 | | Lightweight show tables
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I don't know about other groups but the biggest pain for me with our club is the loading/unloading of the heavy tables. Recently there has been some talk on my local NMRA discussion group about lightweight foam top tables (Styrofoam --EXTRUDED foam (...) (24 years ago, 27-Jan-01, to lugnet.trains)
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| | Re: Lightweight show tables
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(...) I don't know about the foam material you mentioned, but at home for my trains I use 1" thick corrigated cardboard sheets (aprox 3' x 6') that sit on square wood supports. This material was sold by Charrette, the design supplier, for use by (...) (24 years ago, 27-Jan-01, to lugnet.trains)
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| | Re: Lightweight show tables
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(...) The table I built for an HO train layout used this kind of foam board. I built a frame out of 1x3 lumber. The top was anywhere from 2-4 1/2" layers of foam (I couldn't get the 1" thick material it would be a little stronger). My table was (...) (24 years ago, 27-Jan-01, to lugnet.trains)
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| | Re: Lightweight show tables
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Currently our tables are made with 5/8 particle board tops and are about 3'x6'. We recently did a show for the Atlanta History Center and had to carry these beast up two flights of stairs to the room where we were displaying. I tell you after that (...) (24 years ago, 27-Jan-01, to lugnet.trains)
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| | Re: Lightweight show tables
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(...) I have built a table similar to the one you describe for my dad's N-scale layout that resides in his living room. I don't think the foam will stand up to the abuse put forth by building with lego on it. It's pretty easy to crack 1" foam by (...) (24 years ago, 27-Jan-01, to lugnet.trains)
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| | Re: Lightweight show tables
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(...) 5/8" is WAY thicker than you need, and particle board is heavier than plywood. The 3/8" that PNLTC specs is probably a good choice, though 1/4" is thick enough also. Frank (24 years ago, 27-Jan-01, to lugnet.trains)
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| | Re: Lightweight show tables
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(...) I think you have to work pretty hard to break it, though perhaps the 3 layers of 1/2" foam is significantly stronger (there is glue between the layers which might serve to strengthen it somewhat). My tables have had QUITE a bit of abuse and I (...) (24 years ago, 27-Jan-01, to lugnet.trains)
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| | Re: Lightweight show tables
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(...) For the curious, I'll wander by the foam plant on Monday, and see if I can grab a spec sheet on Dowboard. I know they measure for torsional stress tolerances, and horizontal shearing strength, and other technical terms. :) James (there are (...) (24 years ago, 27-Jan-01, to lugnet.trains)
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| | Re: Lightweight show tables
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(...) Yes, you do need quite a bit of force to break it but it could happen, especially at a show situation. Another issue I ahve with foam is that it could be crushed/compressed making it a poor building surface. (...) dense blue (or was it pink- (...) (24 years ago, 27-Jan-01, to lugnet.trains)
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| | Re: Lightweight show tables
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(...) Compression should be minimal unless you manage to create a fairly concentrated force. Using baseplates on top would eliminate most of the possibilities of the LEGO causing localized damage. (...) They look about the same to me. On the other (...) (24 years ago, 27-Jan-01, to lugnet.trains)
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| | Re: Lightweight show tables
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(...) layout that resides in his living room. I don't think the foam will stand (...) crack 1" foam by putting too much weight on it. It's _very_ easy to put a hand through 1/4" beadboard, especially when one falls, and the layout ends up under you (...) (24 years ago, 28-Jan-01, to lugnet.trains)
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| | Re: Lightweight show tables
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The main reason for the 5/8 was so that I could attach folding metal legs to the bottom. I did the bolt on legs for a year and they just got to be too much. They took to long to set up and tear down, plus they ate up a ton of space in the van. I (...) (24 years ago, 28-Jan-01, to lugnet.trains)
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| | Re: Lightweight show tables
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Note - if you want to spend a bit more money in the search for even lighter/thinner tables, you can build ones similar to Frank's, but use BIRCH plywood strips in place of the 1x3s - birch plywood is extremely stiff and light for it's size. Use 3/4" (...) (24 years ago, 11-Feb-01, to lugnet.trains)
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