fold away layout

I have 2 fold up layouts, one is an 0-27 christmas display, the other is a slot car track.  Both were constructed on precut plywood and measure 7 x 4 feet.  I use a piano hinge in the center to fold each in half across the 4 foot dimension. (hinge on the bottom, track is always facing out)  Each side is wired individually with a connection between the two electrically but not physically.  The track on either side of the fold line up and is secured in a way that there are no hops when moving across the joint.  Both fold flat and are stored on edge out of the way when not in use. 

I made a small O27 (about 3.5ft by 5ft) roller layout that rolled under my son's bed when not in use. 

If you're not set on "race track", SuperStreets is a consideration.

Years ago my brother had his 4 x 12 layout hinged to the wall similar to a Murphy bed.  When the layout was folded into the wall, you could not tell that the wall was not really a wall.  The bottom side of the layout was finished to match the walls in the room.  Since my brother and our dad were into cars as much as they were into trains, they incorporated the slot cars in with the trains.  The train wrecks with the slot cars was exciting until dad caught us crashing them.  When dad built this layout, I do remember him reworking the framing in the non load bearing wall so that it looked similar to that of an opening for a large window.

I know the dimensions of your air hockey table are 4x7 but there a lot of plans that use the footprint of a ping-pong table (9x5) for a layout.  They make good bases because they are completely flat so stuff set on them will be stable.  With the air hockey table, you may need to be creative with the bracing to keep things from sliding around.  They are also a lot cheaper than an air hockey table.

Don't forget that you can have some overlap.  For example, it is no problem to set two 5x6 modules (or bases) on your 9x5 table.  It will only give you a 6 inch overhang all around and will result in an additional 15 square feet of layout.  Pushing beyond the 6 foot width is tricky but another 4-6 inches gives you room for O72 curves.

Something you might want to think about is how often you want to use the table for air hockey and how often you want to run trains.  Also, how willing are you to tear down and set up the layout?  The politics of that need to be considered.  If you end up never playing air hockey, it makes for an expensive base.

I like the ideas of the folding base but it really depends how big your layout is.  I find that if I am having to move things by myself, I'd rather move several 2x4 pieces than a folded 4x8 or 2 4x4s.  Stuff gets heavy and awkward especially with scenery attached.  Speaking of that, for a temporary layout, the less stuff is permanently attached, the easier it is to store.

Good Luck!

A picture is worth.... These 4 x 8's unfold to 8 x 9 (including self inside cabinet).

All of my issues of OGR are still in boxes, but Allan Miller did a feature story on his fold-away layout with wheels. Just another option.

Many years ago, one of the model railroad trade magazines did a article on a fold-away layout that folded up into the wall when not in use like a Murphy Bed. There were storage shelves below the fold down part that had two big swinge-out doors that acted as leg supports when folding down the layout proper The really cool feature was the use of RCA phono plugs to attach and connect to power different accessories. With the layout folded down, you simply "Plugged-in" the accessory or item that needed power; and when done running your trains, you just "Plucked then off" the layout and stored them on shelves at the back of the wall that the layout folded up into - quick and easy!   Dennis M.