I was thinking that it would be nice to have a coffee table with a n scale layout in it. Lets say 48" long X 20" wide X 6"deep ? any ideas guys???
If you want a loop, the 20" width would limit your curves to 9" radius; which, in turn, would severely limit the size of equipment you can run.
Of course, if you’re planning on only a switching or point-to-point layout, it would probably work.
Although I am a beginner, I think your plan for an N layout in a coffee table will be fine. I have a small N layout with an inner loop using 9" R curves and I think that my Atlas H15-44 and RS-1 locos and 40-ft box cars look fine on the curves. Also, N scale locos run great ! Good luck!
Years ago, I made an N scale coffee table layout about the size you mentioned. It was a scene of a steep valley - D&RGW Scenic style. The oval of track looped its way down, hiding in tunnels & coming out over tresels & on the edge of cliffs & ascented back to the top mostly hidden. The depth was closer to 14". I ran smaller old time locos & small trains. It was under glass & had a switch hidden on the edge to start it. It was good fun to see guests & espesially young children watch it for ages. . I gotta say it was a very rewarding little layout, to build & enjoy. Operationally it lacked a lot - It only had one [hidden] passing loop to run two differnent trains. Eventually it was consigned to the garage, where It all went up in smoke, along with half the garage. If you build one ‘under glass’, make sure it’s hinged & take into account you may have a coffee flavoured flood to contend with at some point.
Good Luck
Mark
Take a look at this website. He has a lot of layout ideas for small layouts. While normally his smallest ones are 4’ x 2’ , many include double mainlines. By eliminating the outside main, you can probably fit them into your space.
http://www.cke1st.com/m_train2.htm
You might want to consider that the smallest commercially available snap track sections are 9-3/4" radius. That will give you an outside dimension of right about 20". Using that and your trains will run right against the edge of a 20" wide table. You might want to consider widening your table to 21" or 22" if possible.
Another option would be to make your curves using flex track. You could probably squeeze them down to 8-1/2" radius, giving you an outside dimension of around 17-1/2". Choosing 4 axle diesels and 40’ cars ( what you want for a small layout anyway) you can probably get away with a radius that tight.
If you build it, come back and post pictures, please.
Regards
Ed
My LHS sells them, ready made. If you’re a do-it-yourself kind of guy, then you might want to check this out for ideas:
http://www.mainetrains.com/LayoutTables.htm
It looks like they sell the tables without the layout for people who want to put their own together, but don’t have the fine carpentry skills necessary to build something their wives would allow in the living room. I’ve seen these in person, and they look very nice.
Nice site, and their prices are reasonable.
Thanks guys! This has given me lots of ideas. 20" wide was an estimate based on the coffee table I have now. It could be expanded to 24 0r 26"
David
It would be wise to build your track base and lay the track first. Then build the top and sides after the track layout is completed. This allows you to make minor adjustments to your plan as you build it. This could save you some headaches. A couple inches is not noticeable when it comes to furniture layout but it can mean a mile in your track plan.
MR has run at least one "how to " article in the past on that subject , If you want , send me your email & I’ll try to look it up. Can’t guarantee I have it, been throwing many mags. away before the house sinks.
Most of these plans would work for a coffee table.
Just an idea here. I think I would build the railroad on say a 1/2 or 5/8" sheet of plywood to match the table size that could easily be lifted in and out of the table. This would make layout construction and maintainance easy and if you wanted you could have several different layouts that could be easily changed, like at Xmas time etc. Ken
I started working on my coffee table layout in February. I was given me a 3 section glass top coffee table that was found at a yard sale. I needed to modify it to allow for a layout since it did not have a bottom level, so I took it apart, sanded off the white paint, created a lower level in the same manner that the top level was created, and then had glass sides cut so that you would be able to see from the top and 3 sides. The last side I made with poplar wood and would have the plug in for the DCC system, outputs for a program track, and an small storage area for the handheld and power supplies. I decided to use the NCE PowerCab for the DCC system, since the entire thing is the handheld, and I did not have to waste space for the command center in the table. I also wanted to be able to control all turnouts through the DCC system, so I purchased two Lenz LS150’s for turnout control (I am using all snap switches). I ran the bus wire around the bottom section and a then I ran a second set of wires to provide power to the LS150 and to supply lighting to the structures that I will add eventually.
Because of the 3 sections of glass on the coffee table, I have decided on a track plan that will allow me to create 3 separate working diorramas. The first section is going to be a mountain scene with a creek and a country depot. The middle section (biggest) is going to be an industrial area with the end of a passenger station platform, and the last section will be a town scene. At this point I do not have any of the scenery, but I do have the track laid and tested. Here are some pictures for you:
Coffee Table after creating the bottom and glass sides.
The DCC power bus and AC bus for lighting with the Lenz LS150s for turnout control.
Really cool Kevin. Good track plan (reverse loop???)
Now the family want me to do it too!!
Maybe I’ll do it in Z scale? Yeah right too small for these eyes. LOL
Ken.
Wow kevin, that is quite the coffee table! But just what I had in mind.
Thanks for the links and info everyone!
David
AS an n scaler, I would like to say that although these are interesting, I think for a long time it was assumed that this was all n scale was good for, and there is so much more to it now. Not that I’m saying not to do these layouts, I am just putting in a good word for N. I am sure a lot of us would agree, especially those with significant investment in n scale equipment and layouts.
those maine trains tables are made by a guy in arlington !
You could also do it in Z scale. This would allow tighter curves.
Enjoy
Paul
I can see it now, visitor grabs up the “remote”, points it at the TV, click-clicking away madly, trying to get professional wrestling, and nothing happens…on the TV.
But on the layout, o, on the layout, carnage. Trains crashing, buildings burning, long strings of cars accordion folding off the track, death and destruction on a scale unimaginable.
I saw a cyprus knee coffeetable in Neiman Marcus in Dallas about 25 years ago, four vertical projections up from a stumplike base, holding up the glass, and a fifth taller one, sawed off flush with the glass top with the remaining piece glued on top.
Nestled in the “valley” was a complicated mining operation, made of corrugated metal all soldered together, buildings and shaftheads and stairways and trestles and ladders, with a zillion tiny lights all over the place. The sticker said $2500.00.
Have your disclaimers memorized, the in-laws might…want one.
Both MR and RMC have made numerous excursions into this area of modeling - and they are (usually) impressive. Don’t have a list of the exact issues involved but the NMRA indexes should/could help you out.
Admittedly this was not technically a “coffee table layout” but it meets the same criteria. On a layout tour during a convention - I keep thinking Kansas City '84 - attention was drawn to a bookcase in a room adjacent to the train room in the layout owners basement. This bookcase extended all the way to the ceiling and was approximately 36 inches wide by maybe a full 10 feet long. This wasn’t a slap-together job but a quality piece of furniture - some of the other items in this room lead me to believe that he was, at least, a quality, even if not professional, woodworker/cabinet maker - the framework on the man’s layout was absolutely positutely gorgous. The bottom approximately 48 inches was given over to shelves/bookcases; as was the top approximately 30 inches. The middle approximately 18 inches was given over to an N-Scale layout that was a double-track railfan oval open for viewing on the two long-sides and on one of the ends - the other end was butted against the wall. He didn’t have anything running on it, but it was - much to his chagrin - drawing more attention than his HO layout - that should tell you something - and he commented that that had been his excursion into N-Scale some years before. There was a good half-smile (thats a Scale Mile for you uninitiated) of track and a few structures to give the thing depth; I don’t remember whether he had any sidings or not - remember this was 48 inches and more off of the floor - somebody taller than me said that he did - but I did reflect that it easily could have been turned into a layout with switching potential. I thought at the time - and I wasn’t the only one because several of us had a lengthy discussion on the issue while on the bus headed for our next pike tour - that eliminating the topmost shelves/bookcases and cutting down the