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"Thomas P. Rafert" wrote:
> Maybe I'm taking this the wrong way.
> See comments below
>
> Larry Pieniazek wrote:
>
> > Mike Poindexter wrote:
> > >
> > > John,
> > >
> > > Is there some reason to put 20 levels of bricks other than to use up all those
> > > bricks in colors nobody likes?
> >
> > There are two competing philosophies here...
> >
> > PNLTC has tables. They put their tables together and they build the
> > layout "from scratch" each time, putting track together and buildings
> > down, etc. onto a brown or green colored table. At least that is what I
> > understand (especially since I have seen a video of them setting up).
> > This makes for a highly flexible, but long time to set up, layout. Every
> > show is different! It can take all day to set up and 1/2 day to tear
> > down
>
> Well, it's almost from scratch. We work on a table arrangement and a track plan for
> each show so we have a "schematic" to work from to ease on setup. Some of us have
> pre-built modules, not a set number of bricks deep. We just make sure the track
> height is going to line up at the height that is needed. We've trimmed our setup
> time down tremendously. We've been able to do most setups in under 5 hours, and
> that's at a leisurely pace because we're chatting the whole time. Now tear down has
> improved dramatically, an hour to two.
>
> Last night we had a show at my kids school carnival. Dan Parker and myself set up a
> little on Thursday night, 1 1/2 hours on Friday by myself, then Dan P. and Dave
> VinZant showed up and an hour and half later we were fully up and running. So it
> was roughly 3 people 3 hours set-up.
> Now it wasn't one of our biggest layouts, but it was complex to a certain extent.
> We had to design the layout for the stage, and because we didn't want kids to stand
> to the steps, we built part of it over the steps. It was a two level layout, one
> at a 36" height (covering the steps), the other on the stage at a 30" height (18"
> above the first), 2 lower loops 2 upper loops and 4 kids loops (500 to 600 sections
> of track). There was 5 bridges: 60", 45", two 30", and a new 25". For tables we
> had 13 30x60's, 1 30x45, 1 30x30, and 2 15x30.
>
> There was 5 people for tear down, we were on our way home in less than an hour and a
> half.
>
> > GMLTC has modules. Each module is a completely scenicked environment and
> > the track is permanently affixed to the lego below. Only the very large
> > buildings that otherwise would make the module too tall to transport
> > effectively are removed, and they always go back in the same place.
> > GMLTC modules are more like model railroad modules in that they are
> > pre-built.
>
> I'll admit GMLTC's modules look nice, lots of nice scenery.
>
> > This makes for a fairly rigid (you can vary the number of modules you
> > bring, and the order in which you arrange them, but a module has what it
> > has on it unless you tear down and build again, something that N-trak
> > can't do as easily, LOL) but fast to set up. Modules are brought in on
> > wheeled racks, out of the custom trailer, deployed onto the folddown
> > tables, and you're up and running in 1/2 hour, and you can tear down in
> > about the same time.
>
> I was wondering how may ways you could arrange those modules. As I understand the
> tables are 30x45 (or larger), does the track come out in the same place on *each*
> module? It didn't look that way but just wondering.
Actually, yes the track pops out at exactly the same place on every module, 2 studs in
for the outside loop, and another 4 studs in after that for the second loop.
> > Now, you COULD make modules out of something else than Lego and just
> > affix the track via nails or whatever.
> >
> > But given that they are Lego, and given that they are 30 to 50 or so
> > inches wide, you NEED to be 15 bricks high. Think about what a 30 inch
> > wide, 45 inch long 5 brick high module would be like. It would be too
> > fragile to live without a sheet of plywood always underneath it. These
> > modules can be lifted up, flipped over, stacked on top of each other,
> > etc.
> >
> > Now, as it turns out, the modules DO live in wooden carriers that have
> > power strips on them etc. once they are done, but during construction
> > they do not.
>
> As I saw in another post by John N. that stated modules have to stay on plywood. So
> yes there is quite a bit of lego there, but it still has to sit on wooden tables
> maybe similar to the ones we use.
Well, they don't *have* to, it's just much easier that way. If y'all are switching
over to metal folding legs, then I would say our tables are very similar. We do brace
the tables with an inset rim of 2x4s on end to give the table itself extra rigidity.
> > Given that they have to mostly be 15 bricks high for structural
> > integrity, that has been taken advantage of. There IS a subway in one
> > module, and the features such as the Ore Dock and some of the bridges
> > are built in at track level instead of elevated.
> >
> > PNLTC approach is much much cheaper. GMLTC is much much more purist.
> > GMLTC is lucky to have a fanatic such as Conan who has millions of
> > bricks to build modules with. He is the entire reason the club exists.
>
> Cheaper? Huh? Not-as-pure? I'm sorry but I don't understand, maybe I'm just taking
> this wrong. I know you have alot of bricks, probably far more than me, but we both
> know their cost. At PNLTC we have some members with very small collections that do
> want they can with what they've got, and some with collections that make the others
> short circuit. :-)
> If Conan has millions of bricks to build modules with, is there much cost to other
> members? Sounds like a really great person to share Lego like that.
Yes, he is. Others members collections aren't too shabby, either. Most of these folk
are *well-seasoned* (read: spend $1000s each year on Lego) Lego veterans who have
enough bricks to provide a module or two for the cause. We pay our dues... to TLG;-)
> Now mind you this is all coming from the guy that uses burps for mountains and Duplo
> for backing support, all from Lego.
<gasp>
> I wish I had a million gray, brown, green, and
> tan bricks and plates to make my scenery in, but hey I do what I can with what I've
> got. :-)
And, Tom, so do we all:-) Even Conan doesn't have the luxury to build in exotic
colors. We were scraping Conan's proverbial barrel to finish our latest modules. But
to Conan's credit-- he and his uncle went out and *bought* retail 1000's of buckets and
sets over the years, and put the bricks to good use. He and his uncle were showing 12
volt trains 12 years ago on a tabletop layout, but it grew from there. Instead of
blowing $600 on an Airport shuttle or some such exotic set, he's spending that $600 on
buckets. And believe me, he is *not* a rich guy (monetarily)! Just a Legomaniac with
his priorities straight;-)
-John
> Well I've got some new sets to go get that a friend brought from Norway.
> I think I'm going to go build, later.
>
> Tom
>
> --
> Thomas's & Kristin's Home Page
> http://home1.gte.net/trafert1/
> PNLTC Member
> http://www.pnltc.org/
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Message has 1 Reply:
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 | | Re: Train tables
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| Maybe I'm taking this the wrong way. See comments below (...) Well, it's almost from scratch. We work on a table arrangement and a track plan for each show so we have a "schematic" to work from to ease on setup. Some of us have pre-built modules, (...) (25 years ago, 5-Jun-99, to lugnet.trains, lugnet.trains.org, lugnet.loc.us.mn.msp)
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