My new outside "foldaway" layout idea

I like it and it's certainly cheaper than a new wife.

It's ok but you are better off with a modular railroad. You just need Four corners and each straight section is only 2' by 4' wide! Once you get the basic board and wiring done, the layout setup goes really fast! Best yet is any repairs done on a module takes u very little space!

I like it. A eight by eight platform is not a bad size layout.

If you use 1 X 6 bracing that could offer you 11 inches for building height and scenery.

I know it will increase the weight and width tremendously. You will also have to cut portals through your supports to get from one side of the layout  to another. This would obviously  cause some structural issues but  with some well placed bracing you could get around that problem.

Think of the bracing barriers as an opportunity to add some building flats and painted scenery.

Of course remember that any exterior wood device must be kept dry, because what works perfectly at the hinge points today may be impossible after the structure changes shape due to even slight changes in temperature and humidity.

But, all of that said I like the idea. Just remember that Mother Nature can be really hard on the carpenter who takes her for granted.  

"...it's certainly cheaper than a new wife."

Really? Have you checked some of the prices for locomotives and rolling stock lately? And with those, you can send them back for repair or replacement if something goes wrong. Without a lawyer.

All these "wife is opposed" or "wife didn't give permission" situations really irk me. Why should the wife be the one to set the rules? If the husband goes out of the way to please the wife, why wouldn't she do the same? How/why did we, as a society, decide that the wife is in charge?

Just one reason I remained a bachelor.

TakeTheATrain posted:

 Of course any structures added will have to be removed prior to folding, and a few tracks moved prior to folding up, but I think this is going to serve well! Any advice would be great! 

Actually, ANY/all tracks will have to be removed before folding, unless you change/raise the hinge points so that the boards are spaced apart when folded.

You can do that by putting a piece of 2X4  under each hinge. That will raise the hinge points so that you have 3" or so between the boards when they are folded.