I just watched a video, the man stated that’‘part’’ of his layout was in a crawl space. Now I’m thinking thats about 3ft of height, so all work is done on your hands and knees. I know you use what you got and make do with it.
Have any of you ,used a crawl space? How does/did it work out ?
I watched the video WOW, I don’t think my body would allow me to do that, and he appears to be older then me
Thanks for the link
My pleasure. “Where there’s a will there’s a way.” And here I was last night feeling sorry for myself because I had to spend 15 min. or so under the layout adjusting a swtich machine.
regards, Peter
I am 6´5" tall, over 60 years old and my weight is, well, let´s say 15% less and my doc would be happy!
No way I am going for a layout for which I have to get on my hands and knees to build or to operate it!
Looking at the video, I think he would have been ahead if:
…he had a bigger access hatch. He could have cut one of the joists, put in headers, and had a hole about 3 feet square. Which would have saved him a good bit of time over the years. And people of a larger persuasion could visit, too.
…he had sheetrocked the ceiling to keep stuff from falling down onto the layout. I do wonder if the reason his trains are never running slowly is that the track is too dirty.
…and, best of all, dig all those pathways down about 3 feet. The layout itself doesn’t need the height, but I sure do. I am assuming, of course, that the pathways are not part of the foundation. I do not see why someone would pour a full slab down only four feet. Maybe to save excavation costs. But if it was a dirt floored crawl and he added the surface later, he shoulda dug down first.
He did seem to say it just kinda grew. So these things may not have been so obvious “back in the day”. But it sure is, to me, a reminder to do as much planning as possible BEFORE laying track.
A neighbor of mine had about 70% of his layout out into a crawlspace from a small finished room. He was happy with it. I wouldn’t have been. Oh, yeah. ALL of the trackage was suspended from the floor joist above. I think he used threaded rod, which allows vertical adjustment. And also is less intrusive, visually, when you’re looking across tracks. Also, NONE of that trackage was ever going to be scenicked. It was just there to feed the 30% that showed plus to get some running room and storage trackage. He was a civil engineer, so everything was about as tight and square as could be.
Ed
I would get claustrophobic in there.
He built a very nice layout. Thumbs up to him. Where there’s will there’s a way. No excuses. [:)]
That’s an amazing layout. I’m much younger than he appears to be, no way would I be able to crawl around on my knees to climb over stuff, unless that’s a very thick pad he has on the floor. I love how since it’s all so low, the scenery just runs right down to the floor. There do appear to be areas with a higher clearance, in one shot you see a couple of chairs and a desk which is probably his workbench.
–Randy
I also noticed the desk and chairs so it can’t be as bad as I first tought. But still you must be on your knees or bent over to do anything.
And lokking at the trap door,how did he get building materials down there ?
When I saw the chairs, I assumed they just didn’t have legs. Then when you’re sitting on them, the overall assembly is only 3 feet high (just measured). Also, maybe he put wheels on the bottom to scoot around.
Yeah. Sort of reminds me of the machinations in POW camps in WWII: “Yeah. Right mate. Nigel’s built a layout under the barracks, and the Germans haven’t yet caught on. AND he’s even got sound. Turned way down, of course.”
Ed
Crawl space or not, that’s a very nice looking layout!
Wayne
Yes, I agree, but watching it made my knees hurt![swg][(-D][(-D]
Dave
Oh man, I can feel the pain now. [(-D] Too many years crawling around finishing concrete. It’s a challange for me, some days, just crawling around on my driveway while working on garden tractors, and I use plenty of knee padding.
Ed’s idea about digging the center area out makes since. I did that decades ago for a friend that just wanted more accessible space. Just as long as there is not a water table issue.
Excellent looking layout!
Mike.
It’s a beautiful layout, but just way too cramped for me (6’1" and 233#). Luckily, I have a LOT more room in my basement.
I just watched the video again and, while I find his layout to be a charming one, really oozing British character, I´d hate to be trapped down there in case a hot soldering gun or a short starts a fire. I´ll spread even before the bloke reaches the escape hatch!
I’m just not a fan of tight spaces. I wouldn’t be comfortable down there even if I could fit. Besides, I’d never fit through the hatch to begin with. Obviously the owner enjoys it since the restricted space certainly hasn’t held him back!
Dave
Lost episode of Hogan’s Heroes? Newkirk adn Hogan argue over building an American or British protptype layout. Eventually they settle for a German prototype and Carter blows it up.
–Randy
Wow! Ya gotta admire his modeling… and determination!![bow][bow]
It sorta reminds me of my first layout from my early teens, built in an uninsulated, low ceiling attic, accessed by fold-down stairs. I could see my breath in winter, and one summer, the plastic telephone poles softened enough to lean over. Frequently bumping my head on those rafters just might explain a lot about me![*-)]
Jim
I transport the dirt in hoppers and gondolas. The guards just think I’m modeling realistic loads.
I tried to watch this video and it was not available. I tried twice and stil didn’t work.