Lefty, it's a considerable project but it's doable. If my brother-in-law and I did I'm sure you can to. What we did was build modules, the helix and the staging yard and then brought them to the layout. Do the helix first. We built it then brought it to the layout, installed some temporary legs for the layout and removed the old ones that were in the way of the helix. Next we positioned the helix under the layout and jacked it up into final position, installed its legs and new legs to hold up the layout. The hardest part was cutting the track/subroadbed so it flexed to meet the top connection to the helix. Lindof a leap of fate. Once that's done then we built several modules approximately 26" wide x various lengths for the yard. Again, build (framing, track,wiring)away from layout and bring in and raise and add legs. We overlapped one end of each track by about 12" so we could match/connect to the previous module. Sounds complicated but wasn't really. Just carefully plan it, discuss it with someone if you can for ideas and take your time. Will be worth it when you're done. Just don't think it will take a few days.
Much will depend on the way that your benchwork is constructed and the track plan of the existing layout. If you share more information, folks may be able to help.
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I agree with Mike: figure out where you want it to start, build it, then slip it into place under the layout. No need to have to do most of the actual construction under the layout.
Wayne
abbieleibowitzI get how I could add either a ramp or a helix to go up and put staging above the layout, but I can't see how I could go down and put staging below the layout.
So, make the top of the helix start at the level of the layout, and work down.
I don't get the problem?
A helix is a helix, just a way to make trains go up.....or down.
Mike.
My You Tube
I've read a lot about multideck layouts. Right now I have an around the room shelf layout design on a single level with no staging tracks. I get how I could add either a ramp or a helix to go up and put staging above the layout, but I can't see how I could go down and put staging below the layout. It seems to me that if you're building a 2 deck layout with staging on the bottom level, you'd build the lower level first, and add the upper level afterwards. I've got the height to add staging as a lower level now, but getting under the layout to actually do it seems like an impossible task. Thoughts?
Lefty