I finished a project yesterday for a customer. I can't tell you right now I know much about these, but he is going to send me a picture when he gets them setup that might help. 

As I understand they are used to setup model train displays. A piece of foam is placed inside the frame and then the display is built on top but the section are made so they can be separated to move the display. Plans were for 4' sections but he was wanting 2' sections.

 

So I made the modification and built two boxes out of poplar for his display.

 

The boxes or displays had to be built so they could come apart but had to line up each time you put them together. I made a trip to Lowe's and got some 1/2" aluminum bar and found some 1/2'x5/8"x1" washers as they were called. I setup on the drill press to drill the holes in the same spot on each board using a 5/8" bit on one end and a 1/2" bit on the other end. I used epoxy to glue the pieces in place.

 

 

The frame is made of 1" poplar and the corners are put together with pocket screws. Latches are added on the outside to hold the sections in place so they don't move while the display is setup. The pins and bushings were tight enough I don't think the latches were needed but they were on the plans so I put them on.

 

 

I took a piece of the poplar and planed it down to 1/2" and made the corner feet that also hold the foam in place so it doesn't fall out when picked up.

 

He was quite happy when he came by yesterday afternoon to pick them up. As I said earlier, I will post a picture showing them in used when he gets his display setup. He is doing a model train show in a couple of weeks and needed them.

 

This was a fun project to work on

 

 

Those are neat!

 

Most of the "layouts" I've seen involve huge platforms that cannot be moved.

12 hours ago, lew said:

Those are neat!

 

Most of the "layouts" I've seen involve huge platforms that cannot be moved.

 

Thanks Lew, I looking forward to seeing how he sets them up.

These are the cool projects John, you get to cut a few pieces of wood, let your hair down, and back to basics. No dovetails to worry about, no complicated glue ups like your used too. Just good ol fashioned woodworking fun, like you said, a fun project!

I am really curious as well how the trains are displayed, I am trying to envision how and why? Thanks for sharing John!

10 hours ago, John Morris said:

These are the cool projects John, you get to cut a few pieces of wood, let your hair down, and back to basics. No dovetails to worry about, no complicated glue ups like your used too. Just good ol fashioned woodworking fun, like you said, a fun project!

I am really curious as well how the trains are displayed, I am trying to envision how and why? Thanks for sharing John!

 

Me too John. I am looking forward to him sending me a picture so I can see how it all goes together.

 

But it was fun and pretty easy to do.