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How to Put a Train Track on a Table With an Uneven Surface

An electric train chugs along, around the bend, past the miniature pine tree, and then comes to the point where the table under the track is uneven. Does the train make it? Or does it tip over in a dismaying crash, derailed? You can help the train stay on the tracks, even on a table that has an uneven surface. Try one easy thing to fix the problem, and if it doesn't work, try another.

Things You'll Need

Table
Quilt batting or blanket
Train track
Train
Air-dry or bake-to-dry clay
Paper
The following items may not be needed; try the first section prior to gathering them:
Protective eyewear
4- by 8-foot sheet of 3/4-inch thick plywood, any grade
Tape measure
Pencil
Straightedge
Table or circular saw
Sander
Sandpaper
Two 4-foot pieces of molding or trim
Two 8-foot pieces of the same molding or trim
Miter box and saw OR compound miter saw
Brad nailer and brads OR hammer and finishing nails

Instructions

Work with Existing Surface.
- 1
  
  Blanket or quilt batting provides cushioning.
  
  Spread the quilt batting or a blanket over the tabletop to provide some cushioning.
- 2
  Assemble the train track, taking note of the part of the table where the surface is uneven.
- 3
  
  Cushioning helps trains run on uneven surface.
  
  Place the train on the tracks and run the train to see if the padding solves the problem. The blanket will provide some cushioning, and if the height difference between one part of the table and the other part is small, the train will travel over the ridge without derailing. If that doesn't work, remove the blanket
- 4
  
  Strips of bake-to-dry clay can be used to even out a surface.
  
  Place a sheet of paper on the table in an area that has an uneven surface. Place air-dry or bake-to-dry clay on the paper. Press the clay out to make a smooth transition between the lower and higher areas of the table. Carefully move the paper and clay to the oven to dry according to the directions on the package. Repeat to make a clay bridge for every area that is uneven.
- 5
  Put the clay bridges in place on the table, set up the train track and run the train to see if that helps. If it doesn't work, complete the steps in the next section to create a level surface for the train.
Create a Level Surface for a Model Train
- 6
  
  Tables may have an uneven surface.
  
  Measure the length and width of the table. If you want to have an overhang, add up to six inches to each measurement.
- 7
  
  Plywood can be used for a train table.
  
  Put on protective eyewear. Mark the dimensions on the plywood sheet, and cut it with the table saw or circular saw. Sand the edges to get rid of any large splinters, but you don't need to spend a lot of time sanding it in this step unless you want to paint the plywood. If you do want to paint the plywood, sand it smooth and paint it now.
- 8
  
  Use half-round trim molding like that in this frame.
  
  Miter the corners of the trim molding if the ends are not already cut at a 45-degree angle. Even if they are pre-mitered, they may need to be cut shorter to fit the piece of plywood. Use the miter box with a handsaw, or a compound miter saw. Measure the correct length, then place the piece of trim in the miter box or on the compound miter saw. Set the blade at a 45-degree angle, and cut the pieces of trim, in succession, one after the other. Sand the cut edges.
- 9
  
  Finishing nails secure the trim for a train table.
  
  Use the brad nailer or hammer and finishing nails to attach the wood trim to the edges of the plywood. Hold the trim flush (even) with the top surface of the plywood, and shoot brads through the trim and into the plywood. Place brads every six inches for the best results.
- 10
  Sand the plywood and the trim to remove any splinters and to ensure a smooth joint where the plywood and the trim meet. If you painted the plywood, skip this step, but apply extra brads if there are any gaps between the plywood and the trim.
- 11
  
  Put a train track on a table with an uneven surface; it's steady now.
  
  Place the plywood train table on top of the table and center it for stability. Assemble the track and run the train.

Model Railroads