I am a real novice as my father, who has passed away, built the original 4X8' table top.  I am now enlarging to 6X10' a new table top (new plywood) for my son who is handicapped.  His old layout had green felt over plywood as a table top. I can't locate felt and someone suggested I use an awning fabric or paint the plywood.  Any suggestions?

This will be a simple layout no hills.

Thanks for any suggestions.

Eva

I am new to the hobby and am actually getting involved due to my son who turns 5 this December.  He is wanting his first train set and I am trying to decide on a scale.  I have limited room and am going to have to build a set that can be pushed under his full size bed when not in use.  The biggest problem I am having is finding a RR crossing with arms and lights that works.  In my sons eyes, at least at this point, is if it doesn't have a working RR crossing it is not a train set.   I need this forums expertise on getting going on this project.&nb

I've seen many turntables on layouts where there wasn't enough space in a given area to include a section of track off the turntable so they put in a small piece, say 3-6" long. I think the thought is if you've got a 6" piece of track you could stick a caboose on it or something.

Is there any basis in real railroading for this or just is it just "I can fit another piece of track in"?

Hey guys I'm pretty much new I've ben buying trains for a very long time but I'm just now doing my first layout...... and I'm building an around the room layout. Nothing major just a double main around the room. The back track however is elevated, well I didn't think of it at the time I wasn't thinking of doing scenery so I didn't make My shelf wide enough for what I wanted so my shelf is only 5 inches wide. So from the back track to the first which is the outside is almost straight down.