Does anybosy have any layouts which can go up into the wall when not in use. Kind of like the ols beds in Pullman cars!
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I used to have something like that when I was a kid. My dad and grandpa built it. It had a 4x7 table top that was hinged to the wall along the back 7' side. All trackage was fastened down at one level and I had to remove all the structures to fold it up. It mounted on the wall surface rather than being recessed into the wall.
How about a Harken Hoister:
My brother gave me one years ago, but I've never used it. I think they make one for 200 lbs. Instead of going in the wall it goes up to the ceiling.
I'll have to dig mine out to see how much weight it can hold.
My son and I made one for his children that folds up, not into the wall, but into a frame of 1X6s. I believe it's 4' X 8' and at my daughter-in-law's suggestion he fastened whiteboard underneath so they can write on that when it's folded up. The structures do have to be removed before folding it.
Originally Posted by handyandy:
I used to have something like that when I was a kid. My dad and grandpa built it. It had a 4x7 table top that was hinged to the wall along the back 7' side. All trackage was fastened down at one level and I had to remove all the structures to fold it up. It mounted on the wall surface rather than being recessed into the wall.
Hope you took off the cars and locos before going up!
I built one for my son's room that slides up the wall so the trackage faces out toward the room when not in use. came out great. looks like a 3-d mural when it's up. the back edge is mounted on sliders and pivots. the front edge of the 4X8 is not supported, it floats. the 4 foot edges have a tie-rod that is attached to the wall and supports the layout both when it is up and when it is down.
Originally Posted by Dominic Mazoch:
Originally Posted by handyandy:
I used to have something like that when I was a kid. My dad and grandpa built it. It had a 4x7 table top that was hinged to the wall along the back 7' side. All trackage was fastened down at one level and I had to remove all the structures to fold it up. It mounted on the wall surface rather than being recessed into the wall.
Hope you took off the cars and locos before going up!
Naw, didn't have to. Magnetraction!!! 
Originally Posted by handyandy:
Originally Posted by Dominic Mazoch:
Originally Posted by handyandy:
I used to have something like that when I was a kid. My dad and grandpa built it. It had a 4x7 table top that was hinged to the wall along the back 7' side. All trackage was fastened down at one level and I had to remove all the structures to fold it up. It mounted on the wall surface rather than being recessed into the wall.
Hope you took off the cars and locos before going up!
Naw, didn't have to. Magnetraction!!!
Magentraction on the cars? Must have the traction effort of an SD90MAC on your engines to pull them!
It would be a big hassle to have to take everything off the table to fold it up, then you need shelves to put all those items on.
John Armstrong had a fold-up layout design (for Z or N gauge?) which had a stationary shelf portion against the wall to park all the trains on before folding up the moveable part of the layout. All the buildings and scenery on the moveable part had to be secured to stay in place.
There have been other plans that raise an entire layout up to the ceiling.
My preferred plan for convenience, simplicity and space-saving is a long narrow shelf along one wall of a room, high enough to go over other furniture, with a shelf up to about 3 feet wide. It can be made high enough to sit at a computer desk under it. Can also build shelves over it for better space utilization. I built an arrangement like this at a friend's house last winter.
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My parents had mine built for me. Did not have enough room for a room to be used as a bedroom and trains when school was in. Trains on vacation, trains up when I was studying!
