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Subject: 
Re: Lightweight show tables
Newsgroups: 
lugnet.trains
Date: 
Sat, 27 Jan 2001 19:29:29 GMT
Viewed: 
747 times
  
Christopher Tracey wrote:

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 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 have not cracked them at all.

Did you use the dense blue foam or the white beaded foam?

Frank



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

Message is in Reply To:
  Re: Lightweight show tables
 
(...) 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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