Hi,

fairly new. just started. attaching a picture (bad quality I know :( ).

I am not very satisfied with it.

so i am looking for some comments.

1) is it bad idea to use a train table to put TOWN/CITY layout? is it too small? because mine looks very crowded.

or I should buy another train table so can create 2 towns?

2) how to put train inside? you can see I only can put a straight track. and train itself already occupies about 1/3 of the length.

or do you think it is a good idea to lift them up (like monorail) ?

Thanks!

Mark

Edited May 20, 201014 yr by happymark

I am not so good with trains, but i would suggest raising it up in a bridge that goes around the town, I think that would be the best option

Welcome to EB!

I am not so good with trains, but i would suggest raising it up in a bridge that goes around the town, I think that would be the best option

Welcome to EB!

I would buy regular tables and use those. In the US, the most cost effective solution I have found

is to use 6 by 2.5 feet folding tables at Costco for $49 each. I would prefer to have 8 feet long

tables but they cost a good bit more (if anyone knows where to get them at low cost, let me know).

For my train and town layout, I built some simple tables out of plywood and 2x4s. You can go to Lowes or Home Depot and ask them to cut the wood to whatever size you want for the table tops and the legs. Then you just have to screw the legs into the table and you're good to go. If you don't plan to move the tables much, this will be a cheaper alternative to buying real furniture.

If you don't have much room space to add tables, member Andy Glascott shared some pictures of his awesome layout, which has three different levels. I hope this helps you decide whether to expand horizontally or vertically.

For my train and town layout, I built some simple tables out of plywood and 2x4s. You can go to Lowes or Home Depot and ask them to cut the wood to whatever size you want for the table tops and the legs. Then you just have to screw the legs into the table and you're good to go. If you don't plan to move the tables much, this will be a cheaper alternative to buying real furniture.

Absolutely agreed. Plywood and 2x4s gives you ultimate flexibility for a very cheap price. For probably between $30-50, you can set up a nice big table that can easily be expanded as your collection grows. Yeah, it's a little crude-looking, since it's just bare wood. If you want to get fancy, you can paint the table before you put your town on it.

As Soc399 noted, they'll do the cutting for you at the store, but this is not complicated woodworking by any means. A skillsaw and a cordless drill are the only tools you need to do it yourself.

I would buy regular tables and use those. In the US, the most cost effective solution I have found

is to use 6 by 2.5 feet folding tables at Costco for $49 each. I would prefer to have 8 feet long

tables but they cost a good bit more (if anyone knows where to get them at low cost, let me know).

Thank you hoeij, yes. the regular tables would be better. the reason I use 'kids' train table because my

sons could play them too. and we do not have that big room.

I am really curious about the display setting. so most of people just put layout in the ground? I do not

feel comfortable somehow..

For my train and town layout, I built some simple tables out of plywood and 2x4s. You can go to Lowes or Home Depot and ask them to cut the wood to whatever size you want for the table tops and the legs. Then you just have to screw the legs into the table and you're good to go. If you don't plan to move the tables much, this will be a cheaper alternative to buying real furniture.

If you don't have much room space to add tables, member Andy Glascott shared some pictures of his awesome layout, which has three different levels. I hope this helps you decide whether to expand horizontally or vertically.

Thank you soc399 for the Andy's link. it is really awesome. hmm, I will consider do a two level thing. (I do not have many trains actually, and my 4.5v battery box stopped working :( )

May I suggest, you put another train table in and loop a track into and over parts of both tables.

If you ask fellow Train-Tech's in the train forum you'll get even more suggestions, 'happymark' and I'm a conformist! !

My situation is much like yours. I loved LEGO as a child, and now that I am a parent I've started buying LEGO to enjoy with my son (4 yrs) and some day with my daughter (2 yrs). In our playroom, we have a small train table much like yours. I've found that I can fit about 12 LEGO plates on the table, with a small amount of space uncovered. This gets the LEGO off the floor where my 3 dogs would demolish it, but doesn't lend itself to large elaborate layouts.

You can fit quite a few buildings onto a table like this, but I suspect large vehicles like trains would be difficult. We even have problems with some of the recent large semi-trucks (7686 Helicopter Transporter and 7743 Police Command Center), which I believe are built on a train base. If you put something that large on such a small table, it blocks the roads and doesn't allow any other vehicles to be driven around.

I think the key to using a small space like this is being selective as to which sets you try to add to the layout. My son's main Christmas gift last year was the Police Command Center which he wanted more than any other LEGO set, but it doesn't fit well on the table. I find the new yellow LEGO delivery truck to be very interesting, but I fear we don't have the room for it.

I suspect what we will end up doing at some point is moving the LEGO to his bedroom. I haven't thought this through or created any plans yet, but what I envision is running an 18 inch deep shelf around 2-3 walls in the room and having a long rather than deep layout. I've seen train layouts like that, perhaps it would be easier to find space for something like that than to use a traditional table.

I'd get a larger piece of wood(4x6?) and attach it to the top of that train table. You might not have to attach it, but if some leans too hard on one end then...

You'd still retain the height for your kid plus drawers if the table has them. The space between the two tables would be good storage too.

Thanks a lot meyerc13 for the suggestion.

I think I am going for multi layer - we do not have much room at bedroom either .

I will see how it goes.

glad to know that there are other 'AFOL' who has preschool kids play with :)

My situation is much like yours. I loved LEGO as a child, and now that I am a parent I've started buying LEGO to enjoy with my son (4 yrs) and some day with my daughter (2 yrs). In our playroom, we have a small train table much like yours. I've found that I can fit about 12 LEGO plates on the table, with a small amount of space uncovered. This gets the LEGO off the floor where my 3 dogs would demolish it, but doesn't lend itself to large elaborate layouts.

You can fit quite a few buildings onto a table like this, but I suspect large vehicles like trains would be difficult. We even have problems with some of the recent large semi-trucks (7686 Helicopter Transporter and 7743 Police Command Center), which I believe are built on a train base. If you put something that large on such a small table, it blocks the roads and doesn't allow any other vehicles to be driven around.

I think the key to using a small space like this is being selective as to which sets you try to add to the layout. My son's main Christmas gift last year was the Police Command Center which he wanted more than any other LEGO set, but it doesn't fit well on the table. I find the new yellow LEGO delivery truck to be very interesting, but I fear we don't have the room for it.

I suspect what we will end up doing at some point is moving the LEGO to his bedroom. I haven't thought this through or created any plans yet, but what I envision is running an 18 inch deep shelf around 2-3 walls in the room and having a long rather than deep layout. I've seen train layouts like that, perhaps it would be easier to find space for something like that than to use a traditional table.

I suspect what we will end up doing at some point is moving the LEGO to his bedroom. I haven't thought this through or created any plans yet, but what I envision is running an 18 inch deep shelf around 2-3 walls in the room and having a long rather than deep layout. I've seen train layouts like that, perhaps it would be easier to find space for something like that than to use a traditional table.

That type of layout is rather space saving. Plus, if you do it right, you'll have storage/furniture space underneath. Also be wary of weight. You might not think Lego weighs much, but it could do....

Just be warned, also, of wood warping after installation. Some of my OO scale wagons now roll down sidings...