I would like to know what is a nice height for your benchwork?Eventually my layout will have a helix and be two levels so I would like to know what would be a comfortable height for viewing and when the second level is done that it wont look too high or too low.Thanks guys.
Tbone, my layout is three level, staging at 30", main level at 44" and upper level at 60". The staging level and main level are 24" deep and the upper level is 21" deep. Its alittle tall for some people but ok for most. John
One thing I recall in an artical I read on this subject awhile back (I think in MR) that made me sit back and go "Hey this makes since" is something you too might want to also consider. It basically asked what "View Angle" did you want your layout viewed from. A "Low" benchwork would give more of an Airial View up to a "High" benchwork that would give a ground level view. Both extremes seem to also offer challenges to maintence and impacted depth of the layout too. It seemed that the "High" benchwork would work only for a switching point-to-point layout where the layout was very shollow in depth. The exteme "Low" benchworks look like they would be best when you wanted to see deep 3D landscapes in a Bird's Eye view of a region; thus needing lots of deep benchwork space that would need many hidden access points. Keep these View Angles in mind as folks given you suggested benchwork heights and see how that matches up with your vission. :tb-biggrin: :tb-biggrin: :tb-biggrin: :tb-biggrin:
How tall are you? I'm tall, 6'3" and the top level on my last layout was 54" which I thought was about perfect. That's about 16-17" below eye level for me. I could have probably gone to 56-58 or so with no problems but I had other restrictions keeping me from going up. Then its a matter of how close you can make the next lowest level...higher the better.
Doug, do you recall what the benchwork height of the mainline level was on this same layout and how deep it was? :tb-nerd: :tb-nerd: :tb-nerd: :tb-nerd:
Question: What is the Average Height for an Adult Male? Answer: According to the National Center for Health Statistics, the average height for an adult male in the United States is: 69.2 inches, or 5 feet 9.2 inches This statistic for the average height for an adult male is from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) conducted from 1999-2002. I'm about 69.5" tall (5-9.5') I also built my layout with the lowest track at about 54" (top of benchwork is at 52"). I think I put it a little to high for comfortable viewing. Since I have some tracks at higher elevations (57" and 60") I feel perhaps that it would have been better for the benchwork to be about 4" to 6" lower overall. I can alway use some step-stools to get a more comfortable view... but... a few people who are shorter than average may find that insufficient. Of-course... those taller than 5-9.5' would probably like the layout as it is. Your height will probably determine the best height of the benchwork too. If you are going to do multi-level layouts the 'spread' between levels(14" to 16") indicated by MEC_FAN sounds pretty good. Lowest level being a staging yard... while highest level being perhaps mountainous terrain for mining or logging industries.
Yup. This is the first statistic needed. Whether you'll be standing at all times, or seated. Regardless of anyone else, the end product must first be tailored to your operating comfort. How much seperation between levels of your layout? Remember that the higher the top level, the harder to reach from the floor. So, either have steps handy at all times, or also consider the depth you must stretch to work on scenery, etc. Boxcab E50
For what it's worth, when I started building my layout I also considered my wife's height. I'm 5'11" and she's "vertically challenged". By putting my layout a little lower than I had originally considered it's gone a little ways toward making my hobby enjoyable for her. Also, I find it's kind of nice that I can sit on a stool and watch the trains run sometimes. I had originally only thought about standing height, but sometimes you might want to sit so you won't want it too high. Personally, I like a little bit of the bird's-eye view - if I didn't I would be modeling in a bigger scale.
I am 5'10" and my wife is also vertically challenged being only 5'3".I will be doing mostly standing but I would like to sit on my bar stool from time to time.I also have some small nephews that would enjoy it and I dont want to have to supply stools and/or stilts but I would like to be able to see my trains on the upper level close to eye level without looking down on everything.I guess I am stuck between a rock and a hard place.All the info has been helpful to this point.Thanks again
56" overall. Good perspective since the eye does not take in too much at a time. If you have cats it is a must, and there is ample storage room underneath.
So if 56" is pretty good for the upper level then I should have the lower level benchwork at or about 40" to 42" high?
Depends on how deep you want it also - I'm 5'8" My table is at 36" I can _barely_ reach across 36" If something derails along the back stretch - it is uncomfortable stretch to fix it.
My wife is a little over 5' so I kept it a little bit low - I also considered that I have small children who would like to see the trains. The lowest part of my layout is 44" and, as the track slowly climbs it's way around the room (I have a rather lengthy mainline run of over 250') it reaches a max of 56", which is just about eye level more or less for my wife. One of the other things that I considered when I put the min at 44" is that it's high enough that I don't knock over things with my elbows as I proceed through aisleways. I also don't have anywhere with more than about a 24" reach.
My benchwork height will be based on a ledge I have in the basement. I intend to have a long out and back run on this ledge. I think it is about 48" high.
Need more information- Is photography going to be a focus (no pun)? Think of tripod extension height. Operating sessions with others and kids?
I'm building what will be a two-level layout -- one level at a time. For a variety of "very good reasons" I built the top level first. I really enjoy seeing my trains at eye level without having to bend over so far my back hurts, so the top level is 57" off the floor. That also means that the bottom level won't have to be any lower than 40", which is as low as is acceptable to me, based on previous experience.
I am 5'8" and my single level layout is 52 inches high. This is a good leaning height for visitors, but two feet is the very maximum shelf width. I use small construction stools to gain one foot of height to see better or reach further. I must admit that I use these mostly during construction. On a cautionary note: Be aware that you are on one of these elevated platforms. I have forgotten and stepped off for an unpleasant tumble. This is a good thread and a lot of ideas. I am not aware of any specific data that establishes any required or recommended height. Maybe the NMRA or Layout Design SIG?
