I seem to remeber a stool, ladder type device that extends yur reach across alayout?
Yes, Micro Mark has them. Doug
Just keep your weight directly over the ladder, and DO NOT lean over to the side.
ROAR
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS
It's actually a vehicle mechanic's creeper for working on engines, and would probably be much cheaper from an automotive tool supplier.
A simple Google search for a "topside creeper", which is what they are known as, turns up lots of them.
https://www.google.com/search?q=topside+creeper&oq=Topside+creeper&aqs=chrome.0.69i59.2239j0j4&sourceid=chrome&es_sm=122&ie=UTF-8
A topside creeper it is. Last time I checked, Amazon.com was far and away the cheapest.
Connecticut Valley Railroad A Branch of the New York, New Haven, and Hartford
"If you think you can do a thing or think you can't do a thing, you're right." -- Henry Ford
Before buying a topside creeper you might want to ask around to see if a modeler in your area already has one you can try out. A friend of mind bought one and I had a chance to use it. I found it accutely uncomfortable, like my chest was being compressed into my spine leaving inadequate room for my lungs. If felt worse than laying chest down on, say, a bench at the park, perhaps because of the need to bend at the waist. It also felt like my knees were being asked to bend the wrong way, like an ostrich's. True it gave me some access to the layout I otherwise would have lacked, but trying to do useful work while feeling like the life is being squeezed out of you is a challenge.
Dave Nelson
I was interested in one as I have two difficult corners on my layout, to reach for repairs, etc.
A local club member told me that they had one and that I'd probably be surprised how huge the thing actually is (even after reading the dimensions). He was right. The micro mark version, anyway, is BIG and quite heavy. If you don't have wide aisles or a place to stash it readily it'll take up a lot of space under the benchwork.
Dave, aside from backward bending knees do you think a softer pad would've made much difference? I sometimes fantasize about building a smaller/lighter version one day...
Jim
Raised on the Erie Lackawanna Mainline- Supt. of the Black River Transfer & Terminal R.R.
Several years ago we had an area on our club layout that we needed to reach so we could replace a defective turnout.
Instead of purchasing one of these topside creepers, we constructed a support framework out of 2x4 lumber from which we could extend a 2x8 plank onto a concrete window sill, and lay on it to work on the layout.
Even with my full body supported on the plank, it was an excruciating task to work on the layout laying on my stomach the entire time.
After that experience, there's no way I would want to try laying on the small pad that is on the topside creeper and get any work done.
They are definitely large and heavy , no doubt about that. When I'm using mine, I keep my weight on my feet, not on my chest. The pad just takes the strain off my back. There are only a couple of spots in the center of my layout where I really lean on it.
Capt. GrimekI was interested in one as I have two difficult corners on my layout, to reach for repairs, etc.
(smile) LION remembbers a thing like that. On the previous layout of him was built three foot tables against the walls. Of course against the wall were the hidden staging tracks with other layout features built over them. LION counted upon reaching the staging tracks from under the table.
In the end, LION got 30 strong men and moved the entire table two feet from each wall.
Now wall tables of LION are 16" wide. It is fine.
This is my version that cost about $50. Very useful and probably more comfortable than the metal ones out there. I used oak for the frame and threaded rod under each of the steps. It is pretty stable but not folding for storage (yet).
-Bob
Sorry, Photobucket isn't cooperating with me now!
Life is what happens while you are making other plans!
Hi Bob. That looks great! I weigh 210 lbs. do you think it would support my weight for an hour at a time? Do you by any chance have a plan with dimensions on your photobucket account or elsewhere? The long legs that go under the benchwork look much shorter than the Micro Mark 50-55inches which would work better with my 33" aisles.
I've bee using your cake cover idea over the turntable. I haven't had a chance to extend it vertically yet for the tower. I've just been pulling the tower from the bridge for now.
Thanks,
I, too, followed Bob's cake cover idea; however, at the source-Party City-I found a cover that was deep enough to clear the bridge tower. Of course, my TT is the 90' model, and it might not be possible to find a deep cover for the 130' model.
Dante
Capt. Grimek Hi Bob. That looks great! I weigh 210 lbs. do you think it would support my weight for an hour at a time? Do you by any chance have a plan with dimensions on your photobucket account or elsewhere? The long legs that go under the benchwork look much shorter than the Micro Mark 50-55inches which would work better with my 33" aisles. I've bee using your cake cover idea over the turntable. I haven't had a chance to extend it vertically yet for the tower. I've just been pulling the tower from the bridge for now. Thanks, Jim
I know I have a CAD file with the plans (I do all my projects in CAD) but haven't been able to find them. I just did a search on my PC with no luck. I need to find a hardcopy of it and see what name I gave the file???? Poor memory! I can go measure it and send that data to you in the mean time. If you want you can make the floor legs as long as you need. I weight about 192 lbs and don't have any problem working on it: however, I wish I had made the top platform a little longer (deeper) but that can be modified. Mine also has two vertical positions and that also can be modified if needed. I thought about adding folding (hinged) outriggers to make it more stable sideways.