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Subject: 
Re: Lightweight show tables
Newsgroups: 
lugnet.trains
Date: 
Sat, 27 Jan 2001 17:40:22 GMT
Viewed: 
665 times
  
James J. Trobaugh wrote:

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  such as "Dow Board", "blue-board, etc. -- as
used in building material, not beaded foam which is too weak.)

From what I've gathered the idea is that you would have a strong frame maybe
wood or some type carbon resin beams, then either a mesh or framed supports
in the middle and the foam board for the top. You wouldn't put anything
super heavy on this but heck it would defiantly hold some buildings, track
and some trains. I'm waiting for one of the NMRA members to send me the name
of a book that talks about how to build such tables in detail.

Has anyone seen such a table or maybe even built one themselves?

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 putting too much weight on it.

I had an idea for lightweight train tables a few months ago.  I think I posted it to the wamaltc list but not here. sorry. My current desk in my house
is constructed (like many across america) out of two filing cabinets and a 30" by 80" hollow core interior door without a knob hole.  Anyway, I
realized that this is exactly the size of 3x8 32 stud lego baseplates.  The doors are sturdy, lightweight, able to fit in many cars (i.e. my saturn
s-series wagon), and can be painted or stained.  They are also pretty cheap, ~$20.

-chris



Message has 2 Replies:
  Re: Lightweight show tables
 
(...) 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)
  Re: Lightweight show tables
 
(...) 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)

Message is in Reply To:
  Lightweight show tables
 
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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