Layout Height Suggestions

I am in the process of building a new 12'x14' S Scale layout in a spare bedroom. Any suggestions on how far above the floor I should set my basic benchwork? I am about 6' tall. What have other folks used as their layout height? I have been thinking about making it around 45". Thanks

 

Don, layout height is definitely a personal choice and will vary, based on the room usage. I'm 6'4" and am building a large N-scale shelf-type, walk around layout. The room I'm building it in is also our home office and craft room. I have my rail height at 55" and the bottom of the benchwork is at 52". This allows the entire floor and wall space to be used for desks, worktables a television, etc. The height is fine for my wife and me. I'll have step stools available for visitors, if needed. I like a low level/trackside view, especially with n scale, rather than a helicopter view.

Eric

 

I'm 5'10". Clearance underneath is 48, and track height varies from 48-52". I have a duckunder so much less than that was not a good idea.

I have a two-step folding stepstool that I keep handy when I have to reach to the back or get a high view.

It's high enough that my 30" desk workbench is UNDER the layout, and I can roll under the benchwork when sitting in an office chair set down low. Nice for working and wiring. My bookshelves and storage are under the layout.

My first layout was a 36" and I raised it to 48. Man, what a difference in viewing realism. I have my backdrop height set so that I can just peek over top of it if I get on tiptoe - that's a real hi-tech way of setting it.

 

I'm 6' 2" and use a benchwork height of 50". The track work rises 7 1/2 " above the benchwork in many areas.

Benchwork height should be from 48-54" depending on your height. It's nice to view your trains at eye level at times instead of looking down on the layout. It gives you a great perspective.

 

My 12 X 16 layout is at 48" height, or really about 47 now that the legs have permanently sunk into the carpet. For both viewing and crawling under, I wish I would have built it at least 6" higher.

In S scale, where your rolling stock should have even greater detail, I think 54 inches would be even better.

I'm 6' 1", if that matters, but in visiting other layouts, I'm comfortable looking at track levels up to about 64". After that, it seems to high, so if you have a higher branch line, or whatever, I would figure that in.

 

52" for Me (5'9")

 

I'm with the Colonel, 45"

 

Another N scalers oppinion... mine is just about shoulder high, good eye level view. I know with the big scale it's ok to look down on it a bit so 45"- 48" should be great. Good for working on, good for viewing, and importantly, good for getting under.

 

I had an opportunity to visit a friend's layout Friday evening along the rest of the Houston S Gauge group. Based on what I saw there, I am going with 45-48". Its a general consensus that is a good compromise between viewing height and working height.

 

Mine will be as high as whatever I set it on at the time... and if its too low on the table, I'll put it on the kitchen bench..... LOL...An inglenook doesnt take must space

 

Interesting height choices. When I first started with N scale a few years back, I had mine quite low. About 30" off the floor. I can't remember now why I did it so low, but suffice it to say I learned my lesson. Mine now is 44". The thing I had to keep in mind was that if it were too high, things would be hard to reach or work on and the kids couldn't see it. (Plus, I like to sit down a lot when running trains.) Too low and it kills my back to work on it and the cats are more apt to jump on it. So now I think I've found the "just right" height. BTW I'm 5'10".

One thing to keep in mind with height is also what you're going to store under it. Mine is just the right height now for my half-fridge, rolling storage containers, filing cabinet and stereo speakers.