Layout Skirting Ideas?

I use black landscape fabric below the layout, black Masonite above, frames the layout nicely.  Makes it look better than it really is.

Pat, I think the black fabric is a pretty good way to go, that's what we use for the modular club.  The fascia is painted black and the curtains hang below it to close to floor level.  It's also the way I'm planning to do mine, it also has to hide the embarrassing number of boxes under the table!

Dunno if price is crucial to you (if so, the landscaping fabric seems a good option FWIW), but you might want to investigate the clip-on skirting used by caterers to circle the edges of folding tables used for events. I'm reasonably sure it would not be inexpensive, but might give you a flexible, easily removeable and high quality skirting that's ready made for the purpose.

I would make it sectional and removable fabric that way you don't have to worry about getting hung up on it when crawling below to service or retrieve stored or dropped items.  Maybe magnets to attach it to the framework.

Velcro.....I used a staple gun to fasten the Velcro to the train table.  I had the Velcro mate sewn to the fabric.

Has worked very well for years.  Just peel off for access and re-affix when finished.

Can get basically anything you want here if you are looking for a fancier look.

https://www.wayfair.com/kitche...16-a9719~475213.html

More ideas.

https://ogrforum.com/topic/layout-skirting

https://ogrforum.com/topic/show-me-your-skirts

I used Herringbone fabric...

The Wife used this beast from 1910 to make it happen...

Some dark blue inexpensive material was purchased at Jo Ann’s or another cloth store.  Enough was purchased to make skirt for the whole perimeter around the layout.  Skirting was made for the most visible ends of the “L” and the sides where the control panels are.  It was not made at this time for the less visible sides facing the two walls with the train shelves.  This also provides easier access to the boxes of LP records , VCR tapes, Reel to Reel tapes, CDs, cassette tapes, etc. stored under the layout.

The skirt is made using simple panels, each 6 inches wide with 2 inch pleats.  A 5 inch hem was sewn on the bottom and a 1 inch hem was sewn on the top.  The skirt was held to back side of the 1x6 base boards around the layout with thumb tacks or push pins. The skirt is sized to hang about ½ inch off of the carpet.  It was made in sections large enough to cover each straight side or end with about 2 feet extra to overlap and not leave any gaps.  Believe it or not I sewed the skirt with my wife’s help threading the sewing machine.

Pleats would be sharper if I had ironed them !

Charlie

@Dennis-LaRock posted:

I used Herringbone fabric...

The Wife used this beast from 1910 to make it happen...

Wow Dennis, that's a beauty!  My mother had one of those, but it didn't have all the fancy paint.  It did have a treadle to provide power, she could work even when the power went out.

Pat, we just completed the skirting project.  We think the cloth skirt really added the finishing touch to the layout!  As you can see, a pleat was added every few inches and fabric panels were sized so I'd have passage under the table where needed.  The majority of boxes for trains, houses, etc. are stored under the table.

We didn't start the seach for fabric with a plaid in mind, but rather a solid color, until my wife found a bargain at the local fabric store.  She bought a "bolt" of fabric which just provided enough fabric to cover the 80 lineal feet of table at 40 inches high.  Good luck with your project...

I painted my facia black and use black foam board panels instead of a fabric curtain/skirt.  Each panel is removable for easy access to the underside of the layout.  I use extra long clear thumb tacks to hold panels ( one panel shown here does not have the tack in place ... causing the panel to protrude a bit.  When tacked in place the panel is flush against the facia. )  in place which has proved very satisfactory over the years.   These photos are from 2019.   I chose black because it allows visitors eyes to better focus on the layout itself ... sort of the same approach as theatre stage floors ( and sometimes background ) being black for enhancing the audience focus on the actors.  

When removed, the panel just to the left of the Z4000  ( not directly below the Z ) allows access to shelving where I store additional freight cars.  

Pat,

The sharp looking skirts are the black ones with the pleats in them.  The ones we used at the club have the pleats built in and the top edge comes with velcro attached to it.  You just need to buy the mate and put that on your facia every 2 feet or so.  The only problem is they make these for your common fold up table which is 30 inches or 32.  I ran into that same problem so I had to get something else for the taller panels.  I see you are saying between 42 and 50 inches.  They don't make the pre-pleated ones that size without going custom.

I ended up buying some black felt type fabric from Jo-Anns which came in a 72 inch height.  This will take care of my higher areas and I will have to sew in some pleats.  Not a hard job at all.  Make sure you measure correctly not like me.  Dunce.  I have no clue what I did but I ended up with a boat load of it extra.  I think enough to do a club layout!

If you would like to try the felt,  I would let that go for half of what it cost me. Send me your address and I will send you out a sample of what it is.

Good luck,   BillThe premade skirt needs an ironing job!!!   To give you an idea of of costs - it ran me $5.99 per yard

Hi Bill,

I really like the pre-pleated fabric skirts.  Where did you find them?  Was it on-line or at a local fabric store?

John

We had a seamstress make these pleated skirts…….Velcro attachments….our 12x15’ layout will be in the White Hall with similar skirts…..

Peter

One other quick tip - if you're covering any area that has baseboard heating underneath it (like in an around-the -room layout), using a solid fabric material can trap heated air underneath and cause a room not to heat properly. In that situation, you can hang a plastic-type mesh screening material (used commonly in pet carriers). Not quite as flexible as fabric, but still doable and will allow the hot air to circulate much better.   

My local club presented a Christmas holiday O-gauge modular layout in the Exhibit Hall of Laman Library in North Little Rock, AR for several years. More than 22,000 visitors dropped by during a five-year run.

At first we installed ORANGE fabric as a "match" to Lionel's corporate color.  In the two final two years, we switched to blue as a "holiday" color with silvery rope trim. Because the layout was a temporary installation, we didn't spend the time and effort for sewn hems and Velcro.  As others have mentioned, we supported the skirting with push pins at the back side of the facia trim.

Mike M.

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

Wow Dennis, that's a beauty!  My mother had one of those, but it didn't have all the fancy paint.  It did have a treadle to provide power, she could work even when the power went out.

We bought the Singer around 40 years ago on a day trip to Bucks County from NYC.  Stopped at a garage sale on the way... the guy wanted 10, I said 5 ...he said SOLD!  No treadle, it had already been converted to a GE electric motor around 1940 or so.

It's not a skirt but it encloses the layout. I have a smaller layout 9' x16', and not a lot of storage space to display my trains so I built shelves with a plywood back. The frame is hinged to one of the table legs with a wheel at the opposite end. It opens so I can access the shelves I built behind the display shelves.

Thank you all for the suggestions and links.  
I have quite a bit of the Velcro backed 29” wide skirting from my previous layout which I will probably use. I just have to engineer access where I need access and deal with the varying height of the table.

@CA John posted:

Hi Bill,

I really like the pre-pleated fabric skirts.  Where did you find them?  Was it on-line or at a local fabric store?

John

Hi John,      It was on-line.  Forget who it was but if you Google it, there are quite a few places that supply them.  If I come across it, I will let you know.

@CA John posted:

Hi Bill,

I really like the pre-pleated fabric skirts.  Where did you find them?  Was it on-line or at a local fabric store?

John

The pleated skirt I bought for my tinplate layout (with sewn-on Valcro on back) is the best commercially available pleated skirt I have ever bought. really nicely made to any length and height, and, best of all, quite affordable. I will post a photo tomorrow. Only problem is, I will have to research the place I bought it from (an online supplier of custom table skirts) and will also try to provide that tomorrow.

Our modular club also uses velcro to hold up the skirts. Pretty sure its lasted over a dozen years with about 15 shows a year.

Pete

party table skirts on amazon pleated non wrinkle great

This is all good advice with some excellent examples.  I would just like to add that I like the black the best as it helps "set the stage". I think it should be like a picture frame and compliment, but not compete with the actual layout which should be he star of the show.  I have seen people use some very nice Lionel fabric and it was very pretty, but it was taking your eyes away from the layout.  But, just like everything else in this hobby, it's what floats your boat and there's there's no wrong to enjoy it.

Art

I agree that black sets the stage, but I see some interesting effects with the other choices here as well. Mine isn't on yet because I still have too much messy construction to do, BUT I already purchased a good amount of yardage of dark brown felt from JoAnn Fabrics with a 50% off coupon. My floor is dark brown also. The width is double what I need so I will cut it in half. Because it is felt, it does not have to be hemmed although I think I might sew in some box pleats to give it a more tailored look (also means I will have to purchase more). The other thing about felt is that you do not need to sew the Velcro to it. I only needed the loop side which I will attach to the layout and then the felt will stick right to it. I can easily peel away a section of it to get underneath. I can't wait until I'm far enough along to share photos!

Mikki

The skirts I have came from:

https://www.exclusivelyexpo.com/skirts.cfm

Highly recommended!