Table size?

[Captain Pirate Man]

What size tables do you guys prefer for setting up your MOC's or "world's" or whatever? Are long and narrow preferred over wide? I'm asking in this topic as opposed to general discussion because I have 7 or 8 pirate ships, so I obviously need quite a bit of open water, as well as area for land.

I currently have a table set up that is roughly 6 feet by 12 feet. Which I gotta be honest, I am already having trouble with having enough space for all the ships plus sets. If I was creating a typical city type of "world" I think this size table would be plenty big enough, because so much of it wouldn't be taken up by ocean.

But to those of you that display at shows, what size tables do you prefer?

[Capn Frank]

But to those of you that display at shows, what size tables do you prefer?

From feedback I've heard from those who go to a lot of shows, doughnut shaped is the best. It doesn't matter how big, thick, oblong the doughnut is. Having the center area gives you and your collaborators a refuge and a place to monitor and maintain your display.

I think this topic would be better suited to be moved into the LEGO Events and User Groups forum. You will likely get the best feedback there.

[Captain Pirate Man]

You can move it If you want.

[dr_spock]

For a larger display area we clamp several tables together for our layout.

[Captain Pirate Man]

For a larger display area we clamp several tables together for our layout.

What size are the tables you clamp together?

I'm asking as more for preference, or does it depend on the display? I'm probably nowhere near a public display, so I'm asking more for my own home than for public exhibition.

[Dfenz]

We participate in multiple displays each year and I think the table sizes are different at each location. The most common sizes range between 5 and 6ft long and between 2 and 3ft wide. You will just about get 3 32x32 baseplates on a 30 inch wide table, so personally I like 5 x 2.5ft.

We adapt our layout for each location and need to know the table sizes and numbers of tables available to design the layouts to fit. Tables of the same type can be important especially as you will want to ensure the tables are of a similar height. Personally if the width of the table is too narrow this can be annoying especially as water themed layouts eat up space. As a simple practical measure, as suggested above clamping smaller tables together can be a good idea as it allows you to set up one part of the display before moving more tables into position to work on them. This can be useful in tight spaces where you cannot access your layout from all sides or where the model is tall on one side and thus acts as a barrier to reaching things in the middle of the table from behind the tall piece. I hate climbing onto larger tables to fix track connections etc.

[dr_spock]

What size are the tables you clamp together?

I'm asking as more for preference, or does it depend on the display? I'm probably nowhere near a public display, so I'm asking more for my own home than for public exhibition.

Good question. One of our LUG members made the lightweight tables. They are square shaped. I think they fit sixteen 32x32 base plates. They have adjustable legs so that we can level them wherever we get to display like on grass in a park. Also they fit nicely on the car or SUV roof rack to transport around to events.

I think for big open water sea battle, you could go with a building an island of tables in the middle of the room. That way you can access your layout from all sides for maintenance like dusting.

[Captain Pirate Man]

That's a good idea, doing like a giant square. I kinda wish I had thought of that before I made my table. Oh well, lol. I do have a hard time reaching the middle sections of the table, like I said it's at least 6 ft x 12 ft. But I have learned from previous mistakes and am keeping most of the sets I want access to closer to the edges, with most of the water in the hard to reach areas.

But still, if I had it to do over again, I would do a big square. Perhaps I will do it that way when I create my city.