Hi All,

After seeing a plan ( MR Oct 2007 N scale Great Northern Ry) layout size 21'' X 42'' iwuold like to do something similar for the living room in a coffee table no bigger than 4FT X 2ft and am looking for ideas of other plans and layouts .... using a table anyone ideas where best to find designs and ideas ?

Here's one I repaired for a client a couple of years ago. His dad had built it, and had it in a coffee table. He wanted it run-able again.

It was loop-to-loop or continuous running... he did a pretty nice job on it.

This is the third of three that I built...
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hfn29MH97SY">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hfn29MH97SY</a><!-- m -->

Hi Squidbait /CN,

Many thanks for the pics and video gives me lots of ideas .......... i already have the Erie station on there Squid built up ready to find a home ........ CN did you fit a glass top to the table ? and do you have a plan for the layout please?

Nick,

I think, philosophically, I would plan a layout with an interesting mainline run, and not worry too much about switching... lifting off the tabletop to couple/uncouple (it does happen, even with the best-kept Microtrains couplers) can be a bit of a pain.

Focus more on getting an interesting run through some good scenery, probably a folded dogbone style, and see what fits in your space.

2x4 isn't huge, so I'd shoot for short diesels and freight cars, otherwise, to my eye the big stuff looks goofy going around tight curves.

Squidbait Wrote:Nick,

I think, philosophically, I would plan a layout with an interesting mainline run, and not worry too much about switching... lifting off the tabletop to couple/uncouple (it does happen, even with the best-kept Microtrains couplers) can be a bit of a pain.

Focus more on getting an interesting run through some good scenery, probably a folded dogbone style, and see what fits in your space.

2x4 isn't huge, so I'd shoot for short diesels and freight cars, otherwise, to my eye the big stuff looks goofy going around tight curves.

Hi Squid,

Yes i have a few short locos and freight cars aside for a small layout one of my favorites Atlas 70 ton hoppers.

The scenery is to play a major role in any layout as you say 4X2 isnt large but wuold like some interest in a gradient and dogbone as you suggest.

upnick Wrote:Hi Squidbait /TN,
...did you fit a glass top to the table? ...and do you have a plan for the layout please?

Yes, it has a glass top but for the sake of filming, I temporarily removed it. Following is the plan... mind you, it's not much of one but it's what I built it from. The outer red line is the size of the plywood insert I stuck up inside the bottom of the table. The inner red line is the inside edge of the top of the table. The black dashed line is the beveled edge around the edge of the glass.






I guess while I'm at it,






And the last one...

I remember seeing TN's coffee table layouts on the old site, they were cool!! Good to see them again

Hi TN,

They look superb i especially like the last one have to look out for a nice table to house a layout in now

I came across this folded dogbone on a search of firefox last night as a concept of a layout giving a grade and interest.

I like the plan Nick, that should be fun to build, and there is even a small run-around track in there!! Thats cool lol

Wow. Those look like a ton of fun.

What a fantastic thread.
I would love to have a go at a coffee table layout, I know it will be a while away yet, but seeing this is certainly inspiring and gets the juices flowing.
I guess they are N scale? for that size table, and are there problems going smaller?
Anyhow it looks cool TN.


Jack

OBJack Wrote:I guess they are N scale? for that size table, and are there problems going smaller?
Anyhow it looks cool TN.

Oops, sorry Jack, missed your response... better late than never I guess...
Yes, all three of MY tables are N scale. You can go smaller but I've found that a 4 axle diesel will go around about a 6.5" radius and not much smaller. If you want smaller, check into Z. I've always wanted to try a Z scale table but never have.