Subject:
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Re: Discussion of Train Table Sizes
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.trains.org
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Date:
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Tue, 14 Dec 2004 05:18:32 GMT
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Viewed:
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2376 times
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The GMLTC uses 40"x60" plywood tables with custom-built aluminum frames
underneath and heavy-duty folding legs. Some pros and cons:
- Pro: Plenty of room! After we trashed our last layout, we consciously decided
to build "larger" this time: 8-wide trains and significantly larger buildings,
etc. 40" of depth gives us enough room to comfortably run two tracks and still
have room for a city or whatever.
- Pro: Enough room for a train loop on a single module. This makes it easier to
do subways and other subterranean train lines since at worst we only have to
worry about connecting tracks across module boundaries at the outer edges of the
modules, not on the interior.
- Pro: Large tables make for fewer tables to move, set up, level/square, and
connect trackage etc. across.
- Con: Weight. We use bricks to build up about 18 bricks to "ground" level.
Even with a latticed structure, the modules weight a lot.
- Con: Door widths. To get through a typical door, we have to turn on the
modules on their sides. Even though we can remove the buildings, bridges, etc.
above ground level, we typically have to wrap the modules in plastic sheeting to
encourage them to hold together. Fortunately we typically only have to do that
when the module is finished and we move it from Conan's basement where it was
built to the trailer that we use to store the modules between events.
- Con: Price. With the custom frames, heavy-duty legs and high-quality
electronics components, each module costs hundreds of dollars. Hence we're
effectively married to this size going forward.
Our group is unusual in that we have centralized construction and storage so we
don't have to worry about everyone building/storing/transporting their own
modules. Our layout also tends to be more permanent and less fluid per event,
so large fixed modules work out okay.
Steve [GMLTC]
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Message is in Reply To:
 | | Discussion of Train Table Sizes
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| We all know that different LTCs around the world have different sized tables. NILTC uses 40x30, GPLR uses 30x60, IndyLUG uses 40x80, NBLTC uses 25x50, etc. There are previous more general discussions of train tables, e.g. (URL) interested in the (...) (20 years ago, 12-Dec-04, to lugnet.trains.org)
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