We stuck to the 2′x6′x2′ standard and can get lots of modules in the trailer. The track height is 48 inches. For the metric system fans that’s about 61CM wide, 183cm long and 61cm high when packed. Track height of 122cm when on their feet. Each has 6 inches (15.2cm) of free space below grade to use for hills and bridges and so on. The backdrops are not built in, but added on the back with thumb-screws. Sounds gruesome!

However, by “bridging” the backdrop between hills we get rid of much of the “crevace” between tables. We also have a standard for dowel pins at the ends for links to the next module. All legs fold and lock the same way, all hardware is standard 1/4 inch by 20 thread. No tools are required for setup.

Haven’t laid any rail yet, but that’s coming up soon. Ours is HOn3 on a single track mainline. For those in N scale the module size would give great track plan flexability and leave areas to turn trains around.

I’ve seen lots of N scale settups. Get rid of those three and four track mainlines! That’s great for modeling London to Portsmouth, or New York to Boston, but people forget the distant countryside. I enjoy bringing it to them at shows. Give me a lonely little track into the high mountains.

I wish there were an easy way to show off the vast American plains or the sun baked outback of Australia. For me it’s narrow Gauge into the mountains.

Thanks and have a great day,
Steve

We model HOn3. It’s great for realism if you don’t mind limiting yourself to some older and possibly unpopular railroads from mountain locations. But the equipment is unusual and the scenery can’t be beat. We’ve taken “Best in Show” at our last three GATS. (Great American Train Shows) I recommend you search for it on the Internet. Several of the photos are of our layout! Brag brag brag…

We have more modules than members now. I’d like to share some of our problems and solutions with you, as we were nearly at witt’s end on how best to to proceed, and last week held a meeting just to discuss it. Basically, the “physical plant” of our club outgrew the membership’s ability to set it up as more and more people are retiring or just loosing interest in trains.

First, decide on the basic principles of when, where and why you’ll set up modules. Include age and ability in the conversation. I turn 45 tomorrow and I’m the youngest member out of 24 men. Carrying 1,500 pounds of ill-fitting modules in out of the cold puts a damper on the day.

So, any standard that places personal preference first will yield a patchwork in the end. It also means some will weigh more than can be easily carried and some will be too long or wide for a trailer or van.

We had to identify what conditions or occasions we would put forth the effort to transport them to a common location to set up and run.

Those modules are still a patchwork, but many have been reworked to make pairs that match.

OK, so we’ve got these dinosours to move around, and only set up for operations at big model railroad shows or conventions. What Kind of layout should we set up?

We started out 20 years ago capable of setting up a great big loop, but have now done that exclusively for the last ten years. In fact we would be hard pressed to set up a point to point layout. That limits the opertunities for setting up. It almost has to be big. We don’t have enough room to do it in members’ homes, the club isn’t big enough to rent space and the nice one-day shows are simple too much work for the amount of time you want to spend running trains.

We decided to set very strict standards that not only limit the module size, but require identical carpentry on every single one. That way the legs unfold the same way, the backdrop is built in, they fit through doors without bashing hands, and we can get twelve of them into the club trailer. We set the rail height at 48 inches and worked down from there. We gave six inches to the table top. That allows for bridges and sub-grade scenery (a real eye catcher). We are making the quantum leap to a DCC control system, ans setting a rail standard to help get rid of operational glitchs.

Here were our priorities:
First, reliable operation
Second, easy transport and setup
Third, uniformity

We will build our second generation of modules in scenic sets of four tables to be called by the name of the railroad or location depicted.

Each “table” will be 2 ft by 6 ft and have a packed height of 2 ft to get them into a rack system on the trailer. Every set of four would include a passing siding and means to turn an engine around at or near one end. That way we can set up a pint to point operation with only eight modules.

Our goal is to go from a six hour set up time to a one hour set up time. We’re at four hours now, but typically spend at least that long working on problems. Setting up has been the biggest reson for peole quiting, arguing, and for deciding not to go to a show or convention. So before any membership drive happens we’re spending 2004 rebuilding to a new standard.

Best of luck!
Steve Hollenbach