aside from the topside creeper from micromark,does anyone have other ideas for a similar item especially homemade ideas. thanks in advance
The closer a layout is to the floor, the farther you can reach over it. Only problem with that is, you’re stuck with a helicopter pilot’s view.
I’m still using a piece of a layout I built back in 1996 (before I ever took the time to read John Armstrong’s excellent book) on my current pike, which sits 50 inches from the floor. It has two spurs that sit 32" and 37" back from the aisle. So I took a leftover coffee table - built sturdily enough to support the weight of a 250lb man - and slid it under that part of the layout. Whenever I need to physically reach either of those spurs, I step up onto the coffee table and - voila! - both are easily within my reach.
If you type “overhead creeper” into Google or other search engine, all kinds of them as mechanics’ tools will show up. It is not a Micro-Mark exclusive product by any means.
You could…
Find someone tearing down an old barn & get the ‘Hay Claw Return’ …it is a pulley system that ran on a T type rail mounted along the peak of the barn to drop bales. Build a platform for it & one could levitate over the layout…
The Topside Creeper is a brand name, not a general description. If you Google it, you will find several competing products.
If you’re trying to find something for much under $200, you’re probably out of luck.
A homemade solution is probably out of the question. In order to get the strength to weight ratio required, you will need tubular steel or aluminum, and the tools to work it and weld it. Most of us don’t have these kinds of things hanging around. I suppose you could take a shot at it using 2x4 dimensional lumber, but it would be very difficult to make it as compact as the metal ones.
Chad,
Don’t you think those forks sticking in your sides would be a little painful? Also, if someone pulled the trip rope, one could turn into a giant astroid landing right in the middle of the layout.
They are quite the systems.
Have fun,
Richard
As teens we used to ride on it, until we knocked open the door & busted out a few windows in it’s unplanned crash (& uncontrolled opening) against the side of the barn. ( the door used that system to slowly drop open & hinge down the hay mow door, -like a 70’s in wall ironing board setup)
Hopefully it was taken more as humor, but if a person had a welder pal build a pin plate for a couple bolts on the bottom of the car part, it could/would work, then just un-pin the platform for storage. Howeve, in reality most rooms would not be tall enough for that to work anyway …
Hope people had a laugh or two.
Yes, those things could be dangerous in inexperienced hands…
My wife just bought me one,but not allowed to open it till Christmas.
Here is my homemade Topsider Creeper. I made it from 1 x 4 red oak stock from Lowes. I also used some plywood for braces at the bottom to support the side rails. I used 1/4-20 threaded rod with a T-nut on one end and hex nut and lock washer on the other end under each step. Overall it is quite stable and works great. I made the top rest padded and it is adjustable to 2 different heights; as my layout has two levels and it works better. My only problem is the storage of the unit. I plan to make the sdes hinged to make it fold down to a height that will fit under my ‘duckunder’ otherwise it is a ‘bear’ to remove from the inside of the layout.
-Bob
Bob, nice work!!!
Depends on the layout situation. It is less important that the creeper be able to roll on the floor than that it be firmly in place and secure when you are actually on it. While my first thought was some version of an L shaped ladder on wheels and rollers, in the manner of very old law libraries or public libraries, a more secure version that would have to be manually moved makes sense. Rather than use the heavy base concept of the layout creeper, I could imagine a well braced 2x4 or other very secure shelf mounted to the studs above your backdrop close to the ceiling, with some sort of L shaped ladder that would hook on in some way to the 2x4. You do not want wobble and you want absolute security in that situation. It could end up being very heavy and ungainly and even rather risky to be placing over the layout. But I do think it is possible.
Having said that, I must point out that I had the opportunity to try out the over the layout creeper that MicroMark sells, at a friend’s house. While the access into the layout was impressive the pressure on my chest was accutely uncomfortable. and when i tried to lay on my back to change some flourescent light bulbs that my friend had unwisely located in the central portion of his very large layout, I thought my back was going to snap in two. That told me all I needed to know and reinforced the wisdom of my decision to keep my layout depth to the 2 feet of my standard sized David Barrow domino segments.
Dave Nelson
Way back when in MR like the late 40’s or early 50’s when you worked on your railroad wearing a tie (YIKES!), there was an article about a guy who built one that had pivots in the sides. I don’t remember how the outboard end was supported. It could have been a cleat on the wall or a cable he hooked to an eye bolt in the rafters but he could climb the ladder and rotate it horizintal and he would be out four or five feet so he could reach any spot on the railroad.
'Scuse me for a moment…
pah-HA! Compact! AHAHAHAHAHAHA! Snort Oh, that’s funny man. Hoho.
There;s alot fo words I’d use to describe the TC, most fo them are not repeatable. Not only is “Compact” not one of them, bbut the fact tjhat those huge stabilizers are way constanly in the way and there’s no way to truly lay the whole rig flat is why I have so many worsds to describe it. We have one at the club, and it’s not worth the trouble.
I was gonna suggest buying youerself a short wooden ladder and some chair cushions, but I like Bob’s setup much better.
I would like to thank everyone for their response.I really like Bobs idea and I can expand on it to make it adjustable height.I also never thought of “overhead creeper” and found several online to look into.Thanks again