Thinking/questions about removeable alternative sections on my layout

Lee something like this would benefit me too.  If you get a chance I would love to see pictures of the river you made.  Thanks!

Hi Lee, if the section you are building is a lift out make sure you have a place to move it out of the way to. What good is it to have a farm that lifts out but you have no place to put it? Fold down legs that span an adjoining part of your layout is one way.

If it is a swing up make sure the hindge pin is above the top of your track rail or any scenery that may bind at the pivot point.

As for camouflage of the lift out edge, bushes, trees or even parts of buildings can be used. As stated above. Make sure everything can be moved with out coming apart and you have a safe place to put your mini platform out of the way when you are working.

Any drop down hatch should be treated as above, but of course in reverse.

Well, have fun buddy. I'm sure you will come up with your own ideas as you get into the project and please post some pictures when you get done.

This chunk of scenery is in the back corner that is not very accessible.  I can just lift the whole thing up to work on it.

 Another removable piece.  Foam is great!

Lee,

One thing to watch out for is putting too much scenery on a lift out section. It then becomes unliftable. Next time you're buy the store I'll show you an example on the hallway display layout.

I could consider the drop-down hatch for one good reason.  Many times, you will have no place to set the lift-up hatch on the layout, so what do you do with it.  OTOH, the drop-down can be set on the floor out of your way under the layout, or even out away, then you can access the open hatch.

Foam panels are much lighter than 1/2" plywood, and they don't warp in humidity. 

Another good thing about foam is that it is easy to form for those odd shape access points.

Of course it dose not do well with hindges.

I would also like to thank Mark for his picture above of the corner lift out. I have a drop leaf where that would work perfectly.

As I read through this thread, I kept seeing those silly commercials where the floor or the wall flips over - and you have something totally different. I'm not certain you are looking for something with a 'pivot' point - but it would solve two of the issues: change of scenery and storage.

Just a thought...and one that probably isn't as doable here as in the movies!

I agree with Jumijo...think foam.   If you need a hard surface for fastening or whatever, think thin plywood/masonite (~1/4") bonded to the thick foam contour surface.

I'm not there yet, but this is the direction I'm going with my layout.  It's not an original idea.  Do you remember reading an article in CTT or OGR a few years back about the process one family went through to have Clark Dunham custom make/deliver/set up a layout for their home?  VERY interesting and epiphonal for me...regarding the very topic you're discussing!

Of course, everything about the custom layout has to be sectional for ease of delivery and installation.  What struck me most was the discussion about the scenery...it was built and mostly scenicked at Clark's studios.  The fit of the sections was assured, buildings attached, roads, trees, bushes, fences, etc., mostly done at the studio by his several wonderful craftspeople.  Then the whole magilla was taken apart, packed into a moving van, and driven to the client's home.

After re-assembly and the basic scenery blocks all installed, the craftspeople simply 'dressed' the joints...foliage, etc....to blend it all together.  And, voila!...it was done...in a day!!!!

Two things struck me about this approach.  First, I could work comfortably on a scenery area at a workbench...even a table that allowed me 360 degree seated access!  No bending over, reaching deeply into the layout to do tedious work, putting my sexagenarian bod into contortions it would later pay back in pain.

Secondly,...and consistent with your idea...it would afford me the opportunity to easily change a scenery area to something else later, should I chose to do so.  VERY nice, methinks...I seem to realize a better answer after the fact on a lot of things!!

There is, of course, a third advantage....if a move is in your future.  That, I TOTALLY guarantee you, will NEVER happen for me.  This IS my wife's and my home and layout to 'Le Grand Finale'!!

So, I say 'Go for it!', and show us your creations as you go along! 

KD

Lee, I could not decide if I wanted my layout to be in the steam or diesel era, so I am making both. For example, on my station project, the entire front street/landscape area will be interchangable. I constructed the road and the landscape area on 1/8" and 1/4" MDF, and they just sit on the plywood. All I have to do is lift them out and add the other piece. I constructed it this way because the road configuration in the front of the station was one way in the 1930s and is a different way now. I will post a picture or two later if I can.

I plan on doing it with a majority of my layout. With regards to your waterway, I am doing something similar. Today my river has concrete walls on the sides, where back in the 30s, the natural earth went right up to the water. I plan on making the removable sections on 1/8" hardboard. Heavier than foam but more sturdy.

I have room underneath my under layout storage to slide the unused sections.