Simple track underlay

[Kiran]

I am a novice and mostly a weekend modeler in my spare bedroom. The room has carpet and I think putting my track on the carpet isn't a good idea. I ordered plastic painters drop cloths from Amazon. My idea is to place the track on the the painters drop cloth so that it doesn't snag on the carpet. Is there any better material I could have used? I am not ready for a table for the track yet.

[kvp]

There are diorama mats for Tomix Finetrack and imho a big sheet of green or gray cardbord (that could be rolled up or folded for storage) could also work.

 

Some carpet modellers use elevated Kato Unitrack only (for surface running too) as these tracks have a protective plastic U beam surrounding the tracks. (also looks great for shinkansen) Generally Kato Unitrack is better for floor running as it tolerates repeated assembly and disassembly better.

[Kiran]

I plan to have a double track loop with the C354 curve for the outer loop and 4 S280 sections for the straight portion. If my math isn't wrong, that will be 1828x708mm. Or roughly 72"x28". I need a little buffer on all sides.

 

The largest Tomix Diorama mat I seem to be able to find is this panormic town mat which unfortunately isn't long enough 1800x900. https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10352303. Do we kow if there are larger mats?

 

I was searching on amazon for large cardboard sheets and stumbled on to large office mat for carpet floors. https://www.amazon.com/Cleartex-General-Rectangular-Polycarbonate-FR1115020023ER/dp/B00P85HWR6/ref=sr_1_1?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1527995768&sr=1-1&keywords=polycarbonate+large+plastic+mat&dpID=31QA74014GL&preST=_SX300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch. Certainly big enough at 30"x79". But if I am spending $157, I may as well get a nice diorama mat or 2.

 

Any thoughts/suggestions?

 

I will keep looking for cardboard. Kato unitrack is for another time :).

 

Thanks,

Kiran

[Kiha66]

Try looking at work too or asking at a local hardware or eletronics store, they may have some that they are throwing away that you can steal.  I've also used these beach mats before, they are not the best but very cheap and they roll up when you are not using them.

https://www.carnivalsource.com/products/straw-beach-mats?gdffi=53912be9535e40bdae0d52b1acad7ab4&gdfms=EB07142CBE484C35BBDA92966EC995FD&gclid=Cj0KCQjwgMnYBRDRARIsANC2dflgCCTYchoD3sXTBPlKJ2CPuPdV4vWC4fwm8ak2W9ukFagwVqnwLlEaAmZ2EALw_wcB

or

https://www.amazon.com/Rhode-Island-Novelty-Beach-Mat/dp/B000PUHVXO/ref=pd_lpo_vtph_21_lp_t_2?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=MMSNA86FBQXK23WW699K

[cteno4]

Kiran,

 

what about plywood? Lumber yard or big box store will cut it down to the size you wish. Will let you move it or set it up on a table if you want. 1/2”should be fine and probably $30.

 

jeff

[Kiran]

I was going to graduate up to the plywood. Once I know the track layout and size I want, I was planning on getting a plywood board and stick the track. Then I can just stand it up against the wall or something when I am not using it. For now, I might get something more flexible so I can fold it away and also let me play around with track designs.

[bill937ca]

What you may be able to use is a cardboard pattern sewing cutting board.  My late Mother had several of these.  They are made of heavy cardboard, fold for storage and lay flat for measuring fabric and cutting.  Usually these would be placed on a large table, but you could use on the floor too. A common size is 36 x 60.

 

https://www.amazon.com/Cardboard-Pattern-Sewing-Cutting-Board-36/dp/B000G6DY2Y/ref=sr_1_3?s=arts-crafts&ie=UTF8&qid=1385431029&sr=1-3&keywords=cutting+boards+for+sewing

 

Google search  https://www.google.ca/search?q=Cardboard+Pattern+Sewing+Cutting+Board&safe=off&dcr=0&source=lnms&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjPvtWz9LfbAhWB64MKHfgWAuUQ_AUICSgA&biw=1353&bih=617&dpr=1

 

Here's an example in  a blog.   http://cspoonquilt.blogspot.com/2013/12/old-fashioned-cutting-boards.html

Edited June 3, 2018 by bill937ca

[cteno4]

Also maybe Masonite then for temp setups big box stores sell 2’x4’ 1/8” for like $5 each. Also some vinyl paneling at big box stores even cheaper in 4x8 sheets that lies flat but lightweight. You could have them whack it down into 2 or 3 pieces that make the rough size you want and store away easily. Might be a bit tougher and flatter than corrugated cardboard that wants to warp with any humidity when flat.

 

some art stores sell like 2’x6’ sheets of nice and flat corrugated cardboard, but sometimes not so cheap. As someone mentioned try your local electronics big box store as flat screen TVs usually have a big flat piece of heavy stuff in better shape than appliance boxes. I have a couple here in the garage I cut out of a big tv I got my mom as it was in such nice shape.

 

last idea is just a rollout bamboo floor mat. Pretty rigid.

 

https://smile.amazon.com/Sustainable-Simplicity-Bamboo-Natural-Border/dp/B00TEELZLG/ref=sr_1_30?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1528074910&sr=1-30&keywords=Bamboo+mat

 

jeff

[Kiran]

To give an update, I tried this beech / outdoor mat from Amazon. this is good size for my needs but it isn't rigid enough when I put it on the carpet. Couldn't flatten out the creases and it is also a bit slippery and so I can't keep the right amount of distance between my double track. I will have to try the sewing cutting board or go to a lumber yard. I will update the thread with my progress.

 

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B078N4SYP1/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[Kiran]

On a slightly different note, has anyone found a large enough folding table? I can't seem to find one that is wider than 30 inches. I am looking at something like this. I am also going to make a trip to Home Depot to see if I can get a plywood sheet.

 

https://www.amazon.com/Cosco-Products-Diamond-Capacity-Banquet/dp/B0741NQ23J/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1529725558&sr=8-5&keywords=folding+banquet+table

 

https://www.amazon.com/Cosco-Deluxe-Fold-Molded-Folding/dp/B074H6H74L/ref=pd_sim_196_3?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B074H6H74L&pd_rd_r=NC0X46QZPT71Q1EQ1YEZ&pd_rd_w=w3LeS&pd_rd_wg=CWfrH&psc=1&refRID=NC0X46QZPT71Q1EQ1YEZ

[cteno4]

Yeah generally they max out at 30” wide for folding ones. There are some banquet tables with folding legs that go out to 36” wide but they get bulky and heavy and expensive.

 

might think of a piece of 1/2” ply cut to the size you can use and then poop on top of a folding table or simpler a pair of folding saw horses.

 

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-23-in-Folding-Sawhorse-2-Pack-226863/206529136

 

problem with ply w.o doing some sort of frame is it will start to sag and warp and if inexpensive plywood it will start out that way.

 

a good alternative to plywood are hollow core doors. They are light and very flat and rigid. Use to be really inexpensive, not so much anymore but for the price not bad compared to ply and frame wood. They come up to 36” wide and usually 80” Long. If you want wider like 48” you can get two 24” doors and just put some hinges between them to hold them together and fold up to put away. You can do it w.o the hinges. You will probably need 4 saw horses if you go 48” wide.

 

https://www.homedepot.com/p/36-in-x-80-in-Unfinished-Flush-Hardwood-Interior-Door-Slab-5129/202036190

 

i use a hollow core door on two plastic saw horses for a project table in the shop all the time. Sets up in a minute and sores flat against the wall.

 

these little folding tables are great, but not cheap. You can line them up and with 4 make a 4x8 table. Also adjustable to 3 heights.

 

https://smile.amazon.com/Lifetime-4428-Adjustable-Folding-Utility/dp/B003YJPC2A/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1529820393&sr=8-5&keywords=folding+table+24+x+48

 

or a couple of these

 

https://smile.amazon.com/Giantex-Portable-Aluminum-Folding-Carrying/dp/B076H24V3C/ref=sr_1_6?s=lawn-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1529820510&sr=1-6&keywords=folding+table+8ft

 

what size are you thinking and what are your needs?

 

cheers

 

jeff

[toc36]

Kiran,

 

The folding molded plastic tables do not lay flat.  You will have a center ridge.  I had a couple, got rid of them.  Useful if you have to move them in a small car.

 

If this is the path you chose, this will be a better bet:

https://www.amazon.com/Flash-Furniture-Granite-Plastic-Folding/dp/B0072RQRRE/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&qid=1529822099&sr=8-11&keywords=folding+tables+6ft

 

You can store this table behind a door or under a bed (depends on the frame).

 

Toc