What is the ideal height for a human to eye level? Sounds silly, but that's really the answer.
There is no one right answer. It depends on how tall the builder is, how tall the operator(s) is/are, how tall the prospective viewers are, and just what sort of operation you plan to have. What's eye level or just pleasingly below foor one person may be over the top of someone else's head. Or vice-versa, eye level for one might be barely chest high for someone else.
Right at eye level is pleasing for railfan type operation, just watching the train go by - it's like standing trackside. But what a pain to actually build, constantly standing on step laddfers to reach anything. ANd reaching in to couple and uncouple cars? Next to impossible. Lower it a bit for easy reach in construction and switching cars, and now you don't have that railfan perspective, it's more like standing in a tower or flying over in a helicopter. Or maybe standing on a nearby hillside.
Our club layout is not super low like many are to allow small kids to see, but it's not all that high, either. High enough that the smallest sticky fingered kids need to be lifted by a parent, but the older ones can easily see without help. Not so low that it's a back breaker to work on. But we're different than a lot of publicly viewed layouts - we as a gorup HATE the 'moat' concept where there is a line of ropes strung a couple feet out from the layout to keep people more than an arm's length away. We have plixglas panels along the edge so you cna step right up to the layout and look. Smaller kids look through the plexiglas and can't reach over, taller kids and adults (you know, the ones who should know better) can see directly on to the layout without the plexiglas in the way. We don't need space along the outside to operate, we run the trains from inside the giant donut hole (the layout is somewhere along the lines of 28x150 these days, with most of the benchwork 2 feet wide, so the 'donut hole' is on the order of 24x146 with some intrusion by wider sections). We have tables and chairs in there and still plenty of room to walk around following your train.
So there really is no answer to give - this is probably the most subjective thing in model railroading. The ideal height is all about your preferences and needs. There's no one technical answer to the question.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Always standing while running trains and switching, 5' 10" tall, layout is 50" high, BUT that also works out good for the Tupperware storage container shelving under the layout, which is what mine started out to be.
I think it worked out perfect for viewing. I'm the only one, no kids, occassionally the wife, usually just me. I have a stool for reaching areas towards the back.
Mike.
My You Tube
Another thing to consider is: will you always be standing while operating your layout?
My father-in-law us going to be working on my main project layout with me. We're both a bit north of 6', but he's not able to stand very long due to several medical issues.
I tinkered around with the height of a small 2x8 switching layout I'm building from leftover parts for practice, and I discovered that a 42" height works very well with an office chair. It's also still low enough to work on the layout comfortably. So one can operate from almost ground-level, or get a bird's eye view for either ops or construction work.
Just my on that.
- Adam
When all else fails, wing it!
I'm 6'-0". My eye level is 65". My armpit height is 56" (more or less, kinda hard to measure). Ancient rotator cuff tear (I feel for you Brother BigDaddy) that has long-since healed with full mobility.
My layout height is 52". That is a little too high. I think 48" would be better. I made it 52" because the lower level is 34" and I wanted an unobstructed clear 18" bottom deck to allow full scenicking down there.
I have two step stool/chairs, and I like the view from the 9" footrest. I also have a 30" by 30" by 12" high platform I use while working on the upper level. Kinda like an orchestra conductor platform. It gives me a little space to move around; it is also good for general overall views. Bird's eye views from the 18" high top step/seat of the aforementioned stool/chair.
24' by 25' room with 9'-4" ceilings.
Robert
LINK to SNSR Blog
Everybody has a different idea of what the right height should be. Until you see it yourself you won't know. Mock something up at various heights and see which one you like. Use boxes, furniture, or whatever to support something you can look at as if it were part of a layout.
My track heights range from 39" to 53". Different visitors and operators comment on how different areas of the layout work for them.
Rob Spangler
BNSF UP and others modeler I went for 4 feet and I love it. Just perfect.
I went for 4 feet and I love it. Just perfect.
Sounds good..... respectfully how tall are you
I'm beginning to realize that Windows 10 and sound decoders have a lot in common. There are so many things you have to change in order to get them to work the way you want.
Good point Henry, well taken.
I as well, way under construction. It may be to my best interests to keep the Truss supports low for now.
It's not like it can't be moved up at a later date. My layout is foam like a feather, it can be moved easily.
PS I think you just cinched up this thread in answering my question.
Thanks Henry. TF
Should the scenery height play a role? I'm thinking of the top level of the Canadian Canyons. I think I would not want the mountains towering over my head. If you are modeling Kansas, scenery height is less of a consideration.
I'd have to measure my layout, 50" and I'm 6', but it is still under construction and I have an inoperable rotator cuff tear. I wanted it higher but realized that I cannot work on scenery comfortably. You seem to beyond that stage, but I mention it for newbies who might not realize that construction is different that viewing.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
I am moving my layout tomorrow. It is 100% foam suspended on a glass table. What started as a winter project ended up to be two and a half years, maybe three and a half.
It is being moved to a more designated permanent location now.
Tomorrow I will build 42 inch cantilever truss support brackets to suspended it off the wall. It will have heavy duty drawer slides so It can be pulled out from the wall at any given time as I need to get behind it. 4×8 layouts need access from both sides like an island, everybody knows that.
Aerial views on a layout are nice sometimes but not all the time. A permanent eye level view of a layout should take some consideration.
When pictures are taken of railroad activity, weather modeled or prototypical, it should be the same.
To me that's what eye level viewing of a model railroad should be like.
I am 5 foot 10 inches tall.
Thanks for your help in advance.
Track Fiddler