My 5x10 Layout

Paint would be an easy enhancement. Depending on what kind of layout you have in mind, you could put brown or green carpet over the tabletop and it would provide some soundproofing. If you want to play around with different track plans for a while, carpet will help hold the track in position without having to nail it down. Carpet would be easier to work on, since you have to climb on the table for access to the back.

 

If a carpet-top seems too much like a "toy train" layout, I'm sure other folks will offer other ideas.

I agree with Ace.Just paint it.Your work looks great

I rode Metro-North trains in Conneticut. To make it realistic (just saying) maybe make it double track and have elevated platforms. The last picture was taken when we were sidelined in the yard for matinence due to some "hot and dark" cars.  Your layout is way better than mine. The scafolding in the center of the track in the first photo is, I asume, for laying concrete ties.

Nice work. Your at the fun part now. Paint the top like Ace says and just experiment with different track setups. I envy you being at that point of nothing their, just a layout to build anyway you want. A clean slate. Enjoy...

Another option is ReadyGrass ground cover from Woodland Scenics. I haven't used it, but I'm hoping to find some at a train shop during my travels this year. My other option is carpet squares, but I think the Green and Desert ReadyGrass would work and be cheaper.
http://woodlandscenics.woodlan...y/ReadyGrassVinylMat

My track should be comming on tuesday. It's Atlas O 3 rail track. I plan on making a double loop with o54 outside curves and o45 inside curves with a interlocking.

Ok I went to Lowes and bought a quart of paint called "Earth".. Looks really good when it finally dried.

 

Bano

This is my current subway layout. But I am planning in the future of building a new layout that will have both subway and diesel engines as well. So if you take away the small yard than you can definitely fit this type. BTW my layout is 5X10 not including the yard. Hope this helps.

Oh this is great thanks a ton! Im going to play around with a few options and see what I come up with. 

Mr Bano go to the mis colored shelf at home depot and lowes. They sell quarts for $2.00

Would you mind sharing how much it cost to purchase the materials needed to construct the layout, not including the trains, tracks, transfoers, etc., and how much time it took you to build it.

Rockstar I saw that shelf and they didn't have anything I can use. I ended up buying a quart of "earth" colored paint. It looks great I will take a picture and load it in a few minutes.  Edmunda it cost me about 130 bucks. That includes 2 sheets of plywood, 2 sheets of homasote board, 8 - 2x4's, 2 - 2x10's, paint, and 2 boxes of screws.

Yea man its very hit and miss.Keep checking back you will find colors you can use.

Where did you use use 2x10s on a train table?

 

  --Joe

Joe I used the 2x10's for the width of the table. I then cut 4 - 57'' pieces for the cross beams. I screwed that all together with 2 1/2'' coarse drywall screws. I then cut 4 - 36'' pieces for the legs. I cut 8 - 24'' pieces and then made opposite 45 degree cuts at each end to make leg braces. I screwed that all together using the same screws. I put the plywood ontop and then the homasote board, and finally painted it.

Painted Table. 

Reading: I think he is referring to a 10 foot 2x4 as a 2x10

 

If you find some "grass green" paint, you can roll it on in a random pattern with a texture roller. It will leave some areas earth and some areas grassy. Doesn't look to bad for paint.

You're off to a good start. One word of warning though: with your table tucked against the wall and being 5' wide, you're going to be doing a lot of climbing on the layout. I would suggest strategically placing an access hole or two.

I put sliders underneath the legs so I can slide it out when I need access to the other side of the layout.

I found 5 ft a good number to work.   This is the original effort.   5ft worked well with Atlas O-54 curves and O-45 for the inner loop.  Smaller than most would like but small rooms allow so much. As I moved to the second room there was only one curve section that got to O-66.  The room is 12'6" X 10'  plus the closet space at the bottom.

 

 

Nice layout mike. I'm sure once I start laying track my imagination will take over and I can come up with something more then a boring double loop. I like the extension on yours.

 

If I can make a suggestion

Here's my current layout that I have to walk on,I've been building this for 14 yrs

 

Here's my nephew's layout that I built,look at it width wise

 

I know you said you can slide it out,but If I was you.,I would pull that out from the wall,enough to have a path underneath to the back,then be able to stand up.

This way when you reach from the back and front you'll be able to reach everything

First of all,you need access to build everything,and believe me,every time or 2 you run train's,you'll be back there.

Plus,expantion wise,you'll be able to go from 5 ft. to 7 and still be able to reach the middle easy,if you get a small step,you can reach even more

On a layout,even adding a foot make's a big difference

Good luck

That is a beautiful layout transman! However I don't want to get to much in depth with the layout because I am eventually going to buy a home in the next 2-3 years. So as of right now I want to concentrate on track laying.

Ok my atlas track arrived today and I constructed 2 double loops.

Layout looks great...im a hudson line rider and deff want to get some m7s...great start tho

Bano,

Where did you get your Atlas track?  Can you give me an idea of how much it costs?  I'm thinking thats the track I'm going to use for my layout also.

Thanks,
Mike 

I put a post in the "wanted to buy" forum. So as replies came in I got some great deals on track so as it came in I got to work. I did but some stuff new for the interlockings. I am about 85% done with the track laying. In the next few days I will post some new photos.

This has been a very enjoyable thread.  Lot of good ideas.  I learned the hard way about access to hard to reach portions of layout.  I started out with a 4X8, added another 4X8, then expanded to two 5X8, then tied them together at one end with 2X2 span.  Had several track configurations over time, but was working toward the ability to run three trains that I could make reverse directions with sidings and spurs for parking or passing.

It's still a work in progress.  Trying to replicate Texas area where I grew up in 30s, 40s & 50s.  Have T&P MTH Mohawk passenger, MTH UP 844 and Lionel Alco FA ABA (grandfather worked for Katy).  Running conventional controls, but will go to DCS.  Parked the Lionel for awhile - TMCC limits conventional control with other engines!

Sorry, don't have picture yet that displays full layout.  Will post later.

 

As the monkey said when he caught his tail in lawnmower:  "Wont be long now"!

you could use roof shingles to put down over the board.  That's what I do & then just cover up various parts with ground foam - see pic -