4 ft. is not too wide if you can walk around.
Bob
Don't Ever Give Up
As long as you realize all your scenery to the extreme reach will have to be done off a high enough latter to reach that area and your permanent track will be close enough to reach when your standing on the floor you should be ok. My last layout which I tore down last spring had corners that were very deep and I did all the scenery while standing on a 5 gallon paint filled pail and or a short latter that actually would slide under my benchwork, I got use to working like this and it was ok but I wouldn't want to do this on an entire layout.
Lynn
Present Layout progress
http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/11/p/290127/3372174.aspx#3372174
...and unless the grabber can be articulated downward, in the view shown above, by at least 30 degrees, it will be useless to pick up something where its main beam is within 15 deg of being parallel to the layout's surface. Further the reach, the worse it gets.
Choops GO BIG or go home I always say. Make it as large as you need. Model a parking lot in the middle. This is where you can place your foot as you are standing on the layout to reach the back. remove the cars first. Check out wonderland videos. They walk on the river beds. Steve
GO BIG or go home I always say.
Make it as large as you need. Model a parking lot in the middle. This is where you can place your foot as you are standing on the layout to reach the back. remove the cars first.
Check out wonderland videos. They walk on the river beds.
Steve
Be careful a grabber like that can damage rolling stock
Joe Staten Island West
The key is how far you can reach, which is about two feet. If you have access to both sides, might be doable. Also there are methods to build lift out hatches in the middle of the wide section that you can use if needed. Not the most preferred, but doable with the right construction means.
jim
Okay, thanks to all for your suggestions, i think im going to cut an access hole in that part. Probably inbetween the track about 1 foot by 20''. i think that will help. my issue is space. i dont have much. i cant use the whole area because theres a closet that my parents need to access so i have to build around it. which is why i chose the L shape. i dont know of any good design softwares online, and i have no clue how to post a picture... anyways any further help/suggestions/advice would be appreciated.
I'm 6' 4'' and my layout is 4' wide. If you're skinny like I am, leave a few inches of space between the wall and the layout, so if you absolutely have to reach that other side, you can shimmy back there.
If you're careful with track and rolling stock standards, you shouldn't have many issues with derailments on that side, or any side for that matter, and won't have to access it very often.
4' works, but isn't ideal in my hindsight. I would have liked less than 4' wide, but I really didn't have much other option. I'm happy with my layout.
It's your layout, so do what will make you happy.
My widest benchwork against a wall is 39" and it's ok to work with. I don't put any track that far out, just background scenery that doesn't need fine detail work.
Michael
The Breitenbach - Rosenheim Railroad V3
Hi Andre!
Welcome to the forums!
Four feet is too wide if the layout is going to be mounted on a wall. Even with a topside creeper reaching that far would be nearly impossible and very uncomfortable.
Have you considered mounting the layout on castors so it could be rolled out from the wall when necessary? I'm guessing that you would need to be able to roll the layout at least 30" to be able to work comfortably between it and the wall. More would be better. Your backdrop can be mounted to the wall.
Your benchwork would have to be pretty stable so it can't flex too much when being rolled. Otherwise you might pop things like track and scenery loose.
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
If you have a 4' wide table, and can access it from boths sides, then you have a 34" reach which is about as much as I would want to have. LION has 16" wide shelf sections, but even that becomes difficult if you have structures on the layout. Not only width, but also headroom. If you have a upper level you have less reach on your lower level.
ROAR
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS
Agreed, and there is little better you can do with your time BEFORE commiting to a "plan" than to mock it up and see what limitations and unpleasant surprises present themselves.
Height, not reach, could be the limiting factor for a tall man. If you are willing to keep the base of the layout near hip level, and can engineer several places to safely place a steadying hand time-after-time, I don't see why you shouldn't be able to reach well back...if grunting a bit for the extreme reaches.
The layout height plays a big part in this. 30" is OK for me at waist level, but chest high, 24" is all I can handle. My dress shirts have 34" sleeves.
In any case, change your plan. 4 feet is too wide at any height. Even if you can reach, you can't do any fine detail work.
I have the right to remain silent. By posting here I have given up that right and accept that anything I say can and will be used as evidence to critique me.
Andre:
Buy a 4'x4' piece of plywood. Put it on legs at the height you want.
Standing on one side, try doing things like laying track, rerailing cars, etc near the back. You will answer your own question.
Andre Okay so recently i tore apart my layout, im planning to build a new one. My old one wasnt very good and i feel didnt use the space very good. This new one is an L shape and i want it to come out 4 feet from the wall in the longer part of the L. Im currently 6'3" so hight isnt an issue. But ive seen alot of places they say no wider than 30", is it too wide? do i have to change my plan? any help or advice would be greatly appreciated!
Okay so recently i tore apart my layout, im planning to build a new one. My old one wasnt very good and i feel didnt use the space very good. This new one is an L shape and i want it to come out 4 feet from the wall in the longer part of the L. Im currently 6'3" so hight isnt an issue. But ive seen alot of places they say no wider than 30", is it too wide? do i have to change my plan? any help or advice would be greatly appreciated!
Hello and welcome to the forums!
What are the dimensions of your room, and where in the room is the layout? Is it in a corner?
4ft could be too wide if you cannot easily reach tracks near the back of the layout. You may also want to consider that cleaning the layout/scenery may be necessary at some point.
What specific things did you not like about your previous layout. What features did you like?