My wife and I want to put a fabric skirt around the 8 X 8 layout we continue to work on. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to do this or has done the same?
thanks,
Robert Smith
Robert, this is an excellent idea that improves the look of your layout. I’m currently exploring it as well… I recommend measuring the amount of space you have to cover and then going to some fabric stores. They’ll cut it for you. Darker colors - even black - further draws attention to the top of your layout. As far as attaching it goes, it depends on your fascia and sewing ability. 
I’ve seen everything from just stapling the cloth to the wood frame to attaching grommets and hanging it like a curain on hooks. It depends on how you wi***o access the space. Good luck. Let us know how you resolve this. I’ve been stymied because the material I’ve been looking for is pretty expensive.
This is how coventions etc. drape or skirt their tables: Their skirt is approximately 2 feet longer than the perimeter of the table (so if it’s a 4X8 at 24’ perimeter add 2’ for a total of 26’). Attach a 2 foot long by 1 inch wide strip of opposing heavy-duty velcro along the top of the fabric at each end (Obviously you make your pleats and do your hemming first before cutting to the 26’ lenght). To install one person holds one end against the top band of your table while the other wraps it around, pulls it very tight and then overlaps the 2’ section with the Velco. The convention and hotel get these skirts ready-made in variuous sizes and colors from various supply houses. These suppliers also sell various sizes of plastic clips which you use on the top to keep it even tighter… These clips are usually 3/4" thick because that’s the standard thickness of most hotel tables. If you’ve banded your table the clips won’t work and in that case I’d simply glue 3" strips of Velco to the table edge every couple of feet (and on both sides of each of the 4 corners. Then sew opposing Velcro at the corresponding points on the skirt (measure carefully but with a 3" length piece it’s going to be a very forgiving system.Simple skirts like this stand up really well to lots of serious use with people sliding in and out of tables etc. Obviously if you’re not wrapping the entire table they can be modified to any lenght. If you’re not handy or haven’t got oodles of free time I would check out what’s available in the conevntion supply tarde in your area. I used to have buy stiff like this and it was suprisingly inexpensive and well made.
Very easy and very cheap.
The photo below was taken to show the new table I am building for an addtion to the layout, but it shows the skirt on the existing layout on the left very clearly when you click on the photo.
The skirt is black plastic. I bought two skirt packages for the length of my table. I purchased both skirts for less than $10 from a store carrying party supplies (The store here in Ohio is called Paper Party Outlet). The skirt comes with tape to attach, but I used two-sided tape by 3M to make it more permanent. The two-sided tape doesn’t let go after a year or two of attachment.
When I want to work under the layout, the skirt just folds over the top and we use a clothespin to keep it out of the way.
I looked into the Velcro method and found that I could put a plastic skirt on the layout about 4 or 5 times for the same price. There is a variety of colors.
Here is a website that shows you more what I mean: http://partyoptions.net/solid_color/plastic_table_skirts.htm
Check out all these fabric panels and border fabrics featuring Lionel trains on ebay:
http://search.ebay.com/lionel-fabric_W0QQsokeywordredirectZ1QQsonewuserZ1QQsosortpropertyZ1
i have a 25 by 15 layout-my wife bought green colored material at johanns-we measured the height of the floor to the table and she cut the material leaving enough to overlap the next adjouning piece so that you could not view under the layout-i then stapled the material to the table’s outside edge and then placed a finished moulding over the edge to hide the staples-it looks very nice.
These plastic skirts are a great idea - very affordable - I’m stunned at how much fabric costs.
A very cheap alternative for a holiday layout is the plastic table clothes. Cut 'em in half and then adjust them to the needed height. Thumb tack 'em to the table top.
Doug, the thing that got me when I looked at the fabric was not only expesive, but the decoration, artwork, or pattern was always going the wrong way. I assume there is a technical term for this, but I don’t have a clue. [:D]
A good choice for table skirt fabric would be “train theme” material. There are a few vendors who offer “Lionel Fabric” on eBay. Some millinary stores in the larger cities stock mill ends of other train theme fabric. Check them out.
BillFromWayne
www.modeltrainjournal.com
Man, they even have rolls of that plastic stuff for only $15… Hmmm, 100 ft by 40 inches - I need 42 or so inches for ‘height’ (3 1/2 ft) and the layout is a little over 10 ft. deep and 28 ft long - 48 ft. Maybe I can fudge it a bit - how would I hang this from the joists from the floor above.
Some great ideads and ones that confirmed what we were already thinking.
Good week for me - made the promotion list for LTC…now what engine should I want to celebrate!
Our layout is called the “Promise Layout”…based on my returning safely from Iraq last year…
Thank you for your service to our country and [#welcome] to the CTT forum.
M1 Tanker,
First, thanks for your service. Secondly, I know that you are glad to be home to celebrate Thanksgiving- so much better with the family. Now to your question. May I suggest you go to ie: WalMart and get short length Black Pleated Curtains. You can do the velcro idea with these. For me, the cheap kitchen curtains with pleats already in them look good and no hassle of trying to dress up cut fabric. Also, since they are pre-cut to different lengths, you will have easy access in the splits between curtains for storage and to get to that short circuit that will show its ugly head. In either case, please post your results of whatever route you take.
Dennis
M1 Tanker,
Ditto on your safe return.
Not too many skirts visit my train table.
Guys,
My wife’s Aunt is an amateur seamstress.
We had them over for Christmas a few years ago and they loved my layout. I asked about a skirt, and she volunteered to do it for me.
Of course I paid for the materials and something for the effort. The total cost was about $375. Less than an engine.
It really completes the layout, and makes the underneath a great place to store ALL of my empty train boxes.
She did a great job. The skirt is in sections, and attaches with velrow, one side sewn onto the skirt, the other side stapled to the layout sides.
Anyone in my area that would want the same service let me know and I will refer her to you.
Here is a pic:
This is an old but interesting topic. Since it was started, I made a decision about what to use for my layout, based on what I saw while on a layout tour last spring.
I have always liked the look of black, and landscape fabric is an inexpensive and effective way to deal with a layout the size of mine.
[#ditto][#ditto][#welcome][#welcome]
Of course my wife then changed our collective minds and said maybe some of the area iwe could do with some pretty beard board or such instead of a skirt once we mounted some skirting… Being the smart husband I said sure!
You could either do table skirting:
or install under layout shelving to display your collection:
