N Scale Micro Layout inside a Table(side table)

I built an end table with a rising table top that reveals and holds a N scale micro train layout inside. The layout is powered by a 6 volt rechargeable battery. The table works using a weighted pulley system. The layout inside rotates so all 360 degrees can be seen. When the train is not in use the table top can be lowered and the table looks like just a fine piece of furniture.
#modeltrains
#microlayout
#closeencounters

[@peytonmac1131]

I just imagine some day in the future, someone finding an old coffee table being sold at a garage sale or a pawn shop. They get it home, and notice a button hidden away that when they press it, up pops this little railway. What an awesome little surprise that would be.

[@PeterWaldraff]

That would be cool😀, Thanks for watching!

[@crazymage9636]

Train pops up, "I HATE TRAINS!!!! MY DAD WAS EATEN BY TRAIN!!!!", *grabs crowbar and smashes model to smithereens.

[@PeterWaldraff]

Lol

[@billschannel1116]

Here's a very interesting idea... imagine if you built it so that the track and scenery rotated like a phonograph. Then you can have it so that the train is always in front of you with scenery changing as if you were riding on the train. That would be very unique. What you made blows me away. I'd love a setup like that.

[@PeterWaldraff]

I did try to do exactly what you described but the mechanism (made from Lego) was not smooth but juddery so I scraped the idea. I appreciate the feedback, thanks for watching!!🙂

[@billschannel1116]

​@PeterWaldraff I'll keep an eye out for engine ideas for rotation. It would be cool to do a full size Christmas tree on a rotating platform with a train matching the speed. Then when Christmas was over replacing it with train scenery like you have. I plan on showing your video to everyone. And that close encounters theme was a grand slam.

[@PeterWaldraff]

Thanks!!

[@user-sx2gj9tp3b]

Too cool!!! Close Encounters of the 3rd kind is my wife's all time favorite movie. If she sees this, I am in big trouble. You have amazing creativity and ingenuity. Congrtulations. Thanks for sharing.

[@PeterWaldraff]

Your welcome. Thank you very much!! I appreciate that!

[@Bl4ckw0lf1]

Absolutely great. I didn't know that it was connected to Richard Dreyfus playing with mashed potatoes at all until I saw that truck.

[@PeterWaldraff]

Ha, yes! Thanks Pat, appreciated!

[@Bl4ckw0lf1]

@@PeterWaldraff now we just need to wait for people to ask why we're talking about "JAWS".

[@PeterWaldraff]

Lol

[@Bl4ckw0lf1]

Although, have you heard about luminous paint jobs that can be electrified?

[@justasimplecadjockey687]

NIce touch with the Close Encounters theme....now you just need a half sunburned Richard Dreyfus :)

[@PeterWaldraff]

Lol, true! Thanks for watching!

[@kdrapertrucker]

A little tribute to close encounters of the third kind. I like it.

[@PeterWaldraff]

Thanks man!

[@neon72]

Great final surprise reveal. Fantastic.

[@PeterWaldraff]

Thank you! I appreciate.

[@RynardMooreVstar1]

Nice! And I love the reference to "Close Encounters of the Third Kind."👽

[@PeterWaldraff]

Thanks, it was fun to build!

[@kosskrit]

Gorgeous! I love the forced perspective

[@PeterWaldraff]

Thanks, appreciate!!

[@FlyingDaddy721]

"And that's about it"... No sir, that's about awesome. The theme is perfect. Anyone that appreciates this film to this level is automatically cool in my book.

[@PeterWaldraff]

😁Thanks dude!! Much appreciated !

[@vitale6633]

Very Creative and Nicely Done !!!

[@PeterWaldraff]

Thank you!

[@TheyMakeItLikeThat]

Looks incredible! Nobody can say they don’t have room for trains!

[@G-ra-ha-m]

You can bend OO & HOm into 18", even 15" at a push! :)

[@PeterWaldraff]

Exactly!!

[@NiallEveritt]

I was a bit confused then when you said the theme I literally slapped my forehead. You're a genius and this is a masterpiece! All that talent and skill rolled into one beautiful piece of furniture that you can enjoy forever! 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏 Bravo.

[@PeterWaldraff]

Appreciate this, thank you so much!! 🙏

[@jakubszymanski1623]

Nice references to the close encounters of the third kind.

[@PeterWaldraff]

Thanks!

[@normanrowe2831]

Magnificent. One of my favorite Sci Fi movies.

[@PeterWaldraff]

Thank you, I appreciate that!!

[@randolphwhitely6552]

Phenomenal. So many details. Make a living at it.

[@PeterWaldraff]

Thank you!! No I don’t make a living at it, I wish I did. 🙏

[@PRbcn]

Great job! Congratulations. Thanks for sharing

[@PeterWaldraff]

Your welcome!! 🙏 Thank you!

[@paulcmillerfilms]

WELL DONE! Love your theme! Excellently portrayed! I love the cow being lifted into the air! Seriously well done!

[@PeterWaldraff]

🙏 Thank you, much appreciated!!

[@buzzofftoxicblog791]

AMAZING BRILLIANT SO MUCH THOUGHT AND ENGINEERING THANK YOU FOR SHARING GIVEN ME LOTS OF IDEAS WILL SHARE NOW👏😊💚🌍👍

[@PeterWaldraff]

Your welcome, thank you for watching!!

[@davebaker9128]

My father has been building a Marklin micro train set up in a coffee table for years, it has some unique features, such as a trestle going straight into a rock face of a cliff, trolleys with a catenary power, I hope he finishes it, it's a work of art,

[@JESUSCHRYSLER5512]

**YOU CAN FINISH IT!!**

[@davebaker9128]

@@JESUSCHRYSLER5512 I can't finish it for them, I don't have much opportunity or time left due to things that have happened that have seriously compromised the lifespan I have remaining, my dad probably will get it dialed in soon if he hasn't already, I haven't spoken with him at length in quite awhile, and it's not likely to occur, It's not like there's any issues or the like, I just don't have the resources to get to where they live, I am okay with that and so are they

[@JESUSCHRYSLER5512]

@@davebaker9128 *WHERE THERE IS A WILL, THERE IS A WAY!!* AUTHOR UNKNOWN.

[@PeterWaldraff]

Hope he can finish, would like to see.

[@ytzpilot]

I spotted the Close Encounters theme just before you said it, that’s awesome 😎

[@PeterWaldraff]

Thank you, I appreciate you watching!

[@NickNishikiyama]

My boy just loves trains and doesn’t want to be embarrassed

[@PeterWaldraff]

Thanks for watching!!

[@charlesmcclure5994]

Very creative and great planning on making everything work 👍👍

[@PeterWaldraff]

Thanks!! Took awhile to figure it out, but am very happy how it turned out.

[@StevesTrains]

Tremendous work! This turned out fantastic!

[@PeterWaldraff]

Thanks Steve!! That means a lot, appreciate that!

[@steffennijhuis4143]

jacco nouwen (28-12-1968)

[@mut311]

Damn, this is the best idea for a small layout i have ever seen. You are a genius!

[@PeterWaldraff]

Wow, Thanks!!! Very much appreciate that.🙂

[@marks7502]

the dog always photobombs

[@PeterWaldraff]

Ha, yes he does.

[@1951razz]

Very ingenious. I put one of these in an existing large coffee table. Mine has four glass panes so you can always see the train, and tiny town with light up buildings. I installed led lights around the interior that change colors. My friend built a box underneath, I made look victorian with fabric and tassels to go with our antique furniture. The negative on these little trains is it’s hard to keep them on the track. I use an extension cord so that it all operates with the flick of a switch. It always brings a smile.

[@PeterWaldraff]

Thanks, yours sounds cool!

[@patrickgaughan7995]

Peter that is one heck of an awesome layout form your imagination to reality. To get the concept of the movie into the layout is really awesome, please make a video when it is night to see the full effect of the awesomeness of the layout. Your a really great wood craftsmen also to cut and to make all of it into a awesome table that fits in to your decor of the living room. Also how you created the table to move up and down like it is does is a great concept also, it fits in the room like it was meant to be there all the years of your Family there. Thank you for shareing this with all of us and great continued success in building more N scale layouts. Also you might want to think about building for people who would want one in there home also. Thank you very much.

[@PeterWaldraff]

Wow! Thank you very much Patrick! You made my day with this. I really appreciate the feedback. I built the table more than a year ago and then hit a wall. I didn’t like any of the ideas I came up with. I eventually came to the conclusion that simple would be best after trying too complicated of layouts. I always liked the railroad crossing scene from close encounters and just recently realized it might work well with this concept. My biggest concern with the table was the backdrop created by the mechanism to raise and lower the table top. So this year I decided to watch the movie again and realized that devils tower was what I was missing and would make a good back drop and complete my concept. Never thought I would receive so many positive complements. I will make a video at night and post, as for the selling, I’m not sure about that, it takes me a long time to build one and I feel like no one would pay for what I would want. Maybe in a future project I will build multiple pieces from the out set and sell one on eBay to see what I could get🙂. I will probably end of selling something someday as I am running out of room in my house.😄 Thanks again!!

[@1983thunderbird]

Excellent job , so very cool!!

[@PeterWaldraff]

Appreciate that, thanks for watching!

[@hd-xc2lz]

New girlfriend's first visit to other-level model railroad enthusiast's apartment: "I LOVE your place, Bob. Nothing like I imagined..." "Oh yeah?" "Yes, Shirley warned me that you were a model train nerd, said I'd be tripping over track covering the floor." "Dear old Shirley." "Gorgeous furniture, where did you buy it?" "Actually, I made it myself..." (Her heart melts at the thought)

[@PeterWaldraff]

LOL, that’s great, love this. Maybe changing the stereotype of Model railroading 😁. PS, does Bob get a 2nd date? 😂 Thanks!

[@jamesl1130]

Love that it is themed to the movie

[@PeterWaldraff]

🙏 Thank you!

[@rogerlollar4325]

This is a great toy train layout of America

[@PeterWaldraff]

Thanks!

[@pretzelhunt]

How about a shot on the community page of it in the natural nighttime? So clever with the action, and rotation and film tie-ins. Love that stuff.

[@PeterWaldraff]

You are the third person in the last day to ask for that. I will shoot it at night, Good idea!Also would to love to add the spot light affect. Thanks for the feed back.

[@carstenkappey2256]

Was für eine tolle Arbeit. Die Idee ist phänomenal und super umgesetzt. Ein einmaliges Teil, was sonst niemand hat. Einfach großartig 👏 👏👏👍😍

[@PeterWaldraff]

Thank you(Danke)!!!

[@plixplop]

Wait... that looks like a flying saucer - OH lol... great work!

[@PeterWaldraff]

Thanks!!😀

[@david_karner]

Fantastic CE3K!

[@PeterWaldraff]

Thanks!!

[@fixbuildplay5249]

Better dang sweet Peter!! Cant wait to see whats next! Im with you!👌🏼👍🏼

[@PeterWaldraff]

Thanks!! I am in the process of building my next project now. Hope to make this one a series. First video should be out in 2-4 weeks.🙂

[@tjrbrownell]

WOW JUST WOW GREAT WORK...love the detail.

[@PeterWaldraff]

Thanks!!! I would actually like to add one more thing, the spot light affect.

[@richardtovar127]

Amazing! that was my favorite move and that was my favorite sceen in the movie. Great Job!!

[@PeterWaldraff]

Thanks you, appreciate that!

[@handlaidtracksand3dprinted922]

Very well done! Packed so much into a small space! Could even make a custom turnout and add a spur.

[@PeterWaldraff]

Thanks! I thought of a turnout but then just decided to keep simple. Wanted to concentrate on the crossing and the theme instead, but yes more could be done.🙂

[@TipsyMountainMakers]

WOW!!! Absolutely phenomenal! Thanks for sharing all your steps. I'm blown away!

[@PeterWaldraff]

Your welcome, thank you for watching!!

[@filmedwithiphone4]

Very cool! Should add a motor to that turn table so the scenery moves but the train does not 🤓🤟

[@PeterWaldraff]

That was my original intention but it did not work out as planned. Maybe I will come up with a different method some day. Thanks for watching!! I appreciate the feedback.🙂 Pete

[@christinemerritt974]

Gorgeous!!

[@PeterWaldraff]

Thank you!!

[@SteveH-TN]

Thanks for sharing your design and ideas. Very nice job , interesting !

[@PeterWaldraff]

Thanks!!

[@digimikek]

Magical!!! What an imagination. Fun!

[@PeterWaldraff]

Appreciate that, thank you!!

[@MicrobyteAlan]

Well done, nice project. Thanks from Orlando Florida 👋

[@PeterWaldraff]

Thanks microbyte!! Will be in Orlando many times this year. 🙂

[@CraftyFoxe]

Wonderfully executed! It looks very well put together

[@PeterWaldraff]

Appreciated! Thanks for watching.

[@richardellis69]

Great work!!!

[@PeterWaldraff]

Thank you!!

[@I_Am_Lt_Surge]

So neat! I remember doing a z scale micro layout at the diner table for christmas one year. Still have the engine, although its in rough shape. Brought back a good memory 😁

[@PeterWaldraff]

Glad you enjoyed, thanks!

[@tonyromano6220]

Somebody is a damn fine carpenter.

[@PeterWaldraff]

Thank you, appreciate that! I do love to build furniture and was a hobby started before trains, but the combination of the furniture, train layouts, and electronics makes it much more exciting and fun. Thanks for watching!

[@StevePrior]

Amazing! You could add an LED spotlight on the truck.

[@PeterWaldraff]

Yes! I should have done that. Was not sure how to concentrate the light in just the pickup. Maybe a shield around the led to direct the light. I think I will do that in the near future when I figure out exactly how I want to do it and trigger it. Great idea, thanks for the comments.

[@StevePrior]

@@PeterWaldraff Maybe the lamp head from a mini maglite type flashlight would be directed enough?

[@PeterWaldraff]

🤔 maybe..

[@ronalddwyer6592]

Absolutely fantastic design. I have seen alot of different n scale model train layouts built in coffee table but this one is very unique in design. Thanks for shareing.👍🚂🚂🚂🚂🚂

[@PeterWaldraff]

Your welcome! Thank you for watching! I greatly appreciate it.😁

[@Thrillrider10]

This is such a cool little display.

[@PeterWaldraff]

Thanks!

[@alfredrising3247]

Beautiful work. Thanks for sharing this.

[@PeterWaldraff]

Your welcome , Thank you!!

[@aldammer4912]

Yes. Fantastic. The idea, the build all of it. Enjoyed the video. Thanks

[@PeterWaldraff]

Thank you so much!

[@thejudgemeister]

This has to be one of the smartest and coolest small layouts I have seen. Just awesome!!!! Hs me wondering what I could do with my glass top coffee table.

[@PeterWaldraff]

Thank you so much! Appreciated!

[@deanebuckingham7241]

I absolutely love that it’s Close Encounters themed!! I got the reference right before you said it! I’m going to place a few sci-fi Easter eggs in my layout as well

[@PeterWaldraff]

Thanks!! It was a fun build. Hopefully I can think of more ideas for future builds. Best of luck on your ideas😁.

[@HumancityJunction]

I love this. Great idea and great execution.

[@PeterWaldraff]

Thank you, appreciate it!!

[@WormOfEscence]

Very well done

[@PeterWaldraff]

Thank you so much!

[@Ray1759X3]

That’s fantastic! Well done!

[@PeterWaldraff]

Thanks!!

[@zhugeliang1000]

Fantastic…thanks for sharing!

[@PeterWaldraff]

Your welcome, thanks for watching!

[@y_i_fly5418]

Truly brilliant and fascinating! Great idea to show off a hobby when space can be limited.

[@PeterWaldraff]

Thank you so much, appreciate!! Thanks for watching!

[@cbgadget4740]

Bravo, absolutely amazing build. My 7 year old greatgrandson insisted that I let him give you a hand clap emoji 👍👋👍👋👍👋👍👋👍👋👍👋👍👋👍👍👋🤜 Chase

[@PeterWaldraff]

Thanks Chase! Appreciate you watching, Thank you!!

[@johnzinkowski7266]

Brilliant work! Congratulations on a wonderful creation. Keep it up.🙂

[@PeterWaldraff]

Thank you very much!🙂

[@stevebrookins3980]

Totally awesome!!!

[@PeterWaldraff]

Thanks man!! Appreciate!

[@mrk1075]

Roy Neary: “This means something, this is important” 😂

[@PeterWaldraff]

Ha! Thanks!

[@exodous02]

Ohhh, I was wondering what the white lines and dots were, it is a ship! I thought it was something to make the led lights look better! This is really cool!

[@PeterWaldraff]

Thank you! Yes the ship, I thought if that towards the end of the build, I thought was perfect since the table top had to stay in place. Thanks for watching!

[@ronaldsmith6724]

Totally awesome my friend! Well thought out! Congratulations 😀😀😀

[@PeterWaldraff]

Thank you!

[@mr31337]

Nice toy train set up!

[@PeterWaldraff]

Thanks!

[@Fpvfreaky]

Lovely little build mate. You got some good skills there. Well done. And close encounters are one of my favourite films. 🛸🚆🚦🛻 🗻 Great work 👌🏼😉

[@PeterWaldraff]

Thank you very much!! It was fun to build.

[@Yeti_Sign]

I wasn't seeing anyone catching the CE reference, and I was wondering if I was imagining it.

[@PeterWaldraff]

😄

[@kdub1953]

Awesome 👌 (Keith UK)

[@PeterWaldraff]

Thank you very much!! Appreciate!!

[@unmeaninglessly143]

Hanging clouds surrounding the centre pillar would be dope. Maybe even make the centre as a huge mountain, half of the top is merged to the ceiling. That's where the clouds will camouflage it.

[@PeterWaldraff]

Hey good idea with the clouds! I may do that. Thanks!

[@Shaken_AND_Stirred]

That is really well done. Very impressive!

[@PeterWaldraff]

Thank you!!

[@Shaken_AND_Stirred]

@@PeterWaldraff Peter, You realize this is art gallery level stuff. Thanks, Mitch

[@PeterWaldraff]

😳really!? Don’t know about that, but thank you very much, that’s the best compliment someone could give me! Appreciated!!

[@flyaccelerated]

Coolest thing I have ever seen! Subscribed

[@PeterWaldraff]

Appreciate that!! Thank you for watching..

[@kellyodom9596]

Beautiful build buddy.

[@PeterWaldraff]

Thanks!! Appreciated!!

[@MyChannel-vm6dw]

By far the coolest thing I've seen all week. Amazing job well done

[@PeterWaldraff]

Appreciated, Thank you!!!

[@TralfazConstruction]

When I saw Roy's yellow truck I caught on. Your layout is very nice in the extreme. Well done!

[@PeterWaldraff]

Thank you, appreciate!!

[@TralfazConstruction]

@@PeterWaldraff 👍

[@christiannicolai5329]

i like this Awesome idea for the Living Room

[@PeterWaldraff]

Thanks!

[@abethpezarkar9946]

Superb, the whole movie just came alive.. Well done.. Table looks excellent..

[@PeterWaldraff]

So much appreciate, thank you!

[@seferioncagefilms]

koolest design i have ever seen.. def awesome... all the best... :o)

[@PeterWaldraff]

Wow that is quite the complement, Thanks!!

[@eric6616]

very nice work

[@PeterWaldraff]

Thanks

[@NeuronBuzzHurt]

Just beyond incredible and such a well done piece of craftsmanship and art combined!!!

[@PeterWaldraff]

Wow! Thank you, I really appreciate that. Thanks for watching!

[@astroboy862]

That is incredibly brilliant!..excellent job!

[@PeterWaldraff]

Thank you very much, appreciated!!

[@CragScrambler]

I guesses close encounters as soon as I saw the truck, very cool. Would be cool if in the mountain side there was a little cut out with the close encounters mountain base where they made contact with the light board and keyboard maybe some little white stands like in the movie, maybe for a future update

[@PeterWaldraff]

Good idea, I also was thinking off recreating the spot light on the truck in the future. Thank you for watching, appreciated!!

[@joewoodchuck3824]

The imagination and expertise to make this project a reality is superb.

[@PeterWaldraff]

Thank you very much, thanks for watching!

[@darknightstudio2543]

this is great mate...i like the idea of having the base autorotate as well so you see the train for longer as it travels.... very cool !!

[@PeterWaldraff]

That was my intention, but did not work this time. thanks for watching!!

[@MichaelBeale]

Awesome!

[@PeterWaldraff]

Thank you!

[@Holliethedog]

Brilliant!

[@PeterWaldraff]

Thanks!

[@mymodelrailroadlayout]

Nice Idea and work, Looks Fine

[@PeterWaldraff]

Thank you! Appreciated.

[@jimjohanson8152]

This is insane! Great work!

[@PeterWaldraff]

Thanks, very much appreciated!!

[@nostology]

Fantastic!

[@PeterWaldraff]

Thank you!!!

[@simonseis744]

This is incredible!

[@PeterWaldraff]

🙏, much appreciated!

[@Trains-With-Shane]

Just surfed in off of your post on N Scale Model Trains. I may have to try to make one of these!

[@PeterWaldraff]

Yes , do it! 🙂 My wife loves the hidden aspects of my trains.

[@jairosantos5821]

Amazing job !!!

[@PeterWaldraff]

Thanks!!

[@toyroadsrails-trainscarspl1709]

Wow! Love it!

[@PeterWaldraff]

Thanks!!

[@apollon755]

i love the concept,good job..

[@PeterWaldraff]

Thank you!

[@clevelandexplorer2221]

That's amazing!!!!!

[@PeterWaldraff]

Thank you!!

[@CassidysWorkshop]

That's really cool. Good work all around.

[@PeterWaldraff]

Thank you!

[@classic_britain]

man the UFO idea was so cool!

[@PeterWaldraff]

Thank you!! I was not sure about it, but now glad I did after hearing all the feedback.

[@jasonpierce-newmodelbarmy3394]

Very clever and beautifully executed. Fantastic work. Well done.

[@PeterWaldraff]

Thank you, very much appreciated!!