ikea lack The Next Console City (on Tables)

[Waisneed]

After the experience I got with my first layout on tables back in August, I bought some more of Ikeas Lack tables for my next thing.

 

This time, I wanna try a different approach, as I still need my GFs aproval for some of the tables I put in the livingroom (mostly because of manouverabilty and easy of access for the couch) and try to get some general ideas what I wan't and could do.

 

And in contrast to my FAST-Layout for Shinkansen I built last time, with a simple loop, I wan't to get point to point operations going with DCC.

 

Features I want:

 - Commuter layout for 10 car trains

 - 2 Stations (in the operation sense, with switches and parking spaces for 5, 10 and 11 car trains)

 - one or multiple stops for 10 car trains

 - single track extension of a line continuing of one station for at leas 5 car trains

 - may contain bridges

 - may contain viaduct stations

 

 

I already made a first draft of what could fit, and also have some photos of the tables setup.

Edited November 9, 2020 by Waisneed

[cteno4]

Now that’s living! That would get me fried in hot oil! 

 

Jeff

[Waisneed]

So, my GF just surveyd the livingroom and had some corrections I needed to make:

 

 - I shall remove two tables which hinder her access to the guineapigs.

 - I may remove the couch for more floor space.

 

I don't really wan't to remove the couch, yet. I'll want to talk to her in person first (Because of irregular work hours on my part).

 

But that'll open a lot of new possibilities... but first, a version without the two offending tables and couch still in place:

 

[Waisneed]

Update!

 

 

I thined the tables out for better accessibility (very important) and even layed the track down.

Everything except the small branchline / extension is operational.

 

 

And cablemanagement wasn't that bad either!

[Waisneed]

Finally built the extension!

 

 

 

The station got a little shorter, but for 5 car trains it's more than enough.

 

[sandiway]

The Ikea Lack tables gives me ideas for my 8m long temporary Shinkansen track. Getting the layout off my slate (slightly uneven, as is the nature of natural slate) floor would be nice. Except I want something much lower to the ground, less wide but longer. Ideally, around 1m long. Lack tables are cheap. Next time I'm at Ikea, I'm going to look very carefully. Thanks for sharing!

[Waisneed]

It's filling up, I mean, I call it Console City, don't I?

 

 

Currently contemplating, if I should add another siding for more train storage, but where....

[brill27mcb]

This for me is the best part of Unitrak or Fine Track. Just put together a layout, learn from it, and then change it, over and over again. Never a dull moment!

 

Rich K.

[Waisneed]

Some more Pictures! please have a look:

 

An overview of the front part of my layout:

 

I finally started to name my stations, mostly after the sound bites I use for them. This would be Nerima Station:

 

This one, I started to call Tokorozawa Station.

 

Just a trainshed, nothing to see here, only maintenance going on. (Also, please ignore the imported train)

 

A station where train make head? You shall be named Takadanobaba Station.

 

And here the final stop, it connects directly to the train shed. Kamishakuji had some nice ring(s) to it ^^;;

 

Also a look at the back of the layout, where the loop and incline is in Console City.

[Yavianice]

Märklin/Minitrix had the same idea, but on a smaller scale, to use IKEA LACK tables as a base for a model train layout. All in German however.

 

https://www.maerklin.de/fileadmin/media/journal/maerklin-magazin/05-2018/Fo.1_Kompakte_Tischbahn_mit_Minitrix_MM0518.pdf

https://www.maerklin.de/fileadmin/media/journal/maerklin-magazin/06-2018/Fo.2_Kompakte_Tischbahn_mit_Minitrix_MM0618.pdf

https://www.maerklin.de/fileadmin/media/journal/maerklin-magazin/06-2018/27_SpurN_MM6-18_Zusatz_Bohrlochmaße.pdf

https://www.maerklin.de/fileadmin/media/journal/maerklin-magazin/01-2019/Fo.3_Kompakte_Tischbahn_mit_Minitrix_MM0119.pdf

[Waisneed]

They really had the same idea ^^.

 

Sadly, only with boring loops. OK, in all fairness, I used over 20 tables to build my table layout.

 

Please have a look at my current setup:

 

[disturbman]

1 hour ago, Waisneed said:

Sadly, only with boring loops.

 

Not completely, they give more options if you look at the last file.

https://www.maerklin.de/fileadmin/media/journal/maerklin-magazin/01-2019/Fo.3_Kompakte_Tischbahn_mit_Minitrix_MM0119.pdf

[Waisneed]

They are still loops, sorry.

 

But here I present the (not acurate, because of flex) track plan.

 

[disturbman]

Ah, I see, I thought you meant "loops"  as in too short and unrealistic loops. 

[Waisneed]

New season, new plan:

What do you guys think of this monstrosity?

 

 

It features two lines with total of 6 stations for 10 car trains. I wanted do run trains in parallel on 4 track wide sections and a crossing free split of those two lines.

But I'm still open for suggestions. And If I should 'close the loop' with a single track connection.

Also still waiting for aproval by the government ^^.

[Kiha66]

I've seen permanent club layout smaller than that!  Looks like a fun point to point setup.

[Alejandro_SCL]

Amazing....

 

[gavino200]

9 hours ago, Waisneed said:

New season, new plan:

What do you guys think of this monstrosity?

 

 

 

It features two lines with total of 6 stations for 10 car trains. I wanted do run trains in parallel on 4 track wide sections and a crossing free split of those two lines.

But I'm still open for suggestions. And If I should 'close the loop' with a single track connection.

Also still waiting for aproval by the government ^^.

 

This looks amazing!! How big is it?

 

Mind if I ask you for a consult when I get round to designing my next layout. Your designs rock!

[Waisneed]

After I got aproval by the governing body: I assembled all the tables

 

 

10 hours ago, gavino200 said:

 

This looks amazing!! How big is it?

 

Mind if I ask you for a consult when I get round to designing my next layout. Your designs rock!

 

As it is comming together, it is big.

 

 

It'll be fun, but first I need to get it all to fit.

 

Thank you @gavino200 , you can certainly ask for help. 

[Yavianice]

Seems a bit hard to reach everything

[Waisneed]

20 minutes ago, Yavianice said:

Seems a bit hard to reach everything

 

I thought of that. I now removed the tables at the rear and can now walk around to better reach.

But some parts are still a little tricky to get to.

But not a big issue for a temporary layout (about 4 weeks)

[Waisneed]

It is alive!

 

My trusty Seibu 40000 on a test run. Seems working so far.

 

 

Getting some E231 friends helping.

 

 

 

Seems save enough. Even my Azusa E353 wants to join in!

 

 

As all my trains are happy, let the consoles join in. Please have a look:

 

 

 

Tomorrow, I'll add the platforms for passengers. It'll be fun!

[cteno4]

I think you need to get IKEA to sponsor these layouts! Great advertising for their tables!

 

maybe set one up in the store.

 

jeff

[IST]

Wow, what a great home layout! I like the design, especially the consoles as buildings. 🙂 I am pretty sure you will enjoy the next 4 weeks.

[Waisneed]

Sponsoring would be great, May I should ask them? ^^

 

And I'm having lot's of fun. Also installed some loudspeakers for platform announcements. It's great!

 

Seibu 40000 just arrived next to a Series 209.

 

 

5000 Tokyu next to my new E231 and the 8 car 209.

 

 

I just liked the look of this, I just had to share it with you all:

 

 

Installed some scale buildings next to my sky scraping consoles and computers.

 

 

And some fresh nutrition for little Gojira-san.