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How to Suspend a Track from the Ceiling In Candy Store
Simon has an unusual question for readers:
“Hi all, I have never had a train set in my life and this is what I want to do. I have a sweet shop in Sutton on sea and the room is around 5 meters sq but I want to suspend the track from the ceiling so that you can see from under the track as well. I would like to use O gauge for the size of train. How can I suspend the track so it looks like it’s floating. What track do I use? How many are there? Where do I get it from? I really have know idea where to start if any one is local to me pop in and I sort you a free bag of sweets (candy). lol.”
4 Responses to How to Suspend a Track from the Ceiling In Candy Store
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I think you should make the track base from Clear acrylic sheet of at least 6mm thick and glue the track to that then suspend that with the track on wooden pieces from the ceiling but make sure you have enough width so not to catch the over hang from passenger carriages and wagons as they go round the corners.
This should be fun.
Firstly what brand of track. I would suggest G gauge because it is BIG, but it is also cheap if you buy the Chinese toy sets manufactured by Eztec (www.eztec.com), and sold in large chain stores over Xmas. If you leave it to Boxing Day they are even cheaper.. The locos are OK, but not high quality models. As they will not be seen close up their effect would be just as great. They are battery operated, and some have remote on/off control so that once suspended from the ceiling you wouldn’t have to take them down except to charge or replace batteries. Each comes with an oval of track about 20 feet in all, and 3 pieces of American narrow gauge style rolling stock. Locos also come in Steam and Diesel outline.
How to suspend the track. As it is plastic I would glue it to clear acrylic about 3mm – 5mm thick, cut to the outline of the track but 2.5mm wider than the widest piece of equipment, and suspend it from rods poked through the ceiling. I’d put the rods about 450mm apart. Talk to your local ceiling fixer about hardware options. Here in Aus there are a number of suspended ceiling systems that could be adopted so I guess they’s be available in Britain.
I have suggested going down this path rather than LGB or Atlas G gauge because I don’t think a $900 loco and accompanying rolling stock is going to suit this particular application.
Good luck
Due to the weight of the track and trains, I agree with the idea of perspex or glass shelving for a relatively invisible support system.
David’s idea of G scale is good for visibility, but bigger also means (much) heavier !
Peco now makes O scale settrack:
http://www.peco-uk.com/prodtype.asp?strParents=3309,3316&CAT_ID=3321&numRecordPosition=1
I suggest finding a local model railway club or going to exhibitions to see what’s available:
http://www.ukmodelshops.co.uk/other/clubsheader.php
http://www.ukmodelshops.co.uk/events/exhibitions
Hi, guys a big hello from Suspended Ceilings QLD here in Brisbane, Australia. I stumbled across this whilst looking for something else. I have over 20 years of experience in installing Suspended Ceilings and decided I might have a read. I realise that every country has different systems, rules and regulations when it comes to ceilings. I’m a big believer in safe building practices. I feel it’s important when you suspend anything off a ceiling, that you ensure it is capable of bearing the additional weight. Some systems might be fine as they are, but some may require additional bracing. Just my thoughts for you guys. Take care.