I want to build a 5 x 9 layout for my grand children, I would like to have it be light weight, but I would also like it to be to built in a way that there are no gaping open spots during the construction so that little ones can run the trains, but unexpected events won’t send them crashing to the floor. I believe Linn Wescott had an approach he called cookie cutter where you started with sheets of plywood, and made cuts that followed the path of your tracks, but much of the in between space was not cut away, so it was not easy for things to fall to the floor. The problem is this makes the table weigh more than if you cut out your roadbed boards. Is there a solution that you can point to which uses some sort of foam? If so how do you handle grades–the foam won’t deform like plywood. Maybe there’s a CTT article that deals with this?
Also is there a CTT article which says how to do the electrical aspects of trackwork if you want to use a command control system with walk around hand held throttles? Can you still put in bloacks with center rail insulation pins? I took a look at 20 years worth of indexes, but didn’t see an article that I was sure was right–perhaps in Jan 1998, but I have lost that issue.
Thanks
You don’t need block systems to run Lionel TMCC Cab-1, or Legacy Systems (remotes), I’m not sure how MTH systems are structured. The controller keys onto a specific engine number for control. With children, 2-seperate, but connected loops may be a better idea, to limit pile ups.
It depends on what you mean by light weight.
You can make (4) smaller modular pieces 2’ wide x 5’ long, and secure them together. Making the pieces lighter. That would allow you to make the grade changes by cutting and elevating the plywood cut-outs.
My Christmas layout is light weight, constructed of a 1/2" cabinet grade plywood (more plies) frame and a foam top. The grade change is made with Subterrain Layout System.
Kurt
P.S. Here’s a photo of the framework: (4’-9"W x 8’L) 1/2" x 3" tall supports with 1-1/2" wide slats laid flat.
Thanks a lot–Some good info there–I understand about not needing the blocks on TMCC, but if they are already there, do you have to eliminate them? Is there a book anyone has published on the subject of converting an established layout with a conventional control and power scheme to a newer one? I think I commented that in checking the CTT index I saw no articles whose subject seemed to be that sort of transition. The earliest seemed to be January 1998 "Command Control for Those Postwar Classics. The reason I focus on the term earliest is that I would think the first thing that people would have thought of would be “can I put this on my existing layout” shortly after the product was introduced, aI think about 1992. I saw nothing earlier than this, and anything else I saw seemed to be differently focused as well as opposed to a general article saying how to revamp an old layout.
The construction tips were good as well, a little closer to my area of familiarity!
OK–just digested your layout contruction scheme.
Do I understand that you use plywood for structural members where I am used to using 1x3 or The Linn Wescott L Girder scheme of a 1x3 and a 1x2 gluded to it at angle.
How do you secure the track to the foam top? I am used to using small flat head wood screws–About 4 x 3/4 or so to drice through Gargraves wood track, 1/4 cork in plywood. Maybe they are 1" long when I stop to think (I should do that more often, ya know?) I would not be happy to be gluing the track because I bend my curves myself and the screws hold the track in a way the glue wouldn’t until of course it had dried.
I have been using Lionel’s The Complete Guide to Command Control. Here’s a Link: http://www.lionel.com/media/servicedocuments/71-2911-250.pdf
Sorry, I use Fastrack on the foam base layout, It keeps itself together, so I won’t be much help with that…Someone will chime in tonight to help.
Kurt
Kpolak … I can see that without my reading glasses … expanded the text size reprinted it and stuck it in my tmcc box … man I wish I’d of had that huge copy back when … LOL . [tup]
Ole Timer I keep copies of that, and to my tmcc engines and train sets I have that I have found on lionel sight on my desktop on my computor. That way if I need some info its right there. don’t have to go digging. [:)]
RT … yep … same here and I make cd’s of projects and pics for reference and keep a disk case full of them … invaluable . If there would have been availability to do these things way back when … before ebay even . I can skip through 100’s or 1,000’s of pics and manuals in seconds . The internet and computer advancement is a god send . Downloadable video how to’s yet … if you did’nt come from the era before it all … one probably does’nt appreciate what we take for granted now . Now we have the whole world of knowledge and shopping for trains at our fingertips .
I haven’t done it yet but I’ve been thinking of down loading the supplements and then start going thru them and more or less make my own index so I know which one to look in for which item I’m looking for. As there really isn’t an index for them. Lots of 1970 and newer info in them from what I understand.
One of many advantages to command control, I use MTH’s DCS, is that you can set the speed. I do this for the grand kids so they can’t go fast enough to run off the track and onto the floor. I assume the same is true with Lionel’s command control. Not possible with conventional control. I agree with two separate tracks for the little ones.
I have zones on my layout, so it would seem to me you wouldn’t need to change anything.
Pat
I have found some info re command comtrol; finally located the article in CTT I was sure must exist, although I don’t have the accurate title with me; it may have been as recent as 2002, quite awhile after the product was introduced. But what I found was that you can leave your insulated blocks in place provide your breaks are in the center rail (as they almost always are. A question that raises is what about track section with insualated running rails? I believe Lionel recommended a scheme where trains started and stopped each other by having a stretch of track where BOTH outer rails were were insualted from the track circuit with insulation pins , and the section was provided with a path to ground when a train entered a control section with ONE insulated outer running rail, and the bridging of those two rails provided a ground path from the section where one train was stopped, now allowiung it to proceed, providing the loco exited that section before all cars in the other train had passover the control section(s)? Clear?
Now I understand Command control depends on good outer rail circuirty, so how does this effect a setup like the one I tried to describe?
Further, can you leave in place relay circuits that turn off power to the center rail of a block to protect crossings against collisions? I am giuessing the answer to this is yes.
Command Control aricle was in May 2002 issue, and is part of the collection of pdf’s you can purchase on the subkect. But I still had my copy