Optimum height for layouts at exibitions

[Joe's Garage]

Hi Terry, I appreciate that my comment on "crouching" is not suitable for everyone but my main point was there is no ideal answer as most things in life, it is a personal point.
I totally agree with you that it is not something to get too hung up on.
What about two sets of trestles if only for a micro layout...is this a possibility?
Julian

 

[Eastsidepilot]

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
They give you the option of varying the height to suit the situation.
They fold flat for transport.

https://www.screwfix.com/p/forge-steel-trestle-680mm/272JC?gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiAkJO8BhCGARIsAMkswyhiryLycpe2L557QpiSq0I8odttlW55Vjg0FvIQiXIKXJC5tZ7BHbIaAgnNEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

Col.

 

[Alan]

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

 

[Terry]

What about two sets of trestles if only for a micro layout...is this a possibility?
Julian

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

 

[Tim Hale]

“At the end of the day I think that Tim has to go with what is most comfortable for himself.”

We have employed two solutions in the past, a set of 48” legs and two transit RU boxes which are used for supporting the baseboard atop the venue’s trestle table. The latter is used for less formal events such as the much missed Compton Dundon or Kircheim, both of which encouraged a more relaxed engagement with the viewers.

As I inevitably progress to being utterly dependent on wheels, the options decrease, however, the search for a portable but safe folding bar stool continues, to use with the legs option.

Tim

 

[NHY 581]

I take one of these with me to shows now,

FRANKLIN bar stool with backrest, foldable, black, Width: 50 cm - IKEA

Fold the bar chairs, so they take less space when you're not using them. With footrest for relaxed sitting posture. Find out more information here.

www.ikea.com

Nice and light, stable and a good height.

Rob

 

[Tim Watson]

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]

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.

 

[Ian@StEnochs]

These are good trestles but the price is steadily climbing. I bought mine from the centre isle of Aldi when they were £7.99 each!

 

[PMP]

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.