Good coffee table for N scale model railroad layout

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B

BMR777

Member
Hello All,

I'm on a search to find a coffee table that I can build a small N scale model railroad layout inside of. What I am looking for should have a glass top with either a lift top or a drawer that is visible through the glass. I plan to build the layout inside of the table and place it in the storage compartment, but I am having trouble finding a suitable table.

I found a square table from IKEA that looks nice and would work, but I'm looking for something rectangular instead so it will fit in my apartment living room better.

Anyone here built such a layout or know of a suitable table? I would really appreciate any help. :)
 
Model Railroad magazine in the early 1970's, had an article on building a N scale layout in a coffee table.

I don't remember the exact date, but a search in MR's magazine database here;

http://trc.trains.com/magazineindex

should give you the magazine date, and how to possibly get copies of it. It ran over several months. The article was titled, "The East Glasstop". IIRC
 
Your best bet might be to get in touch with a local woodworker. Check to see if there are any woodworking supply stores in your area and they could help you out. Many hobbyists would be willing to do something for you for a reasonable price. After all, they get to do what they enjoy and make a little money at it as well. One thing though, don't expect to get something nice built dirt cheap. I also do woodworking and the price for wood is through the roof. You think model railroading is expensive? Check out the prices for tools, hardware and wood!!!:eek::eek::eek:
 


Keep visiting all of the thrift shops in your area.
One should turn up that will work and at a good price.
 
We just ended up building our own. Using the proper plugs in screw holes and a good finished wood top, it looks good. Ours doesn't have a glass top, but perhaps you could get glass custom cut?
 
waltr said:
Keep visiting all of the thrift shops in your area.
One should turn up that will work and at a good price.
Click to expand...

Good advise. I've been to a few Goodwill stores and a Savers and nothing yet, but I'll have to keep checking I guess.

Otherwise I might go the woodworking route if I can find someone in my area. I don't think I'm the type to build something like this myself. :)
 
LoudMusic, you've been a big help! The second coffee table link you posted is actually for the table I found already, which is too big for my area, but works well from videos I have seen on Youtube of other people's layouts made with this table.

The first table and the forum thread you linked to though are very helpful. It stood out to me that in the forum thread they said they would be adding plexiglass using magnets, which is not something I considered. Now that may free me up from having to find a table with a lift top or drawer to finding one just with a shelf or something and then maybe I can encase it with plexiglass using magnets, so I still have a way to get to the layout for derailments, etc.

Thanks!
 


I think I would want a deeper area for the layout, so that it doesn't have to be a flat scene. I'm hesitant to start designing and building my own table because I think the costs would get out of hand.
 
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