me im 6’1 and have two 8year old boys so im kinda thinkin about 4’ 6"
If you want to involve your boys in the hobby, I would size it lower. Somwhere between their waist and sternum should be about right. OTOH if you want to keep them away from the layout, 4’6" ought to do it. Pick the first option, in the long run it’s more rewarding.
Enjoy
Paul
both boys are about 4’3"
My old layout (and my new, yet to be built) layout has 3 foot tall legs. After assembled the table top is 3 foot and a couple inches. I’ve always enjoyed the height. As I sit on my barstool I overlook the layout quite well. Any kids in the family appreciate being able to see as well.
I’m also 6’1" and made my layout range from 41" to 47" because of grandchildren. Even then I need benches for them. 4’6" seems a little high if you want to involve the kids. They won’t be able to reach across and help which should be the ultimate goal.
Ron K.
The top of my rails are at 29". My 2 boys are 8 and 6. They can both reach virtually all the track except my 6 year old can not reach the main that runs down behind the yard which is 32" from the front of the bench work, the widest part of the layout. I am 6’ and tower over the layout, but have a low rolling office stool/chair that I can comfortably move around the layout at a good viewing height. Wiring under the layout is actually quite comfortable as well as with me on my back I can reach the underside of the benchwork without straining. I also rationalize this height by imagining that I will eventually put on an upper deck. For me, having the boys completely involved is what it is all about, so this height works for me.
Ray,
42" might be a good height for you and your boys. I’m 6’-4" and it’s a nice hieght for me to wokr at, yet low enough for younger ones to see the layout, if need be.
I also chose this height because my basement ceiling is only 2" higher than me. I tried 48" initiallly, but it made the layout too close to the ceiling to either work on or see comfortably. (Kinda like trying to build a layout in the top bunk of a bunk bed, if that makes sense.)
Tom
one reason i thought about having it so high was because it will go through the recroom over the couch and tv center does that help any i thought i could beld a bench or something,bar stools
thanks again
That is the answer. You build a step up with their names on them. They can decorate them and feel part of what is going on. If you are staying in the house for a long time build the layout to the height for YOU and adjust for them. You will be doing the work so you come first.
[2c] On the subject:
Back in the mid 60s, I constructed my first HO layout for my son on a 4x8 ft sheet of plywood using collapsable metal card table lets. The height came to 29" from floor to table top. Since then, all of my layouts have remained at that height. My three children had no problems with it and I surely don’t to this day.
Take a look at these pix to see how that simple 4x8 ft board has grown over the years, using more of those card table legs for support.
click to enlarge
AND here’s a layout (O gauge Polar Express) just a bit out of reach for the kiddies:
AND here’s one (S gauge) that has adjustable heights (suspended from the ceiling using a 4-point hoist system)
Enjoy! [tup]
I’m with JerryM1 about the urge to build a sit-down railroad. Two hours on my feet is just about my present limit.
That said, I have arbitrarily set the level of my division point/junction at 42 inches (1067mm). Why? Because that’s the gauge of my prototype!
Whatever height you choose, remember this : kids grow like weeds !!!
Eventually, what was once the perfect height for them at age 8, will be way too low for them once they hit their growth spurt in a few short years. It will be far simpler to build them some stools to stand on for now, than to try to raise an already-built layout or deal with a too-short layout. Your backs will thank you later.
As with most aspects of this great hobby the answer comes down to you. Age, comfort, participation of others, etc. I had the pleasure of operating Wit Tower’s Alturas and Lonepine. This was a garage size layout with two yards two major towns to operate and two mainline cabs. I do think he built Alturas low so he could sit confortably himself and operate the yard there, as he was up there when he started the empire. When I operated it was the late '80’s and he was in his 80’s, so he had to sit as we usually operated for 2-3 hours.
Lonepine was the other yard and it was chest high as was Sonora, both a blast to operate and watch the trains at that level.
Some other things to keep in mind since you have a family, you probably have a storage issue. Please do not store anything above the layout as when the wife or kids access whats abouve they will drop stuff on the layout and you don’t want that kind of resentment created, best to avoid the situation.
Have fun and by all means get’m run’n.
nice ! but where’s the N scale layout ? [:D]
you don’t mention the size of your layout . if it’s 4x8 or a bit bigger you could plan for adjustable or extendable legs , and raise the layout as the kids grow .
For: Jerry M1 Sounds to me like those folding card table legs wth a 29" height are made for what you are planning. Glad you liked the pix! [tup]
For: ereimer Look closely - you’ll find it in the mountains! [swg] No place for “N” yet - but there are two sets still boxed up that will ultimately get constructed! Now, I am expanding my HO layout, but in a far different manner than the conventional. There is to be a subway system beneath the portion of my layout where the city and Union Station is located. Wonderful hobby isn’t it[?] Addictive, comes to mind!
Later! [tup]
I model in n-scale and have had a home layout since 1973.
I like to sit down in my computer chair to run and watch trains.
I selected 41" as the height of the layout plywood surface.
The layout is zero grade.
I am only about 5’ 9" tall, so anything higher would also not be easy to work on.
For the sections that are 4’ wide, this height requires that I stand on a small stool to do some detail work in the middle of that 4’ expanse.
Roger