36 inches is a long way to reach. I'm a tall guy and past 24" it's a real stretch. After working on my layout with some areas that are hard to reach, your enthuaism for working in crampeor hard to reach spots dimishes. Make it easy to reach and you'll be a much happier modeler!
I am going to suggest, based on two layouts now as folded loops with a substantially wide yard module, that you can manage 36". But, it's a long way, and you'll want to make things a little easier on your back and on your reliability/enjoyment. For me, that meant laying tracks carefully and making reliable mechanisms to move throwbars back and forth so distant that I don't want to have to reach over to, and drag, a stepping stool. Once you have your track system well proven and reliable, near the back of the 36-40" depth, you should be okay. But, aside from the tracks, and ballasting, you'll then want to go on to create scenery there to finish it off, and to place structures or to provide space for them. This applies also to soldering the last couple of joiners or adding some feeders; this should all be done before crafting the scenery and structures...AND TRACKS...closer to where you stand and observe. You don't want to have to get up and kneel on all that to fix iffy trackwork. In fact, you can get around this as well. You make sure there are places where you can place a kneeling pad with supporting 'feet' pads under them to keep from crushing the rails. When necessary, you carefully place the kneeling pad and climb up on it to get at things that you can't practically deal with on a stool.
riogrande5761There are those curtains again!
Jim, I made you a present, feel free to use it as a screen saver!
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
Always the contrarian, I will be working bottom deck first. But just until trackwork is done - easy enough to cover while doing scenery on the upper deck. I don;t have a track plan for the second deck yet, and I'm not starting witht he helix or with the staging loops.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
OnewolfBack to front and top to bottom.
That is a nice and basic reply. Easy to follow.
Mike.
My You Tube
Can you easily reach 36"? If not, don't bother. Standing on a chair and leaning over is not a viable solution. Instead, shoot for 24" max distance between you and the backdrop (unless you can reach the area).
The widest part of my layout is 60", but that's at the very end of the peninsula. I am able to each all parts of it, standing on a milk crate because it's open on three sides.
Marlon
See pictures of the Clinton-Golden Valley RR
riogrande5761I find 30 inches about the max for reach.
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I am 6' 7" tall, and 30 inches is still the maximum. As you get older, you will regret 36 inches.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
There are those curtains again!
I find 30 inches about the max for reach.
I'm planning on my yard being on a 2 foot wide shelf attached to the walls with a bracket and using threaded rod for additional support on the outside edge.
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
I also built a layout in the corner. Backdrop first for sure.
I agree with others, 36" deep will be hard to reach unless it's low in height, like a desk would be, and then it's a stretch.
Back drop first is pretty important. Refer to the link that Henry provided. We just went over all of this.
NVSRR Easiest to work back to front so your not reaching over finished layout to work on unfinished. That way no damaged to finished areas. 36" is rather deep to reach
Easiest to work back to front so your not reaching over finished layout to work on unfinished. That way no damaged to finished areas. 36" is rather deep to reach
Back to front and top to bottom.
Modeling an HO gauge freelance version of the Union Pacific Oregon Short Line and the Utah Railway around 1957 in a world where Pirates from the Great Salt Lake founded Ogden, UT.
- Photo album of layout construction -
A pessimist sees a dark tunnel
An optimist sees the light at the end of the tunnel
A realist sees a frieght train
An engineer sees three idiots standing on the tracks stairing blankly in space
to the forum, your post will be delayed in moderation for only a few posts.
If it's 36" wide you are not going to be able to get to the backdrop unless you can crawl on the table or move it. You are going to have to know the height first.
barry cmanufacture and install mountains up against corner in front of backdrop (partner wants to manufacture mountains off site and moved to table and it needs to include a climbing lane for track?)
I assume that means there will be roadbed and eventually track on the mountain. How are you constructing the mountian? I can only envision being able to move a foam mountain.
We just had a thread on order of construction, I submit for your review.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
In which order should one attempt the following tasks? The installation will be on a rigid table of 36 inch depth in a corner of the basement against the wall. Height as yet to be determined? Install: backdrop scernery on concrete wall, manufacture and install mountains up against corner in front of backdrop (partner wants to manufacture mountains off site and moved to table and it needs to include a climbing lane for track?), install track and remiaining scenerg and buildings.... some confusion re moving the mountain (probable 4-5 ft in width)...
Thanks much