Fife that would be a great idea. Except I just added stringers to the legs last night. I was thinking maybe putting a board on hinges that i can fold out and under and lock it into position. It would carry some weight though. I guess once I get further on the layout it will all come together!
I too subscribe to 40" height. Allows me to work comfortably from underneath, and is nice viewing from a bar stool. Remember, looking at something gives more depth than looking down at something. Plus fewer creepy-crawlers establishing residency in Plasticville.
As far as a control area, why not a metal crash cart with wheels? That way you can push it underneath the layout when not in use.
geeppe Do post pictures of your progress!
Do post pictures of your progress!
40" then you can work easily from underneath and not break you back building while reaching. Grandkids grow taller, build them a two step portable and let them move it around. Trust me, it works.
Jon
So many roads, so little time.
I did mine at 30" why because the 2x4's I got where 90" so I could get 3 out of it lol
Life's hard, even harder if your stupid John Wayne
http://rtssite.shutterfly.com/
Thanks Bob. Yes, I should have remembered to switch terminology.
Graeme
In the UK, "baseboard" means "tabletop". In America, it means what they call "skirting".
Bob Nelson
I went with 36", but I regret not going to at least 40". At 36", my head always seems to find a part of the 2x4 framework when I am sitting under there wiring.
Jim
High enough for you to sit upright under it. Laying on your back sounds ok but soon becomes an evil experience. Don't believe "for the kids"thing, mine always climbed up on stools anyway.
"IT's GOOD TO BE THE KING",by Mel Brooks
Charter Member- Tardis Train Crew (TTC) - Detroit3railers- Detroit Historical society Glancy Modular trains- Charter member BTTS
Sorry my earlier reply was a little brief - in a rush :-)
I do think that the height of a home layout should be determined to suit the owner, as it is s/he who will spend countless hours building and operating it, whereas visitors will generally be involved for a fraction of that time. Giving an ideal measurement in inches is pointless, as we are all different heights and builds.
Inside leg plus six inches is a good starting point. I'm about 6 feet tall, and my board height is 39 inches. Bend forward from the waist - the ideal height will allow the bend in your body to align with the top of the board. A happy medium which maximizes reach on top of the board, yet allows sufficient space below for access to wiring. You will spend a *lot* of time below the boards :-)
Children can be accomodated by providing upturned plastic bins for them to stand on. My son, when young, would spend countless hours on bins, hand shunting an unpowered A unit, plus whatever cars took his fancy. Always more fun than driving a powered unit, at that age - hence the popularity of Brio.
Try to keep baseboard width down to 36 inches, or even 30 inches. Most people can reach that far to fix derailments, attend to scenery etc. Any more than that, and you will spend far too long on ladders, boxes or whatever.
I had mine at 46 inches and then dropped it to 42 inches and that seems to work for me. You have to remember if your having to go under and do wiring it sure makes it much better to be able to sit on a small roll around stool and work. I have grand kids and I was worried they could not see the trains run but with a small step stool it worked out fine. Because they will grow up and get tall and then if your layout is low it most likely will stay that way.
Thanks
Wyatt
Southern Serves The South
TCA 01-53554
RJ,
I set mine at 33" the reason of it is the table is 4' wide and against the wall. At 33" I can reach the far side of the tabletop.
Joined 1-21-2011 TCA 13-68614
Kev, From The North Bluff Above Marseilles IL.
Depends who will be viewing it.If only you will see it, then make it the height best suited for you.If you are going to have little ones come by, you may want it shorter.When I started building my train garden I set it at 37inches. Now that I have a toddler and a infant I kind of wish I had made it a bit shorter...My daughter likes to pull the train bins out and stand on them to get 'higher', not sure I want her doing that much longer as they won't support her weight. I'm thinking of building some light weight 'step stools' with wheels that kids and pull out and move around the garden to get better 'views'.
https://brentsandsusanspicutures.shutterfly.com/
Thanks for the replies. This is what I was looking for. I wanted a few to reply and explain why they choose the height they did. My plan was to take the heights and get a average. I was going to take that number and see how it would look with a small test platform. I don't want to screw this up. I know I can go shorter but what a hassle that would be and I have to much invested to redo it. For right now it looks like it will fall in at 37 to 40 inches.
The inside leg measurement of your trousers, plus six inches.
Mine is also at 40", for the main level and a second level for most of the layout is or will be 5" above that. My old layout was 35" and i like this better for reach and working on it so far. I hope this helps.
Aflyer
I made mine 40 inches high so I could sit up under it to do the wiring. I also find it a good height for working topside and viewing. It works for me but may not for you.
If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
lionelsoni Anywhere from knee high to a grasshopper, to as high as an elephant's eye. There are as many "good heights" as there are model railroaders.
Anywhere from knee high to a grasshopper, to as high as an elephant's eye.
There are as many "good heights" as there are model railroaders.
I figured that would be one of the replies I would get! lol
I was thinking hip height but wondering is this to low or maybe to high? So I guess I'll have to call in the help of brother in law and friends to hold it up and I'll decide where I like it. I do know two things. One I need to fit under it and two I need to be able to climb on top with out tearing the thing apart.
I'm getting to the point of setting up my legs on my layout platform. What is a good height to set them to?
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