Idea for a Christmas Layout

Thanks for the quick reply, Mario!

You raised one very important point that I hadn't considered. The danger of a fire. (The best reason to make sure the wiring is done properly.)

I like the idea of adding the 1/4in plywood top. (Actually I like all of your ideas.) I was also thinking of putting a border of some kind on the edges of the foam.

You've given me a lot to think about and when and if I get started, I'll post some photos of my progress. And I'm sure I'll be back with more questions.

Thanks again!

Mike Adams

One of our club members, Eddiem on the forum, made very light weight panels using 1 x 4 pine, 1/4 inch tops and felt covering.  He made them to connect in various configurations and we place them on to folding tables. Hopefully he will pipe in later to give you better details.

Happy New Year Mike,

I went with 3  3x5 frame sections made from 2x3's and 1/2" plywood for this years Christmas layout.  I covered the top with 3/4 foam.  easy to set-up, disassemble and store the second levels are self contained.  the design was inspired by NYC Fan's layout featured in OGR Magazine.  Its fun to build and accepts 054 radius curves. lots of flexibility and action for everyone to enjoy.  Hav'em fun, Lion Vic

I started a small switching layout using a piece of 1 1/2" foam roughly 3' x 7'. I tried to make it fit on top of a banquet table I had, but just couldn't make it. Anyhow, I painted the foam with an earth colored latex paint. I put down painted cork roadbed using Liquid Nails (small projects) glue. I used toothpicks to "nail" the cork into place while the glue set.

I used Super O track which has a few 1/8" holes in each section for screwing the sections to the table. I put 4" (1/8" wide) cable ties through those holes, and then cinched them down with an extra cable tie under the foam. If I had to do that again, I would have placed a cardboard "washer" in there to keep them from sucking into the foam. I am thinking that the way I have it will cause cause the hole to wobble out a bit and allow the track to work loose a bit. Time will tell.

The wiring for this small layout is going to be minimal. I am planning on taping the wiring to the underside of the foam with foil tape (like HVAC guys use for duct tape), but I don't know if it will stick to the foam. Otherwise, I am going to try the tape that you use when installing Tyvek house wrap. I know that stuff sticks to foam.

That's about as far as I have gotten with this layout. I hope some of the ideas I've tried will work for you.

J White

Once again, thanks for the quick replies, guys!

Also thanks for the photos.

A little background - We've had a train running around the tree for a number of years. Last year, my wife bought several Lemax houses from their Christmas collection. She set them up around the tree on a base of fake snow. I set an HO train up around the houses. Too Small for the houses. She bought more houses this year and I set up a G scale train. Too Large. Hence the O scale set. I'm not thinking of an elaborate setup. Maybe a figure 8 or a dogbone style track plan. The tree will rest on the layout (similar to the 2nd photo posted by Dciguy08). The houses would not be permanetly mounted, but their locations would be fixed and the wiring for them in place.

You've all given me plenty to consider and I'm anxious to get started.

Thanks again and I'll keep you posted.

Mike Adams

Mike, don't forget to add the live ornaments to your layout.  Adds a lot of excitement.  our newest one is Rufus the kitten.  I'll plan on following your progress.  Good luck !!!! Lion Vic

Very cool Mike, I know it's going to turn out great. Things always do when we think about them first.

At this point I have to take the time to say that Don's picture above of his friend Eddiem's layout is really cool looking.

The whole setting is just beautiful, display room, library all brought together with a simple but artfully done train layout.

I have to admit it, the one I built never looked that good.

FYI: the layout is at one of the local assisted living facilities. We thought it would be nice for the shut ins. This was our second facility that we visited and we will be doing another in two weeks.

If you're just going to sandwich two pieces of Styrofoam together you can use wood glue. When you're ready to store it away for the year wrap it in a moving blanket. I built a Christmas display out of Styrofoam this year... there's a video of the mock 0up on this thread. https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/t...ress-on-xmas-display

Mike,

I thought I would throw my two cents in. I made a layout (nearly complete!) for under our Christmas tree this year. I, too, wanted it to be lightweight and portable so I went with pink foam for the base. It consists of two sections, one on each side of the tree - connected with the Hellgate Bridge in the front and a yet to be completed bridge in the back. The total dimensions for the layout, not including the Christmas tree, are 8' by 52". The pictures should show what I mean.

I glued 1.5" strips (4" wide) of pink foam to the underside of the two sections of 1.5" foam to form the base. I drilled holes in the foam strips to route the wires and glued terminals to the underside of the layout where necessary.

As far as fastening the track, I temporarily screwed the track (gently) to the foam and used strips of plaster cloth to permanently attach it.

It has worked wonderfully for this holiday season and I look forward to finishing up the project for next year. I am going to store it under my train layout and cover it with plastic drop cloth.

I've included a few other pictures of the layout in progress.

Good luck with your project!

Dennis

Dennis, that's very impressive especially for a store away portable type layout.  The first picture doesn't do it justice, but eh subsequent follow ups..... wow!

Hey guys, I'm having trouble keeping up with your posts!

Thanks again for such quick and in depth replies.

Matthew and Dennis, you both have great layouts. I feel now I'm on the right 'track' in considering a foam base. Everyone has given me great ideas.

Here is our meager start - Christmas 2012.



The tree is off to the right, out of the picture. For those interested, That's a Bachmann N&W J pulling the Rivarossi Powhatan Arrow (As a boy, I saw these trains come through Bluefield, WV. That dates me!)

Here's Christmas 2013.
 

Somewhat of an improvement, but it looks pretty poor to what I've seen here. The

G scale is a Bachmann Royal Blue. The O scale is my latest acquisition, which I set in place to get an idea of how it's going to look. (MTH Hudson and Williams cars.)

Looks like I've got my work cut out. After all the replies and suggestions, I feel I have to produce. It may be a few weeks before I can actually get stared, but I'll post my progress.

Thanks again to all!
Mike Adams
Hey Matthew, we're practically neighbors, I'm in Ocala.