Two Levels: Height and Spacing

[SpaceMouse]

IF I were to build a two level layout. What should my heights be and what should the spacing between the top and lower levels? Also for shelf widths I was thinking 30" and 20".

[ndbprr]

The widths are ok but what scale? In HO a minimum of 12" up to about 18" for height is typical subject to the first level height. If you start at 48" base that makes the top level somewhere between 60" and 66" so it will be hard for short people to see it. Conversely if you are tall and you lower the base level you won't be able to see all the way to the back. of the lower level I suspect these rules apply to N also.

[SpaceMouse]

Sorry it is HO.

[orsonroy]

It really depends on what you can realistically manage (grades, mostly) and what looks acceptable to you. I've seen layouts with as little as 8" between decks, and as much as 30". My own triple level layout ranges from 8" to about 16", with 13" being about average. the areas of 12"-14" look fine to me.

If you're building a multilevel with a helix, getting more space between decks isn't that big of a deal. Just add another loop to the helix. But if you go for a helix-less design, you'll either need a long run, or have really steep grades and a shorter space between levels.

[SpaceMouse]

I'm planning a modified helix. It is basically the mountain to Hogwarts will have a increasing smaller loops that go in and out of tunnels at increasingly higher elevations. With these old steamers, I'm trying to keep the grade under 2%.