I re-erected the layout last night in preparation for a NMRA meet next weekend, and took stock of the ‘carnage’ caused to Sweethome, while it was in transit to London last month.
Thankfully the carrying boards did their job and the only damage sustained was in places where the backscene of one board knocked against some of the scenic details glued to the board it mated with.
Here’s the damage I know about
The stairway that went up the side of the Texaco tank were totalled
The car and bridge side wall took a battering
Vandals got to the sign
And Spikre lost his bananas!
Other than that, some telegraph poles were bent, a chimney stack fell off and a couple of windows dropped out. I can live with that.
When you’re exhibiting a layout, some minor breakages will always occur. I now know where the main damage is happening, so I can plan against it next time by either moving the vulnerable scenics or increase the gap between the baseboards.
When I display my layout I bring tools and glue along just in case.
This past time I was lucky; I had no damage beyond a single tree falling out. A dab of white glue and all was well again. I was also fortunate in that parents were good enough to keep their kids’ fingers at a safe distance.
I have had trouble displaying my previous layout, including having a section of the mainline go dead an hour before showtime. I had brought a soldering gun so it was corrected just in time. This current layout has far more robust and redundant wiring.
Still, nothing in the hobby quite compares to showing your layout to the public. Good on you for taking the time and trouble! I hope someday I can see your layout in person (I could always get stationed overseas again!).
Here’s me with my layout and some interested onlookers at a show last month in Raleigh, NC:
Jon, your last statement, in theory, is sensible, but I fear that in practice it may not work as you hope. When you pad and buttress one spot where things are nestled for transportation, pressure reappears elsewhere. I have found this to be the case when packing anything, from bikes on bike carriers to luggage. So, if you place something to keep these areas apart, you’ll also have to add something to compensate for the tendency to teeter-totter the pressure to another place.
Sorry to see the damage to such a fine showpiece, but I guess it could have been a lot worse. [:)]
Selector, thanks for the comments, I know what you mean.
The main problem I had was where the backscene of one board touched the scenics on another - usually accidentally, while the layout boards were being taken apart. In one case it was where a wobbly backscene ‘flapped’ in transit. Hopefully some stiffeners will rectify this.
Wow, that’s an impressive rig! What sort of vehicle do you use to trasnport all that?
Lucky for me my N-scale layout fits in the back of my minivan with no special treatment for a show:
I do have a heavy plywood box that fits over the layout for big moves (like when I get reassigned with the USAF), but it’s really too much hassle for a local show.
Still, good on you for taking your layout out to share! I feel that’s a very important and direct way to help spread interest in the hobby. Lots of people who are sitting on the fence about joining the hobby can be tipped our way with a well-detailed, smooth-operating layout to view.
One of the members of the club I am in is building a trailer with racks to haul his modules in. just gonna be able ot stack em a few high, and have a place for all the boxes of trains.
I transport the layout in the back of 2 Ford focus estate cars, with the back seats down (similar to a mini van but not as high). I can get 2 pairs of baseboards into each car, then cram the legs, lighting rig and fascia boards, stock, fiddle yard, suitcases and operators into what space is left.
I have to take issue with you on the sign. It looks to me like that Chicago express truck took the turn too wide and knocked it down. Chicago truck drivers are well known for less then stellar driving.[:-^]
I’ve been exhibiting my portions of our club’s modular layout for about 20 years now. I’ve seen my share of damage during transport, but so far it’s been fairly minimal due to the way the modules are packed for transport. Each person has one pair of modules. Our modules started out as being 2’ wide and 4’ long. Later the width was increased by 6" to 2’-6".
Here’s one of my modules being boxed for transport:
The backdrop is 12" above the table, and is permanently fastened on. The front of my modules have a protective sheet of clear Lexan that is about 6" above the table, to keep hands off during display. The bottom is fastened to the module end with bolts and wingnuts. Notice the bottom piece is wider than the module, this is so the other part can fit without actually touching the other, as shown in this looking down photo:
This is before the opposite end is attached. There is a gap of about 1/2" between one module front and the other modules’ backdrop.
This is the pair all boxed together ready for transport:
The end pieces are 1/2" plywood, with luggage style handles and openings also for carrying. The bottom end has swiveling castors to allow the pair to be wheeled about. The legs for the modules are 2" by 2" wood, which are nested into the bottom of each module, making fewer things to haul separately ( and fewer things to forget too!).
My earlier modules are 2’ wide and are similarly boxed. I’ve transported them in mid sized hatchback sedans, a Dodge Grand Caravan minivan, and my current ride, a Dodge Magnum ( a full sized station wagon). For many out of town sh
Yup, I can identify with that. I don’t think I’ve been to a single show that something hasn’t gotten damaged. Even if they are nicely cocooned for transport. Fortunately it is mostly minor things, but if it isn’t the scenery it is the module itself. One show I had a backdrop screw mount get cross threaded. That was much harder to fix than the scenery parts. Or worse yet. The last show I went to an entire box of structures vanished. It was a bit embarrassing showing of a module with huge rectangular chunks of pink prarie showing through.
A friend and myself combine two layouts together to make a large (24x8) layout for an annual trainshow for the past four years. What we’ve learned is make it low, ~ 24" so kids can see it, keep track trains and accesories a foot from the edge to keep hands in and train on, keep the layout simple and bulletproof, as neat as reverse loops and operating siding are most people want to see trains run, and always take your toolbox.
