Could anybody give me advice on what the best depth(from front to backdrop) for a layout is[?] I’d like to have the most avalible space for scenery, but if I have to I’d like to be able to get to the backdrop easily if needed.
Thanks in advance[:D], Noah[:p]
2 ft. but no more than 2.5 ft
Jay
No further than you can comfortably reach for anything you may have to work on. 2 1/2’ is the recommended maximum, but its to far to reach to work on things. Some people can reach a little further others less. It also depends on what is toward the front of the layout. You don’t want to crush your beautiful scratch built engine house.
The key is how far from the edge the tracks and in particular the turnouts are. I would suggest that the track should be within twenty four inches and the turnouts within eighteen. The scenery can be as deep as you can get to comfortably say thirty six inches. If you can get to both sides of the layout you can double this. I planned my current layout to be 18" along the walls with a center island 42" across, thus 21" from each side.
Enjoy
Paul
It depends on your reach, of course, but the 2-2.5 feet is a good number. It also gets shorter as the layout gets higher, unless you plan on using a stepstool. A higher layout, like over 50" should tend to the 2’ depth. BTW, generally, higher layouts also allow narrower aisles, since people aren’t taking up extra caboose room by bending over to look at the models.
And now you tell me. I made the mistake of 5 feet. It’s workable but makes for a very difficult reach and the need for advanced planning and wiring. most of my scenery will be done in sections or “plug and play” modules. The only prblem is if I slip I’ll be known as Godzilla of Musquodoboit. Not a pretty sight.!
im 6’3" and the layout is 45" off the ground and the depth on mine is 4’ i can easily reach it without even going on my tippy toes.
If you don’t have anything tall in that 4’ I suppose that’s fine–if you put structures or mountains in the intervening distance it could turn a rerailing into an esoteric yoga discipline–or a scale earthquake!
One thing about layout depth: You CAN make your layout more than 2-2.5 feet deep, AND up against a wall, if you include some access holes in the surface of the plan. These can be simply big open spaces, but you can also build covers for them to disguise them as scenery or blocks of buildings, to be dropped or lifted out of the way when access is required.
This assumes that one is willing to crawl about under the layout on a regular basis. Some are–some aren’t. With a suitably recline-able rolling chair one could feasibly scoot oneself under a layout of correct height to avoid too much crawling.
My layout is only a foot deep.
Thanks to all of you for the information. I’m in the process of designing a new layout and this should really help.[:)][:)][:P][:P]
Noah
My layout is 6’ deep but there are access aisles so no part of the layout is less than a 3’ reach.
Never built farther than you can reach.
Never build a tunnel where you cannot access the interior.
Never, never put a switch at your farthest reach, that will be the problem switch for sure.
Well if you want the most available space for scenery, then you can go as deep as you want. Just realize you have to build scenery from the back towards the front as you go. Now as far as reaching the backdrop, you won’t be able to(!), so it has to be painted first.
For operational purposes, a maximum of 30 inches is recomended for layouts higher than waist level. If yours is lower, I think the recomended depth you can easily reach by bending at the waist increases to 36 inches. Now if you want, you can fudge on these a bit if you want. For example, your layout is at a height where you can only comfortably reach 30 inches BUT you would only need to reach in for re-railing or uncoupling possibly, so don’t make the back track any deeper than that. However, your building flats, structures or other scenery can exceed that 30 inches if you desire because you won’t normally need to reach that far! It’s up to you so think about it.
Ultimately realise there are other factors affecting this starting with the size of your room, turnback curve radii at the end of peninsulas, and desired aisle widths. Give these factors some serious considerations as they may ultimately how much room you have left for scene depth! And possibly also do a mock up of some sort at your desired layout height to see what is workable and practical for you.
As you can see, then, there is no “best” depth which will work or is acceptable for everyone, but the above is simply general guidelines.
Good luck!