What is the ideal height for a layout to be off the floor in order to get a good look both sitting and standing?
Well this is sort of like asking what the height of the ideal wife is … opinions vary. [A]
Problem is that an ideal height for viewing may be higher than the ideal height for laying track, soldering feeder wires, and scenicking. I happen to think middle of the belly works best for me in terms of viewing and practical work – but that is 53" for me given my height. Many shorter visitors comment the layout seems very high to them.
Dave Nelson
Honestly, it’s a completely arbitrary number. It depends primarily on:
- How tall you are?
- How tall your visitors will be?
- How tall your ceilings are?
You have to optimize the layout height to the confines of your parameters and those who will be looking at it. Realistically, you’ll end up having to make compromises somewhere.
My layout is a modest 4 x 8. I originally was going to go with a 48" high layout. However, my ceiling is only 78" high. That only gives me a ~29-30" viewable “window” to both work on and see the layout. With a 4" tall fluorescent light hanging down from the ceiling, that window shrinks down to almost 2’. (Too small to comfortably work on.)
I ended up dropping the height of the layout to 42". Lower than I’d like but much easier to work on and reach across.
BTW, I’m 6’-4". With shoes on, the ceiling is only ~1" above my head. Having the layout any taller just isn’t practical.
Tom
I find 50" to be best for me. I can sit using a bar stool, but walk around is my planned operating mode. However, it really does depend on your height and personal preference. I suggest you do a few mockups.
Enjoy
Paul
As others have said. The ideal height of “YOUR” Layout is what works best for you. If your tall it will be higher then one built for a shorter person or vice versa. You need to be able to work on it, but most like eye level for viewing. As for me, I will make my next layout at belly height and seat in a roll-around desk chair for viewing. Or use the nanny cam I bought, installed in a dummy loco to get a feeling of riding in the cab. It makes for an interesting view when coming around a curve and a “GIANT” doorway looms in the back-ground behind your station.
Welcome to the forums.
As stated above “it depends”.
My suggestion is take a piece of plywood or whatever, about 30" wide, unless you plan narrower shelves.(That is concidered maximum reach for most folks.) Then raise it to a height. Since you want to both sit and stand, have your stool handy. (I have a stool I plan to operate and view from and will stand to work.) With the mock up at a given height put some buildings and trees on it. Sit and see if you like the view, stand and see if you can reach the back (where all derailments occur, unless they go on the floor) without knocking your buildings and trees around. Try it a little higher and lower. You will come up with what you like best.
Good luck,
Richard
Lots of good advice here. I can add that for me I went with 3 levels in part to get different perspectives. The highest is about 6’ and since I’m 6’4", that works great for watching the trains go around the bend. The lowest is about 4’ and when I’m sitting that looks good too. It’s also convenient for those who are shorter. And of course the middle section is about 5’–most people prefer this. Honestly I think the heighths are about 2 or so inches shorter than the rough foot numbers given. But then again, the track goes through elevation changes. And since there are hills, so does the scenery.
Richard
My layout was 38 inches from the floor when it was in my family room. It is an around the walls type in N scale. When I moved it up to a spare bedroom I raised it four inches to 42 inches from the floor. Big improvement in viewing and operating. I plan on raising it another four inches soon. The smaller scales like N and HO look best at around 48" to 50" from the floor.
If you are going to have any “duck unders” just think about how much fun it is to get under a short layout. If you won’t have any then somewhere around “armpit” high gives the best veiwing for realism and still allows you to extend your arm full length.
Mine is 48" for the base, then 3/8" OSB. then 3-4" foam subcore.
Mark
WGAS
My first one was 36 inches high. I had that ‘God looking down’ feeling. My current layout is 50 inches high. I can see it at eye level with a bar stool and it’s good when I’ll standing. I am 6’2" though.
To find out how high YOUR layout should be, collect a group of boxes of assorted heights, a length of flex track (or some sectional track,) a couple of cars. a locomotive and a structure or two. Start with the track, rolling stock and structures on your dining table or work table. Then try adding boxes of various heights. See how much problem you have reaching in to couple or uncouple cars, especially if the track is away from the front with a building or two between. When you find a comfortable fit, measure from the floor to the flat surface under the track and buildings. A little personal experimentation trumps ten tons of opinion.
So, what height is MY layout. Track levels range from 38 inches (hidden) to 58 inches - and most of the track is on grades.
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
The ideal answer lays with the builder and the height he is comfortable with.
I like my ISLs about eye level when seated which makes it the best height for me to do maintenance/scenery work while standing.
Aim for eye level when you are sitting, and no less than stomach-chest height when standing, that usually the best IMHO.
If I were building a layout mostly for display, I’d make it somewhere around 45" above the floor, so that most viewers see things at a “low-flying-bird’s eye view.” That’s because most folks would be standing as they look at a display. However…
…for my home layout, the main thing I do with my layout is work on it, not just view it. So, mine is 36" above the floor. I’ve had taller layouts, but when the layout is above waist height, my reach is reduced and that makes it tough to work on anything that is further than about 16" from the front edge. I could use an elevated platform to access the more distant stuff, but I’d rather not bother.
Of course, when standing I get a “soaring eagle’s” eye view of my layout and that’s not very realistic in terms of the way we usually experience trains. Sitting on a chair gets me down to the low flying bird perspective and I like that for operations. On those occasions that I want to see it as if I were an HO scale railfan, I kneal on the floor. So, for me, 36" works.
By the spectrum of experiences and opinions you see in this thread, it is apparent that it’s really a matter of personal preference. I do recommend giving it considerable thought and maybe trying a few mockups at different heights.
I went with 48 inches plus a 2 inch foam bed. That way I could get 2 legs out of each 8 foot 2x3 board.
There is only 2 feet to the ceiling above but it’s more than enough for me.
based on some modular standards, 40" is norm, but for my multi-level shelf you are forced to get to track level wherever it is. All a matter what you want to do with your layout design. I then make use of variable height chairs, seats, stepstools, to make it comfortable at the level you are operating.
I have my layout 32" off the floor, it’s a little low for me, but my nephew and some of the neighborhood kids can come over and stand near the layout and see the trains and seeing them get excited about seeing the trains make the lower level worth it to me when I am stooped over the layout doing scenery. Plus this give me more room for mountains and elevated scenery, I have a drop ceiling in my polebarn and luckily the ceiling is 10’ with recessed lights. I learned from prior layouts the benefits of not having lights dangling over head and with the recessed lights I can space the lights out evenly to give the layout an even look and not have dark spots where the lights don’t light up the layout due to distance or scenery such as mountains. I took also 30 years to finally get it right on a few things. lol But mostly I agree with others who have stated that it’s really what the modeler is comfortable with and who is going to see the layout just you and a rare few others or will there be more that see it? I would say if I was going to start another one I would have the min. height at about 42" to make it easier on the back.
Ray