This is a question for all you kind folk who take their layouts around the country to exhibitions.

Having just purchased a nice pre-built layout, I'm facing the issue of moving it from North Wales to South London. It doesn't have any kind of special carrying crate or anything, just the two 2ft by 4 ft baseboards

I have use of a van hopefully, but I thought I'd ask - any hints or tips on transporting layouts to avoid any unneccesary damage? Is it better to strap them down tightly or put them on something soft to avoid the inevitable bumps? Should I wrap everything in bubble wrap or is that likely to cause damage to finer details like lampposts and signals etc?

Any useful ideas would be appreciated, 

How about using some battons screwed to the framework and creating a box like structure with the scenic sides face to face then when strapped down in the back of the van all the delicate stuff would be protected.

Similar to what we have done with the E Dorset area group layout, except we've used thick ply which bolts onto the layout using  captive nuts mounted on the boards. There are casters on the ply at one end of each pair so we can wheel them across a hall floor so only need to carry over tarmac or some paved surfaces.

All sounds good. Problem I have is that I'll be picking up the layout from someone's home as is and then having to transport it straight away, without time to build or add bits to it.

If any form of covering would have to be resting directly into the scenery, you are probably better off without it unless you are carrying for any distance in the open and it's raining!

If it has to be transported without any form of covering/protection than keep the boards flat (right way up) and as far as possible pack between the boards and sides of the vehicle to stop them moving about. Pieces of polystyrene packaging are ideal for filling larger spaces, but rolled up towels/blankets are also effective.

As an aside, a car (especially an estate car or people carrier) is generally a better option than a van for carrying a small/medium sized layout... Vans usually have suspension tunes to carrying heavy loads and can get rather bouncy when unloaded or with a lightweight cargo such as a layout.

I've been looking at large flight cases - the sort used by rock bands to transport equipment.  You can pick them up quite cheap second hand on Ebay - search "large flight case". Probably not especially useful if you only plan to move the layout once, but for exhibition layouts they might be just the thing.

Collected a layout myself yesterday, two five foot long boards but both quite narrow.  The collection point was a motorway services so there was no time to construct a frame or other carrying structure.

I put the boards together with the highest sides outermost, like this

     |              |
x  |___||___|   x

and secured them lightly across the top using straps and ratchets.  The x on the diagram above are the anchor points on the floor of the car.

OK so I was using a Vauxhall Meriva rather than a van but if I were transporting something larger I'd still try to strap it down in some shape or form.

Nigel

If you have some large sash or G clamps I would clamp these to the underside of the frame, put the whole lot on something soft and then tie the clamps with straps to the tie-down points in the van.  That way it will be secure and you don't need to put anything on top of the scenery.
Make sure that there isn't anything else in the van that will roll around and bump into the layout.

I agree with the earlier poster though.  2 of 2x4 panels sounds like a job for a car with the seats down.  That way you will be able to check if it's ok easily.

Quote from: Rabs on June 05, 2016, 11:33:57 AM

I agree with the earlier poster though.  2 of 2x4 panels sounds like a job for a car with the seats down.  That way you will be able to check if it's ok easily.

Forgive me for stating the obvious but if it gets transported in a car make sure it's covered up from prying eyes!

Quote from: newportnobby on June 05, 2016, 02:18:00 PMForgive me for stating the obvious but if it gets transported in a car make sure it's covered up from prying eyes!

A Vauxhall Combo van, or similar, would get around that problem.  Something with an extra side door would help with loading / unloading.

My solution for two boards that size would be to carry them face-to-face.  Make a pair of end boards that will bolt through onto them to hold them apart, keeping a couple of inches separation between the highest points. 

The easiest way to fix them is to put one board on its front while you attach one end board- that may need two people if the layout board doesn't naturally stand on its front.  After that the L-shape will hold it in place while you attach the other end.  Then add the other baseboard.

If you screw a decent pair of carrying handles to each end board the layout then becomes very manageable.

I may have missed mention of legs.  If the legs of the layout are attached to the boards and drop down you will need to make some method of preventing them dropping while in transit....

I use this method on Hawthorn Dene, with a pair of legged boards 5 feet by 2 foot 9 - the result is heavy but goes into a Citroen Grand Picasso together with all the bits, stock, and two people with overnight kit.

If you are at the GCR show in a couple of weeks time have a chat and I'll be glad to show you Hawthorn Dene's end boards.

Les

Les, see  replies #1, #2 and #3 above, end boards have already been suggested,  but as he's collecting the boards, will not be able to make end boards prior to transporting.

My solution would be to find somebody with a 2CV van..  (but then I am a 2CV nut  )   Or one of the pneu/hydro suspended Citroens; put the layout on a blanket and no problems! and drive with care ofcourse...
Gerard 

And when was the last time you drove on our poxy pot-holed surfaces jokingly called roads, Gerard?
I have no idea what route is intended to be used between North Wales and London but, rest assured, some decent packing is going to be required. Even a 2CV will find things a struggle.

Hi Mick,
I must admit the last time was 2011, but we are talking about a transportable layout are we?
It must have gotten to the exibition Somehow 
And, 2CVs were famously designed to transport a basket of eggs across a plowed field... 
Gerard