Lightweight, indestructible shelf layout ideas?

[CodyO]

Normally I would recommend plywood for your benchwork.

But I think with the travel requirements and customs foam would probably be your safest bet.

[OldEastRR]

Wow Gator is expensive! I'm guessing using several laminated 3/16" think boards in a staggered pattern would be much stronger than using just the 2" thick version. What type of glue should I use?

Here is a quick sketch of the basic layout. Nothing crazy. Just a dilapidated branch serving a few industries. The house by the brook is actually my focus. Disused, tarpaper siding, beautifully depressing.

I could swear I've seen that track plan somewhere else.

[DKS]

Wow Gator is expensive! I'm guessing using several laminated 3/16" think boards in a staggered pattern would be much stronger than using just the 2" thick version. What type of glue should I use?

I use two 1/2-inch layers for most of my micro-layouts, which is adequately rigid for layouts up to 2 x 4 feet or so. You may want to go with three layers for added durability. I laminate them with heavy-duty permanent 3M spray adhesive, and I've not had one delaminate yet. Alternatively you can use contact cement.

Note that Gatorfoam is not the easiest stuff to cut. There are a couple of outfits online that will custom-cut the sheets for you, and the cost is quite nominal. The savings in effort is well worth it.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

As drawn, your turnouts are WAY too tight. Just be warned.

I'm assuming this will be Atlas 55?

[DKS]

As drawn, your turnouts are WAY too tight. Just be warned.

I'm assuming this will be Atlas 55?

Give me a few "DKS" minutes...

I'll have a plan online later today.

[DKS]

Best as I could figure based on the sketch (and as fast as my fingers could click), it's about 1 x 7 feet. Here's a scale plan using Atlas Code 55 with #5 switches.

[Lemosteam]

@daniel_leavitt2000 ,

Luggage rules would allow this as checked luggage (62" is max for any dimension): https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0743HH1JJ/ref=sspa_dk_detail_3?pd_rd_i=B01BI714YE&pd_rd_w=bZFBC&pf_rd_p=21517efd-b385-405b-a405-9a37af61b5b4&pd_rd_wg=xmjpE&pf_rd_r=NDY3426010FMKTXTW4M4&pd_rd_r=6a72d0d6-f966-11e8-a1fd-6faf0e41009e&th=1

Re-foam the inside of the guitar case to fit below parts:

Frame: 3X 1.5" x 32" long aluminum angle with 1.5" wide x 1/8" thick strip aluminum on bottom ends welded to side angles. 

Substrate:  3X 1" foam board glued to the three aluminum frames   

Assembly: Door hinges with removable hinge pins for alignment and disassembly/reassembly between the three pieces

Should be room for shelf brackets on first trip and may be room next to that for structures, etc.

1.5" height allows stacking without damaging track at roughly 5" inside dimeson of the case after the original foam is removed.

Just another idea.
 

[daniel_leavitt2000]

Best as I could figure based on the sketch (and as fast as my fingers could click), it's about 1 x 7 feet. Here's a scale plan using Atlas Code 55 with #5 switches.

My drawing is not to scale. It would be at least 8 feet long. If I can get to 12 feet I think I could use #7 switches.

Power would be 4-4-0, 0-6-0 4-6-0 and 2-6-0 for the most part. A 2-8-0 or 4-6-2 may pop up just for fun. Passenger trains would be at most a doodlebug or two open platform 50-60' coaches.

This will be my take on Franklin and South Manchester. But a little more bleak and a lot less "busy". It will be an art layout that happens to do switching.

[Peavine]

You don’t have to worry about the inflight temperatures being that low. Cargo compartments are only a few degrees cooler than the cabin temperature on commercial aircraft.