Optimum height for layouts at exibitions

Eastsidepilot

Eastsidepilot

Western Thunderer
These trestles have been used successfully on an exhibition layout that I've helped with, I use them in my workshop also as temporary support when cutting and machining timber etc. I've even used them with scaffold boards for cutting hedging so very versatile...a hedge trimmer not the boards themselves :D
They give you the option of varying the height to suit the situation.
They fold flat for transport.


Col.
 
Alan

Alan

Western Thunderer
Blackney is supported on those and in the days I helped Josh exhibit Potterborne he used them too.
 
T

Terry

Western Thunderer
Joe's Garage said:
What about two sets of trestles if only for a micro layout...is this a possibility?
Julian
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Hello Julian. That's a good idea worth considering. The option of varying the height to suit any particular circumstance would certainly be very useful. I might even explore this idea myself. Those trestles suggested by Col. vary from 31 inches to 51 inches. Add the baseboard thickness on top and those heights should suit most people's needs. And being just over 2 feet wide they should be suitable for most micro-layouts.

Terry
 
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Tim Watson

Tim Watson

Western Thunderer
The answer is simple: make a multi-layer layout. CF is 48” at the NLR viaduct and 36” at York Road tube platform. That is a great height for children. but pretty tricky to get up from for some of the team (and public). Our barrier also has a foot rail to allow children to stand on it to see the main layout.

York Road is far better exhibited on its own at a high level, but the whole expanse of the layout sort of works at the height we have it. I think the depth of a model also dictates the ‘best’ viewing height.

We used to have a trackside CCTV and screen which was well appreciated by wheelchair users but it was lost when we had to rationalise some of the stuff we were carrying to shows.

Tim
 
Osgood

Osgood

Western Thunderer
The type of trestle referenced by @Eastsidepilot has incremental height control by means of the set of spaced holes in uprights.
New holes can be drilled to obtain a specific height, or baseboards built up around a specific hole setting to create a required board top height.

These trestles were slightly too narrow for one set of layout boards, so either top rails or baseboards would have to be modified in some way.
The existing trestle rail was drilled to accept new fully threaded pins which were screwed into tapped holes in the new rail (and tack welded).
Knurled thumb nuts allow for fully variable height setting.

This method (just one of many possible ways) has proved so useful for speedy setting up on uneven floors and accurate board levelling - any troublesome baseboard joints can be accommodated by tweaking the height (and hence angle) of the joint.
Any localised floor undulation can be taken up by use of a plastic wedge (rubber would be better) under one of the four trestle legs.


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P

PMP

Western Thunderer
Primarily the layout has to be at a height thats practical in all senses for you. I use either traditional legs or trestles such as @Eastsidepilot linked above. For the past 15 years or so my layouts are displayed at around a track level of 50-54 inches from ground level. This reflects where the layouts are kept in the home environment, and as a result of that the operating position, and the presentation in terms of view blocking and pelmet drop.
When they go to shows these factors are made clear to the organiser, so they know what they are getting. Because of the presentation style there isn't the option of displaying the layouts at lower heights.
 
NHY 581

NHY 581

Western Thunderer
PMP said:
Primarily the layout has to be at a height thats practical in all senses for you. I use either traditional legs or trestles such as @Eastsidepilot linked above. For the past 15 years or so my layouts are displayed at around a track level of 50-54 inches from ground level. This reflects where the layouts are kept in the home environment, and as a result of that the operating position, and the presentation in terms of view blocking and pelmet drop.
When they go to shows these factors are made clear to the organiser, so they know what they are getting. Because of the presentation style there isn't the option of displaying the layouts at lower heights.
Click to expand...

Morning Paul,

Almost word for word in terms of my approach to layout height. My support ( ! ) of choice are the Aldi type of trestles, in my case sourced from B&Q and Lidl. They are robust, light and quick to erect. I can get my layouts set up, to the point of operating trains, in 20minutes on my own. My quickest erection was 10 minutes but I did have help.......

Rob
 
Osgood

Osgood

Western Thunderer
Ref. the modified steel trestles above:
The selection of support method (and resultant choice of these steel trestles fitted with screw adjustment) was determined in the main by:

1. Scale of application - 6 x 1.2m boards requiring 7 x supports.​
2. Weight - boards are very heavy (takes 2 people to lift a pair of boards paired together with transit ends).​
3. Rigidity - the boards have zero 'flex' so require accurately levelled end support.​

For supporting a single or 2 x board layout using 2 or 3 x trestles, or for boards that have a degree of flex, the need to make fine height adjustments becomes far less an issue and probably warrants nothing more sophisticated than a wedge or two.

Those steel trestles are certainly not the most compact units when folded up for transit - just a little more thought in the design and they'd be fine, but like most else you get what you pay for.
I can see why some make their own fold-up legs, but - depending on board weight - you'd be going some to achieve comparable stability.
 
P

PMP

Western Thunderer
76043 said:
I feel sorry for the kids at shows. Everything is too high and they get told off for touching.
Tony
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I don’t. We have a bar stool. Anyone whom has seen Albion Yard, Shelfie 1,2 and 4 might have seen it as all layouts are operated from the front. Myself and my team of operators whom I know well, and trust their judgement offer that bar stool so that children can see the layout. If the kids and their guardians are giving off the right vibes we frequently offer the kids the opportunity to drive the trains on ‘finescale’ layouts. There’s at least one member here who’s son has had that opportunity on two of the layouts. Just because the layout is at 50” doesn’t preclude children from seeing it, or operating it, which is something rarely offered.
 
NHY 581

NHY 581

Western Thunderer
PMP said:
I don’t. We have a bar stool. Anyone whom has seen Albion Yard, Shelfie 1,2 and 4 might have seen it as all layouts are operated from the front. Myself and my team of operators whom I know well, and trust their judgement offer that bar stool so that children can see the layout. If the kids and their guardians are giving off the right vibes we frequently offer the kids the opportunity to drive the trains on ‘finescale’ layouts. There’s at least one member here who’s son has had that opportunity on two of the layouts. Just because the layout is at 50” doesn’t preclude children from seeing it, or operating it, which is something rarely offered.
Click to expand...

Again, Spot on Paul.

Rob
 
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cloggydog

Western Thunderer
My various micros are all designed to be table-mounted, front operated and viewed seated. Venue supplies tables and a couple of chairs. Saves me having to lug a full supporting structure around. Also saves me having to stand up all weekend.

The layout is raised off the tabletop with some simple folding ply risers, so rail height from the floor is about 1m/3ft3in. Seems to work well (I average a dozen or more shows a year with the layouts), with plenty of good conversations about my trainsets. I'll happily let viewers (young and old) operate a sequence or two.

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76043

76043

Western Thunderer
I've had lots of thanks from wheelchair users in the time I've been exhibiting for the height I exhibit at. They've made their views on height very clear to me, and periscopes aren't the answer.
Tony
 
Richard

Richard

Western Thunderer
76043 said:
I've had lots of thanks from wheelchair users in the time I've been exhibiting for the height I exhibit at. They've made their views on height very clear to me, and periscopes aren't the answer.
Tony
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Having used a wheelchair myself a long time ago, I was very aware of the vision issue that users are sometimes faced with, so came up with the not very original idea of a wheelchair ramp.

My idea was a raised platform with a ramp at one end lifting the wheelchair around 300mm off the ground. It was to be carried folded flat and erected when needed.

Once the idea became a plan, and I had to take into account all the requirements to meet basic H&S needs for the wheelchair user, the plan became a non starter. In fact it would have become a hazard to other exhibition visitors.

When I was air rifle coaching, I had four step stools to allow trainees to shoot, sitting from behind a bench. I usually carry pair of these with me when I'm exhibiting, as I can hand them out to parents with little ones so they can get up to a more reasonable height to see the action without being in their. parents arms.

Only once have I had to ask for the stool back, as the family were about to make off with it!
 
T

Terry

Western Thunderer
76043 said:
I've had lots of thanks from wheelchair users in the time I've been exhibiting for the height I exhibit at. They've made their views on height very clear to me, and periscopes aren't the answer.
Tony
Click to expand...
What's the problem with a periscope? I'm interested to know as I was contemplating acquiring one for my layout.

Terry
 
C

cloggydog

Western Thunderer
Terry said:
What's the problem with a periscope? I'm interested to know as I was contemplating acquiring one for my layout.

Terry
Click to expand...
It's probably seen as falling under the medical model of disability, where the focus is on 'fixing' the impairment (temporarily in this case by provision of an aid to allow inclusion). Whereas many differently-abled individuals would prefer to see that inclusivity achieved not via an aid, but by design (i.e. set the layout height such that a wheelchair-bound individual can view it seated in their chair), the social model of disability.
 
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Osgood

Osgood

Western Thunderer
There was a discussion here not long back:

Scale 7, Albury Spring Meeting 27th April 2024

I'm sorry to report that Intentio will not be at Albury tomorrow due some personal problems. John
www.westernthunder.co.uk

So - the question for WTers with small urchins is this:

What age youngster would find a 1m rail height to be the ideal 'trackside' viewing height when standing?
 
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