Happily, I managed to finish up the table project on time, without major issue. As pictured, the gaming area is much cleaner now with cables hidden but all the electronics functional. The surface is smooth, solid, and blends well with the rest of the decor. And with the larger size, we added an extra foot of space at either end, and about 6 inches on each side, compared to the base table. This doesn’t sound like much, but at the table it allows for much more space for character sheets, dice, and other accessories. The surface easily converts to table top wargames by removing the screen – the cables can then drop down below the surface.
The surface consists of 5 2 foot by 4 foot panels, for a total surface of 4 foot by 10 foot. These are held in place by a system of rails, attached to either end, and then the central pieces are slotted together. The result is a stable large surface, that doesn’t bend at the ends, and maintains its alignment. The rails also provide about 2 inches of space under the surface, which is where the cables and extras end up. The boards themselves are basic preformed “craft” panels of solid wood, 3/4 inch thick. This alternative was used for ease and cost – the panels are solid vs plywood, and ready to go immediately without cutting – and ended up less expensive than a pair of 4×8 sheets of quality plywood. The final surface after the dark walnut stain is 4 layers of Minwax Polycrylic, with light sanding in between each layer.
Unfortunately, after all the work, our scheduled game for Sunday was cancelled at the last minute, and numerous conflicts over the next few weeks will likely delay our next session until late October or early November. I guess the good news is that the surface will be able to cure even more fully, though it would be nice to actually put it to use at this stage. Most likely, I will fill the gap with some Legion or Armada instead.
My next plans are really just optimizations. The keyboard for the virtual tabletop will have some brackets for underneath, so that the keyboard is put away when not in use. I also need some cable management at the GM end, for the various audio and video cables, and a mount point for the audio mixer. Currently I have a small table under the larger one, with items just sitting on it, which works, but isn’t really “finished”. And I will also probably add some latches under the surface, to pull and hold the panels tightly to each other (they shift slightly during use).
