How about switching to Z scale? There are a couple of folks in our club that have traveling layouts that fit neatly in a large attache case. One is on two boards that stow in the top and bottom of a deep case, with the scenery cleverly designed to not hit that on the other half when the case is closed. He opens the case, takes the two pieces out, connects them and runs trains.

Not to change the subject Fred but my modeling friend Terry discovered that he has a colony of bats living in his attic right over his railroad room.

On top of that they are a protected species of bat and we can't just go up in the attic and run the buggers out and seal up the hole....he made the mistake of calling an exterminator.....Now its gonna cost him $500 to have the bats captured and removed and the bat crap cleaned up. But on the bright side he now has prototype guano for the mine on his G scale layout

Well, if that was my problem, them bats would "conveniently" disappear.

Fred,
I sure am sorry to hear about your troubles…
I hope y’all can get yourselves sorted out asap, & I hope your missus is doing better!

It sounds like though, that this might be an opportunity to try something along the lines of a mico layout…We have some of those (uhhh…here in KY, Fred, we just call that a plastic tub…) “totes”, & after spending a lot of time perusing Carl A’s Micro Layout site, I’ve actually contemplated the feasibility of building a layout in one! I’m looking forward to seeing what you come up with!


Ps…your son’s garage sounds just like mine!

I think I once made the Carl's moicro site a "site of the week" here. I thought about making a box and all for the 2 by 2 version, but that just don't excite me. I have been thinking about it for 2 months and I just decided to start over on a slightly smaller sixe layout. Also, the original was pretty heavy, about 20 pounds, and is hard to handle. There were some other things I intend to correct on this layout, we always learn from the last layout, don't we? Fred

Fred, if you need a place to store the stuff your not using right now I would be happy to store it for you, I now have room after moving out all my HO stuff.
Sheriff Jim

GearDrivenSteam wrote:

Fred, just curious. What are the dimensions and elevations of the Beaver Hole layout? Have you got a plan that shows all of that? I'd kinda like to see it.

All's the plans are here. www.2guyz.info/2g/beav...le/bh.html It was 8 foot to the outsides and 30 inch shelf width. The elevations were going to be steep, 6% or so, and made as I built. Fred

Ok, trip to Walmart yeilded the biggest tote they had, 45 gallons. I was sloppy measuring it in the planning stge as it's tapered and will only hold a layout 16 inches wide, so the size of Guano2 will be 16 by 30 inches. The tote was $13.68. Now I can sketch a plan.

Cool

Hay Fred, who says you gotta put the layout in the bottom? If you mount it up towards the top, you'll have a little more room.

GearDrivenSteam wrote:

Hay Fred, who says you gotta put the layout in the bottom? If you mount it up towards the top, you'll have a little more room.

Another thing to consider Fred, is that if you put it waaayyy down in the bottom of that tub, you might think about some kinda access/viewing holes cut into the sides & ends...?

Maybe you could do like Rob suggests, & mount it up close to the top of the tub...maybe by installing some foam blocks or something like that underneath...this would not only give you a little more space, it would give you better access/viewing, & the added bonus of some storage space underneath...?

Orrr...would there maybe be some way you could turn the tub on its side, & build a "shadowbox" type layout, with a 3-sided backdrop?

Just thowin' out some ideas...

I'd build the layout towards the top of the box Fred. Slightly larger and you could store all the stock and controls underneath. Then you just have the one box to move around, take to shows etc.

Tim

Fred sorry to hear about your wife, pray she is getting better!

The tote is for storage only, it will be removed for work and play. The sides taper so little it ain't worth messing with raising it up a little because the layout will be about 16-24 inches tall when done. Fred

Waaahooo! You're on your way!