Florida Garage Humidity - Real Trax?

If you are relegated to the garage, I would not worry about the RealTrax. We restored a layout that was built using it that had been stored in an attic garage for almost 13 years. Perhaps spray a cloth with CRC 2-26 and wipe the power connection tabs to prevent any electrical issues.

I would be more concerned about the door or material that the table was made from swelling and contracting from the rise and fall in the humidity.

There is moisture resistant MDF and most recommend sealing it on all surfaces.

It may be better to visit a local lumber supplier and ask what is best for the area.

There are lift systems to keep the layout near the ceiling when you are not using it. You definitely want your vehicle(s) in out of the sun.

Another option, if there is a spare bedroom, would be to build a wall unit that folds flush into wall. Making the face attractive, like a cabinet look could get expensive. It would need to be an interior wall to maintain the exterior wall structure for storm protection.

The late Dale Manquen built a rotisserie table. The end bearings were the challenge.

What if the inside of a closet door had the layout on it? Knock out the pins and set it on folding saw horses or legs, leg a wallpaperer's table. 

Kevin, as far as storage goes I really can't help. The only thing I leave in the garage here in Boston is some G gauge rolling stock and I have found condensation and even some ice on them at times. My biggest concern in your case would be the cardboard boxes, even if they are in plastic tubs. Cardboard is a breeding ground for mold and a nice environment for bugs. As far as creating a train/airport table I can think of a variation ofa farmers table that might work in your case. A farmers table is a rigid vertical box frame about 36 inches tall, 48 inches long and about 12 inches wide. It is usally on wheels so that it can be moved around. Along each side you can hinge one of the hollow doors. It can be swung up to the raised position and propped up with a removeable 1x2 leg on each corner. When that side is not in use it can be swung down and the legs can be stored in the center section of the table (which is where you normally store folding chairs if it is really to be used as a table). In this configuration you can have two hollow door layouts with some items permanentl affixed (electrical, runways, track etc) and some items stored in the main section. You could probably mount the electrical transformer(s) in the bottom of the main section and just pull the A/C wall cord out when you need to plug it in. When not playing trains or planes you could roll the entire assembly into the garage for storage.

Frank

Kevin,

I am sure that if humidity had an adverse effect on Real Trax, we would have seen it posted extensively by now. There have been some posts indicating that MTH Real Trax has been used on outdoor layouts.

Considering high humidity, my concern would be about the durability of electrical connections. My advice is solder them all.

Speaking from the perspective of someone from S. Florida, garage humidity will ravage anything susceptible to oxidation. I keep everything indoors with AC.

I live in the Houston area, and our humidity levels mirror Florida's.  As such, I have had realtrax that sat in my garage for years with zero effects from the humidity, just dust.  I don't have the layout there, the track was just stored there.  Realtrax is nickel silver rail unlike fastrack which is steel.  As such, it's not susceptible to oxidation from humidity.

I live in West Palm Beach FL and know that the humidity gets every where. I am mainly using stainless steel track even inside the house in the bedroom with AC in it.

Lee

Thanks for the responses and input.  Hopefully, I'm not relegated to the garage.  I would very much like to keep both my constantly changing O and N layouts. Maybe I might leave some of the Real Trax in the garage and create a small 18-24" wide switching layout on the shelves.

From experience of seeing a layout of neighbor a block away. He had his in garage (recently moved out of state to be with his children). He had the layout for 7 years in his garage using Fast Track. He said he never had a problem  and had a sheet over end when he had the garage door open so wind didn't disturb anything. He ran his layout, forgot measurements but 2 car garage along all walls with a center isle he used for engines and car storage. I brought my engines over and we had many good sessions and it was always pleasant, hot yes, but pleasant with couple fans always moving air. He used Legacy and DCS  without a hitch.

I've lived here in Jacksonville, FL now 20 years and don't have a garage layout, but never had a critter problem. As my neighbor we both sprayed every month for bugs. If I didn't want my garage for protecting the vehicles from the sun or possible Hurricanee wind damage, I would not hesitate to build a layout in the garage, in fact wife has suggested it numerous times.

Forgot to add. I remember and what made me go to Fast Track was that neighbor said that talking at Hobby Shop and some locals at Train Shows, they had problems with other brands of tracks, especially switches with the humidity eventually when built in a screen house or garage.

I have the same kind of set up Keven here in Maui. Garage layout, sometimes high humidity and bugs. I spray "Home Defense" around all windows and doors. They say it lasts a year but I do it every six months. If anything makes it in, they die in a couple feet so I just vacuum them up. I do have a few geckos now and then but they eat bugs in the house so I don't bother them. They are considered good luck on the islands. I have had no rust problems with my Gargraves track and Ross switches. The only problem I have had with my garages is this guy liked to sleep next to the outside door. He got my attention right away one morning. This is him visiting next door. Click to enlarge....I didn't have my contacts on when I first saw him and thought he was a large Black Lab. I found Home Defense doesn't work on wild boars. It took three large guys to "Hog Tie" him. Don

Kevin,

I live in the humidity capital Pensacola, Florida.  If the track is nickel silver it should be fine, but there is no way I would subject expensive locomotives to the heat and humidity of a Florida garage.  It has always been my understanding that heat and moisture have adverse effects on electronics.