I have started laying out my Bachmann Track on to hard Plastic folding table that r 30 inches wide & 6 ft long. to get the idea of my future layout. How do I mount & anchor the track once I get the layout sat up like I want to???
Hi there. You could use some caulk to glue it on. But the plastic base of the table is not the best for scenery. I would put a layer of wood or foam underneath the track first. I assume you are using the integrated track-ballast system.
Simon
How will you handle wiring? Track connections. Will all switches be ground throws? Do you anticipate drilling thru the hard plastic tables?
So far out of the hundred pieces of straight, & the hundreds of pieces of curves i have only found 2 R & 2 L switches all manual. I was figuring of laying 1 x 4 across the tables first then mount a couple of 3/8s plywood on top of them so when I do get electrical switches I can wire them in. That is what I have been thinking.
So basically your going to build two frames 36x30 inches out of 1x4 and cover them with 3/8 plywood.
I would attach the issue to the table with some screws from the bottom side. This way you can easily remove them temporarily to do your wiring. This will make for a rather bulky fold up table.
But I think foam would best suit this need by itself. Myself i would cut 2ā foam into your two 30x36ā pieces and mount the track to them with Acrylic Latex caulking. You will end up with something more manageable to pack up and store away then a modified plastic table.
Kim
Thank U Kim, But there is no place to get the foam here. none of the Lumber Yards, Hardware Stores, Hobby Store, handle foam, Not even the local Walmarts handle that size. so I am stuck with Lumber & Plywood. Thanks again though
Russell
You could screw the plywood directly on the table. I think it will make wiring a lot easier. Otherwise, a frame on top of the table would create a space that is difficult to access when adding wiring. Unless you want to make the frame removable.
Simon
I think he is intending to use the strips as standoffs to create wiring āplenumsā (plena) that will give access and prevent pinching.
The ā is structural overkill but is probably the thinnest he could use with acceptable resonance. I would concur with the idea of thoroughly gluing the āstringersā to the plywood and then screwing up from the underside of the tables to snug the framing down.
I thought several threads here mentioned online sources for foam sheets. Surely he can special-order them from HD or Loweās via customer serviceā¦
Iāve have try to order the foam from them & they say that it is to cost prohibiting
Iām thinking of going 1/4 inch plywood instead of 3/8 because of the weight factor & the amount of space that iāll have when it is folded up.
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If you have a table saw you could rip down some 1x4 into 1ā strips to make it thinner. Just run a few extra supports mid span as that 1/4 wont provide enough support over that distance. Try to run the supports in a direction that allows you to slip your wires into position. You should be able to fish them into position.
I had the same problem with trying to get some 1/2ā thick XPS foam from my local building store. They said i had to order 48 sheets because they didnāt want to get stuck with the leftovers as i only wanted 10. I eventually drove the 100 miles to the city to get if from Home Depot.
Thank U for that information, My problem is that the next Home depot is 200 mile away, & I already called them & even they say it is to cost prohibiting for them to order & ship it to me. So again Iām down to either 1/4 or 3/8 plywood to put my layout on.
Unless you really build a lot of structure under the Ā¼, and tie it down with deadening elastomer strips or thick beads of elastic caulk, it may drum loudly. The plastic tabletop might reinforce some resonances, too, if you donāt have a lot of tiedowns through it to break up modes of reverberationā¦
I only have roughly 25 HO structure in total, & only have about 1/2 of them ready to put on my layout. & most R either a Small town or deal with 2 Small Lumber Mills. & for locomotives I either run 0-4-0 or 0-6-0 & once in a while I run a F9 5 car Passenger train. so Iām not running anythind longer then 6 cars at a time on my layout.