "auction" site

 

George

i didn't do a ping pong but last night i put up a new layout.  it's 4x8 + 4 x 3.  or it's 7x4 + 4x4 depending how you look at it.  took me all of an hour and i used stuff i already had.  i had a 3x4 wood table.  i screwed scrap wood underneath it to make two arms coming out.  screwed a board across and then put a leg down.  i had 2 2x4 folding tables that i used under my previous layout that i butted up against them.  slapped down a piece of drywall that the former owner left 13 years ago and glued some extra 1" foam on top.  next i will top it with green felt that my wife bought years ago and hasn't used.  there's a johnny cash song in here somewhere....  jeff  i know there are people out on this forum who love to design layouts.  i posted my dimensions in the design forum.  i'd appreciate any ideas.  thanks!

Go ahead.  But keep it mind it is going to be a pain to remove all that stuff next Christmas when cousin Eddie comes to visit and wants to play ping-pong.

And,then there's the "net" issue.  OOPS, sold it on that auction site.   

Here's my new layout.  it's drywall sitting over a couple tables.  i covered it with 1" foam and added green felt.  need more green felt.  

 

http://youtu.be/Xi_ishLad4Q