I had an epiphany this weekend about layout height. I have this 4X8 practice layout and as I complete a structure, I place it just to get an idea of how it will look on my permanent yet-to-be-built layout. With the height of this 4X8 being just 38", you get sort of a low level bird’s eye view.
I placed the latest - Vollmer’s Karlsbad station platform, and asked my wife to criticize it. First comment out of her mouth was “you need to raise the benchwork - you can’t see all that fancy iron scrollwork under the roof.”
I’ve been thinking the 38" height was ideal for me, but she’s right. I need to think about 48"-52" for my permanent benchwork. I can always build some kind of riser for any rugrats that come along (mine are grown but they’re rugratless at this point). Much of my plan calls for a 2’ deep around the walls shelf with 2 4’ wide peninsulas, resulting in the shape of a large E.
I’ve read a lot of the old posts here and I understand how subjective this can be, but it should work for me. Feel free to comment. Thanks.
My next layout will be 49-53" for exactly that reason. I would build it higher, but my son is 56" and I want him involved. I do a lot of detail work and I want, like your wife suggested, to be able to see it without bending down. I’ll probably do a lot of running from a stool.
My first was around 43" at the main surface, but the latest is at 53", with an upper level at the back, all blended in scenery wise…this is not a higher shelf…, about 8" above that. There were two reasons for the rise. One was that this is a box configuration bench with an operating pit in the middle…so I have to duck under (oh, stop with the gasping already!)
Realistically, I cannot do much in the way of maintenance beyond 20" as a result. I am somewhat short, so I use a three-step folding stool to do work up at the back. HOwever, when I am operating, I don’t have to crouch to get the ground’s eye view. I am much more in the milieu than I was with the first layout, and I love it… so this constitutes the second reason.
My layout is at 34", for two reasons. #1 I can’t stand for more than a few minutes without being in pain. #2 I operate the layout from a seated position. Also, the height allows me to get under the layout to get to the pop-up and drop-out and get to any part of the layout without having to climb up on anything, which is very dangerous for me.
I built my layout with the bottom of the 2X4’s at 48". It’s a duck-under and it gives me plenty of room under it for storage AND easy access for working on the wiring. I stand on a 5 gallon bucket when working on the trackwork. Eventually I’ll build a “box” to stand. My 10-year old loves to run it, and stands on the bucket when he needs to.
Still a work in progress, with most all the track laid, but no scenery.
Mine is 39 inches, floor to railheads. The subways are 3 inches below that. I’ve got a kneewall and a 45-degree roof in the trainroom, and the layout is on wheels so I can tuck it under the angled roof when I’m not working on the back.
On the good side, it does get under the roof pretty well, and it’s not hard for me (I’m 5’10") to reach over the layout. Still, the layout is 5 feet wide, which puts the centerline at the agreed-upon “maximum” reach depth of 30 inches. It can be done, but it’s awkward. If the layout were higher, it would be even more awkward. Also, the framework to support the wheeled legs isn’t a problem at this height.
On the other hand, I would build it higher if I were to do it again. My biggest problem is getting under the layout to wire. A couple more inches and I could work comfortably, but as it is I frequently bump my head on the benchwork beneath.
I’ve found the only bad thing about a higher level layout is maintenance. I hate having to stand (and fall off of) on a bench or step lader in order to work on it. Working on it without the bench often ends up with all the detail near the edges damaged.
It sounds like you and I are in pretty much the same boat. Painful standing and inability to get down and under a conventional layout is why I’m planning on keeping my layout seated accessable small, low, and on benchwork that will allow me to tilt the whole thing up for underside work. For me, that’s going to mean a “working on” track level of 3-foot or under. I may try to come up with some kind of break-downable viewing level bench work, but that’s gonna be a loooooong way off.
I built mine around the 51" height, but when I do it again, I really tempted to go up atleast 6 more inches. I kept it low on purpose for other to enjoy, but it is a drag for me. I stand 6’7" so even at 51", I get the “helicopter feeling” I find myself constantly squatting down to get a more realistic veiw. But, I have a few freinds that come over on occasion to run or operate and if were much taller, things are goignto get a bit intersting. Stuff to conisider.
Then again, buy a bunch of step stools and be done with it!
My lower deck is about 34 inches high. It seems very low right now (especially when I bend over to work on it!), but with a second deck about 24" higher up, I had to go with the low height.
I have recently completed my bench-work and some track for my new layout. My bench-work is also 34" high. I also have some physical limitations and need to sit a lot. It seems like that height works very well for me. None of us are getting any younger and depending on your age you may be sitting more in the future.
I’m in the middle of my benchwork and I have planned my height to be at least 48". I say, “at least” because I want to be able to add on modules. Modular standards seem to be pretty consistent at 48" to the top of the rail. My current thinking is that the module branch line will have a downgrade to the 48" mark. That will allow me to have the primary layout start at 48" and go up.
I’m 6’4" and the room has a ceiling height of 6’ 9"! The higher it is the less room to work!
I’m 6’3", but my target audience is my kids and my 5’2" wife. I built the lowest track level to be 40", which works out to be right at my beltline… perfect for standing and working on tracklaying comfortably so far. There’s plenty of room to climb under for wiring as well.
When it comes time to operate, I plan to have some barstools so everyone sees things more or less at the same level.
For our anniversary, my wife got me a “topside creeper” from the Micromark catalog. It is a great device for long reaches over higher benchwork without wrecking stuff near the front edge.
I’ve got a two level layout. The upper level is at 57" and the lower level is at 39".