my Tinplate goes from on the floor to a custom table

Carey TeaRose posted:

update: in discussion with my Groom, Tom about where I want all the transformers, controls, etc. for this layout. The quick and dirty route would be to just set them on the marble corners- but that of course defeats the purpose of having such a cool design feature. So its a no-go.

Asked him about creating some kind of pull-out drawer/shelf thing with drawer glides, that can slide under and/or behind the front or side facing when not needing to be used. He's percolating on it...

Busbars and all wiring pulled underneath is a given. 

Maybe you'll be wanting a vintage transformer-in-a-station setup.

I know I wuz I just mentioned wanting one of those for lighting a town in the Menards power plant thread.

Beautiful work on the table, its almost (but not really) a shame to cover such great work with trains.

Scotie

Adriatic posted:

  Interesting how perceptions can differ. More so when impressionism is the topic.  I always see water as light blue to dark blue/dark green. But I think that's from being in the Great Lakes Region & seeing freshwater more. I seldom have seen one area of a Sea for long enough to judge well. Oh well...your rules I'm just trying to guess where each part of this is build might be leading to, if you like an idea, so be it. (great fun!)

  I think the camera angle takes away from the lightness in colour, of the green. (Ooak?.Really...Neat! ),   but what I  see above is: A green field, and a "parade" filling it with animals and show folk, all in preparation for the setting of the circus's rings.

  I see a dark railway roadbed, wide enough to share a stretch with the locals on their way to the fair too.  

   The marble..mar-bull..marrrrrble.....O.k,, I'm at a loss..Hey, it needs no "explanation"its pretty . Cur Rah Hee ; I.e., its nice enough to "stand alone".

  A circus zebra being led across one square on occasionis  a "must" though .

   Are you Familiar with vintage American tv show "The Addams Family", and Gomez's layout? (search Youtube for "Gomez Addams trains")    Though little to do with much here, and the lamps are fine on your corners, his corners are a good example of what I'd expect would work well also. One piece each corner, keeping the stone mostly unoccupied.   If you get your signals near to the squares, the white stone will catch the red light when it's active. The stone gaining a red hue, and reflecting a pale, rosey light, up again as well.

(I just like playing with lighting. I had looked for a light splitting (rainbow) prism lamp (green glass) to show you too, but struck out finding it again... so far.  .)

Oh, the glass top depots. If I could have only one accessory....Ya' know,  I can't even believe they aren't still made (or the prices). I've even tried to figure a way to use one from HO and kids toy-Thomas sets. Colour me green with envy.

  Tell Tom I said to think a bit about a "plain" drawer, with the face built as a "false apron/skirt". A hinged drop face, would hide things well when idle, make lack of pull hardware no big deal, and expose controls fully, or just partially without pulling on the whole drawer each time. A simple build up of deco shapes on the drawers face, appearing to be a portion of the frame between the legs, would work nicely. Fluting alternating panels, etc... optional..

fun video clip!!

I'd call it done and have lunch in the field behind the platform

Ace posted:

Carey TeaRose posted:

update: in discussion with my Groom, Tom about where I want all the transformers, controls, etc. for this layout. The quick and dirty route would be to just set them on the marble corners- but that of course defeats the purpose of having such a cool design feature. So its a no-go.

Asked him about creating some kind of pull-out drawer/shelf thing with drawer glides, that can slide under and/or behind the front or side facing when not needing to be used. He's percolating on it...

Busbars and all wiring pulled underneath is a given. 

Maybe you'll be wanting a vintage transformer-in-a-station setup.

What number is this Lionel transformer/station, please? It looks just like my Lionel whistle station.

Carey TeaRose posted:

Ace posted:

What number is this Lionel transformer/station, please? It looks just like my Lionel whistle station.

     The TCA Catalog lists four distinct numbers for the transformer station (1012, 1017, 1027, 1028). Variances seem to be mainly in the design of the control handle. Also listed are the whistle station (48W) and the non-powered station (1012K, 1560).

     As these transformers were issued with cheap 027 sets during the early 30's, I'd be worried that the wattage may not be sufficient for standard gauge (The Catalog does not list the wattages, which makes me doubt that Lionel ever published them).

Regards,

     Perhaps you could put a newer transformer out of sight under the table and set it at a constant voltage, then you could put a Lionel #95 rheostat on one of the marble corners and use it to control the power to the track? The rheostats are small, so they would not obscure the marble much.

Just a suggestion, I'm liking the progress,

Lots to look into for the wiring , when we get to that point, thanks all for the input. I do already have the No.48 whistle station. 

update: more work on the table after a couple of days off. Tom had been busy changing things and adding wiring to the cake diorama board. Today Tom cut a long sloping curve along the length that I wanted in the front facing board and glued it in place. Held with extra boards and clamps. Oh, and yes there is a leather couch under this table! That's why the table legs are on castors.

I have not been following this topic because it is in the Tinplate forum--big mistake.  All I can say is WOW  Really nice way to display your trains. 

Okay folks, I've got some cool pieces for the layout:

2 large litho dollhouses are coming. A Marx litho barn is coming. More Barclay and Trico train figures are coming. 

Already here are: the Pride Line passenger shed, an Ives litho station, aLionel 48 whistle station, an old Ives Railway Lines water tower and a tall prewar semaphore, the 36" long OOAK viaduct, the 1920s Chein litho cathedral/church and an O-scale Marx litho tunnel that we'll kitbash to make it fit my Std. Gauge trains. 

Small accessories: four prewar dark green double bulb lights, three prewar peacock w/h red telephone poles, one RailKing RRxing light, and two yellow RailKing street posts. There are three 1930s 1:24 Franklin Mint automobiles, and a 1:24 1930s die-cast taxi. An small assortment of vintage and new Barclay and Trico train people.

For train track, I have the long oval mainline that will have a switch and a spur line going through the PL passenger shed platforms, and a smaller loop or 42 circle that will run above the mainline up on piers of some sort. 

What else would be dynamite accessories and buildings for this layout? A metal bridge? The Hellgate- as cool as it is may be too massive and with the litho doll houses might not be seen as much as it requires to properly showcase it.

Forum member suggestions welcome!

Update: mahogany front facing board trimmed, sanded and glued on.  Other three next. Then staining.

Standard Gauge!  

  I was so wrapped up in the all the goodies, I never even noticed that!

42"

Oh, great now it's bigger and better,  than mine! ...

I think all the power sheds were at or under 48w also, assumption by size mostly.

(the only listing I remember ever seeing was 48w, and a whistle motor doesn't use near that much juice)

  The rheostat idea is a good way to look old, but use more modern power. They are somewhat ornate, and come in green, or black too!!! Great idea really.

(But too new?, Some modern electronics may see the rheostat resistance as a short, and shut off (breaker). I bet Pappa Steve or some others would know for sure, or could test)

Here are a couple of pics taken today on the layout. Space allotted next to the litho dollhouse for the second one that is forthcoming.

Nice doll house.  Furnished ??  

This week on the layout: the second large litho doll house arrived, a Marx litho Happi-Time barn came as a birthday present for Tom from me, and a NEW Barclay figure with great detailing joined the townfolk.

Been too busy with the wedding last Sunday to have had the chance to test run the pink/red 408E.

Gosh, this layout table has been filling up fast! 

The mahogony facing boards will get stained tomorrow.

Today the 3rd coat of 5 coats of clear polyurethane is being applied to the mahogany facing boards. As far as the table itself,  its almost done!! 

Update: as the table is almost finished, trying to figure out how Tom and I can best raise and support a 42 curve circle of track with a center platform as a second level (almost 9") above the large main loop. It will be coming close to the front edge at the front of the table and right next to the viaduct. Ideas welcome...

Check with the Civil Engineers who did the CSX job in Delaware. They will set you straight.

jim pastorius posted:

Check with the Civil Engineers who did the CSX job in Delaware. They will set you straight.

My dad is/was a Civil Engineer, maybe I should ask him...

Look into a cake pedestal for your upper layer.  Especially since you just got married.  Congratulations by the way.

atlayank posted:

Look into a cake pedestal for your upper layer.  Especially since you just got married.  Congratulations by the way.

A cake pedestal- what an intriguing idea... Maybe like a mini version of a deco era table pedestal base.

Tom was talking about into some kind of under-bridge cross pieces bridge support system thing... (darn, what is that name -Garden Railway guys make large versions of it for G-scale- the name escapes me). With something clear for the platform, to be able to see what is on the main table from above. I just cannot visualize this all from what he was describing, but I didn't like that idea for this table.

maybe like this??? This bottom of the base design would mimic the curve on the viaduct and is reminiscent of the sloping curve of the front facing too

That looks great.  Just need to make sure it is big enough on top for the track.  Great find!

back to the cake pedestal idea...

Too bad I cannot use one of these gorgeous original 1930s German made heavy glass vases I own for a pedestal base. THAT could look fun. Maybe I could???

The height of the shorter, squattier one with the 1936 Berlin Olympics rings clears the 408E just fine at 8-3/8" tall and is 6-1/2" across at the opening, the narrow-er, taller one is barely 10" tall and is 6" across at the opening. 

If this pedestal is holding up a round piece of wood with track on it and the Standard gauge loco goes around, wouldn't that shifting of weight cause the whole thing to tip ??

jim pastorius posted:

If this pedestal is holding up a round piece of wood with track on it and the Standard gauge loco goes around, wouldn't that shifting of weight cause the whole thing to tip ??

yup. probably. back to the drawing board....

It wont tip if the base is heavy enough, or it is secured.

Glass can have a hole ground through if you wished (still risky, mod a new one)

    I think the vase idea is really neat. Using a touch more real estate, 3 vases, 3 support legs, each leg with rubber bottoms, simply hidden within the vases, resting on the thick bottoms. For accent, small Christmas bulbs wrapped around the legs. Maybe some twinklers?  A single vase in the center, and legs to prevent tipping is another option.

If final placement is against a wall, a "cantilever" wall off the table, or a few singles could do it.

    If cantilever wasn't the term you where looking for, maybe "under arch trestle", (or "tressel", but, Oh how I hate to say, the later search; improper coaches, each and every day ..Go Blue or even stay with the Spartan Green for pleasing "piers"?)

 Oh, Mi, that was fun

Adriatic posted:

It wont tip if the base is heavy enough, or it is secured.

Glass can have a hole ground through if you wished (still risky, mod a new one)

    I think the vase idea is really neat. Using a touch more real estate, 3 vases, 3 support legs, each leg with rubber bottoms, simply hidden within the vases, resting on the thick bottoms. For accent, small Christmas bulbs wrapped around the legs. Maybe some twinklers?  A single vase in the center, and legs to prevent tipping is another option.

If final placement is against a wall, a "cantilever" wall off the table, or a few singles could do it.

    If cantilever wasn't the term you where looking for, maybe "under arch trestle", (or "tressel", but, Oh how I hate to say, the later search; improper coaches, each and every day ..Go Blue or even stay with the Spartan Green for pleasing "piers"?)

 Oh, Mi, that was fun

Adriatic, thanks for the reply- ohmydog what a BRILLIANT idea! 

I have had three of these previously as I collect depression glass pieces, but somehow right now, I find they've gone missing.

Indiana Glass made a pattern called "Tea Room". They made a clear 9-1/4" to 9-1/2" ruffled edge vase. Using three or even four, the vases could make great streamlined deco glass "legs" to hold up the circle of track with a platform.

Your play, I just ran the ball a bit

TRESTLE. that was the word.

hm. My daughter and Tom too ain't digging the glass vase idea. They both think it needs to be metal. Or wood painted. Going to the local big home improvements stores today to look at metal shelf pieces and bar.

Found this pic online for inspiration...

Silk City Bridgeworks. This example is "O" but I'm betting the guys in Patterson can make whatever you need. I've been to their club openhouse (NJ HiRailers). Spectacular is an understatement. 

For a less "scale" look, Bridgeboss. Our modular club bought a bridge from them. They're great to work with.

And finally, I had posted this suggestion before, but deleted it when it appeared it had been passed-over. It is called a cookie-cutter layout. For your 42" circle, you may be able to get away with assembling the track on a 4x8 sheet of plywood and then tracing the inner and outer diameters.

Carey,

    Every thing looks great, outstanding Job!

PRCC/Dave

Gilly@N&W posted:

 And finally, I had posted this suggestion before, but deleted it when it appeared it had been passed-over.

What?!

  Near any idea is worth leaving alone. Who knows who else you may inspire with it.

   I still read very old  threads regularly. And have deleted very few. Even downright embarrassing ones remain, just because it did happen.

     If requested, I'd think about it, out of courtesy to the OP, but in those (my) "dumb" cases, deletion is almost like a lie. I'm "funny" like that about "the printed word". It's not just mine, or yours, its "ours"

Carey, You could always do a "dry run", without full assembly, and a little squinting,, just to see what it might, actually look like. (I think colored glass would look best there)

I think its a very unique idea worth a one eyed squint, at least

   The elevation piers would really tie it together more prototypically, for a less "separated" look. And well designed, the piers will have a truer Art Deco feel vs Art Nouveau with the vase(s), as well as being less prominent, letting the table, trains and other scenery capture the eye. 

An open center will also let light through, a "second table" will not.

    Platforms for a few elevated buildings or whatever, creating a semi-open center, would be a nice compromise between the two, too.

    For a more solid elevated unit, I suggest putting joint seams of the wood, mid track, -vs- right at track joints. It will be stronger that way.

Adriatic posted:

Gilly@N&W posted:

 And finally, I had posted this suggestion before, but deleted it when it appeared it had been passed-over.

What?!

  Near any idea is worth leaving alone. Who knows who else you may inspire with it.

Yes. I tend to self-moderate if I toss something out that falls flat. Just sucking space on a server I don't own....

Gilly@N&W posted:

Silk City Bridgeworks. This example is "O" but I'm betting the guys in Patterson can make whatever you need. I've been to their club openhouse (NJ HiRailers). Spectacular is an understatement. 

For a less "scale" look, Bridgeboss. Our modular club bought a bridge from them. They're great to work with.

And finally, I had posted this suggestion before, but deleted it when it appeared it had been passed-over. It is called a cookie-cutter layout. For your 42" circle, you may be able to get away with assembling the track on a 4x8 sheet of plywood and then tracing the inner and outer diameters.

I do not pass over anything gents! I read lots of old threads too. Some things I am just thinking through first.... I am going with a cookie cutter idea, using the screwed down to plywood Realtrax on the wedding cake diorama plywood as a cutting template. That is not the hard part! Getting the piers design is.

Carey TeaRose posted:

 That is not the hard part! Getting the piers design is.

Take a look at the piers on the Bridgeboss picture. You can buy 3/4" square wood dowels on the web or from your local big-box store. Very simple to cut with a basic miter box. Make a jig out of scrap wood and glue them up. From what I can see in the picture it is an "I" shape with two cross pieces glued at the top. My math for a 42" circle suggests sixteen spaced @ 8.25". The paint you see in the pic appears to faux concrete paint.

Gilly@N&W posted:

Carey TeaRose posted:

 That is not the hard part! Getting the piers design is.

Take a look at the piers on the Bridgeboss picture. You can buy 3/4" square wood dowels on the web or from your local big-box store. Very simple to cut with a basic miter box. Make a jig out of scrap wood and glue them up. From what I can see in the picture it is an "I" shape with two cross pieces glued at the top. My math for a 42" circle suggests sixteen spaced @ 8.25". The paint you see in the pic appears to faux concrete paint.

We were talking last night about dowels, round or square. Metal or wood