RAILforum: Need some ideas! Post some Pics!

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Posted by SneakyHusband (Member # 2376) on :

I am getting geared up to do our den in a train theme. I have been thinking about coming down from the ceiling. Does anybody have any suggestions as to how far down I should come, and if anyone has any pic they could share to give me some ideas on how to make it look good.

Thanks

Darin

Posted by SneakyHusband (Member # 2376) on :

Let me add, that I will be hanging it on the wall around the room. I would like to get a good effect and be able to see it sitting down, and look authentic.

Posted by Russ Bellinis (Member # 2377) on :

How many potential disruptions are there to the layout in that room. The ideal would be a layout on top of a bookshelf at about 5' off the floor. If there are closet doors, other doors in the room, etc. thart would limit how low you can make the layout run.
I've seen layouts running around rooms at a height near the ceiling. I think it is not the best choice because you can't really see the trains.

Posted by Challenger (Member # 1298) on :

Hello,

I am currently buidling a "wall-track" display for the Lander Wyoming Chamber of Commerce. The the hight that works best with the least disruptons is right at height of the top of the door. I am about to make an inprogress statement on my web site about how this effort is going. When its done, I will post the pictures and the comments here for you so I can show you what I am doing to make it work. So far here is some tips I can reccomend for you.

1. Make absolutly certain you know where the studs are. Do not rely on stud finders like I did. The stud finders showed studs where there were none and none where there were. Knowing where the studs are will help in putting up the mounting brackets with a minamum of fuss. Since I missed the studs, I had to go back and put anchors in the wall so the brackets wouldn't sag.

2. The optamal track deck width is between 6 and 10 inches depending on the hight of the person its built for. I used 10 inch deck width because after doing some basic antropormiphical studies, I deemed that most of the people viewing the layout at its 7'6" hight would be primarily people if 5'6" or taller. Let me dig through my files and find the results of the study I did that corrolates the hight of the person to the width and the height of the track deck.

3. If you deem a change in track elevation is desired, use the Woodland Scenic's track risers and inclines. This will save you hours of calculations in trying to figure out how to engineer the track bed to make the desired elavation changes.

Finally #4. if there are any book cases in the vicinity of where the track will cross. just plan on the self immediatly behind the track bed to be completly lost for useful space. It can be filled with scenery from that extends back from the track deck if you wish. But for using it to store books, don't plan on it.

Well this is what I can say with out having the pictures to show you what I am talking about.

James.

Posted by SneakyHusband (Member # 2376) on :

Thank you for taking the time to look at this posting and replying with the helpful information. I hope all projects go well.

Challenger, can you send me a link to your web site?

Posted by Mike Smith (Member # 447) on :

I have an around the kitchen/dining room/living room/den RR at 83 inches off the ground. It sits on 1x4 and 1x6 stained oak wood. The corners are made from oak plywood with an edge of oak trim. I tunneled through a wall and I bridged across the dining room (9 foot long bridge).

I don't have a website, yet, but I could email you some pictures, if you're interested. mws@wt.net

Posted by Challenger (Member # 1298) on :

The website where I will post the in progress photos is http://w3.trib.com/~mrljim/presentations.html There is presently an "under contruction notice posted on that page for the moment.

I plan on putting the photos you will see there when I get them wrote here with an expanded technicle description accompanying them so as to further explain how I am building this disply.