I'm about to strike out with my first layout after a childhood of helping build my dad's American N-gauge empire.
To start things off I'm buying some Kato Unitrack for a simple track plan that I can get on the dining room table with the permission of SWMBO when we're not using it. That'll do for now and I have trains to run on loan from my dad. In the long term I need a proper set-up and have a distinct lack of space for anything orthodox. I've read a great deal of alternate space-saving suggestions on this group (thanks everyone!) that got me thinging outside the box. Then I sat looking at the bookshelves in my dining room......
I've got 2 walls filled with bookshelves from IKEA. The individual shelves are 30" x 10" and look to be made out of MDF(?) with laminate tops. Idea number 1 was wouldn't it be great to take up one shelf all the way round the units (2x2 bookshelf units at 90 degrees to each other joined by a corner unit, all screwed flush against each other) - cut a hole through the walls of each unit and have in effect a series of 30" long scenes in which I could construct a terminus to fiddle yard operation (North West England in early 90s maybe - 37s on stock!!). Idea 2 was to have modules built on shelves which I would assemble together on my dining room table when in use.
Has anyone attempted/heard of anything similar? I suppose my two burning questions are how suitable are bookshelves for modular baseboard use and how simple is it creating a modular layout which breaks down into 3 or 4 pieces? I think the modular idea is probably the most viable as the drill through option might not make me too popular.......
Cheers Ian