Has anyone built or have an N-scale coffee table layout or know someone who does? Would love seeing pictures or video of it posted with details of both its size and construction.
Original Post
"HONGZ" stands for HO scale, N scale, G scale, and Z scale.
Post your non-O scale stuff here!
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Haven't done it myself. But we've (LHS) had a couple customers who did so. And the result of both was major disappointment, PITA, and, finally, trash.
Reason? The slightest bump of the table and the trains were off the track. Then, removing the glass to gain access was...not fun. The connection to power sitting in the middle of the room?.....an extension cord that dogs, kids, adults tripped over......more problems. Finally, people grew tired of viewing the trains/scenery beneath the glass and piled on the usual paraphernalia for a coffee table....magazines, books, old food, old drinks, dust, the TV remote, etc., etc., etc.. Eventually the trains were in a rather permanent 'tunnel' and left alone.
OTOH, there was one customer who insisted on trying it....or so he projected. Bought track, train, buildings, scenery, etc., all in one trip...............and was never heard/seen again for an update or additional hobby purchases. So.......who knows?
Cute idea....For the imagination. But, not very practical.
Just MHO, of course.
KD
Over the years there have been articles in Model Railroader and I believe RMC about coffee table layouts, that usually were inside a glass topped table, or otherwise was hidden until needed. Usually these are N or Z scale. I remember reading that it could be a bit of a pain, especially where the layout was under glass, hard to access the trains, and that bumping the table the buildings can get dislodged, or trains knocked off the track, etc. One I recall seeing was very clever, the top had leaves that could be pulled apart and they would drop down, and the layout could be moved up to where the top had been (picture drop leaves as the top, and the layout mounted on springs or something that could push it up). If you do build it, make sure to secure the builds and track really well, and make it so you can access the trains easily if the dog decides to bump into it or the oaf puts their legs on it *smile*.
I've only messed around with the idea but it was an end table with a circle of track. An end table would be far less likely to be bumped. I never finished the idea. My wife likes to shop and bought end tables. A table layout would pretty much be relegated to display running only. An end table would be simple to get a wire to. Using a battery and a simple potentiometer for track power wouldn't be difficult for any layout. I've played with that in n scale but not the end table.
