12-25-2014, 09:28 PM
Harry:
This is where modelling becomes a compromise or an art.
A minimum distance between levels involves enough room to get your hand around cars that need to be moved/re-railed. In HO, probably 6" to the bottom of the second layer (then add woodwork, trackbed, scenery...)
I worked with one fellow who added a second shelf a couple of feet above the first. He had a long room and a couple of trips along the peninsula to get up there. At the other end he built a helix that took up more space than some of my layouts. (Then he decided to reverse it -- imagine turning a helix inside out through itself.)
If you want visible scenery, I think at least a foot between levels. At 2%, that's roughly 4 feet per inch or 48 feet of run. a 36" radius helix gives almost 19 feet of run per layer, so nearly 3 layers. and 5" rise per turn. 36" radius will take probably a 6 1/2 foot square.
This is where modelling becomes a compromise or an art.
A minimum distance between levels involves enough room to get your hand around cars that need to be moved/re-railed. In HO, probably 6" to the bottom of the second layer (then add woodwork, trackbed, scenery...)
I worked with one fellow who added a second shelf a couple of feet above the first. He had a long room and a couple of trips along the peninsula to get up there. At the other end he built a helix that took up more space than some of my layouts. (Then he decided to reverse it -- imagine turning a helix inside out through itself.)
If you want visible scenery, I think at least a foot between levels. At 2%, that's roughly 4 feet per inch or 48 feet of run. a 36" radius helix gives almost 19 feet of run per layer, so nearly 3 layers. and 5" rise per turn. 36" radius will take probably a 6 1/2 foot square.
David
Moderato ma non troppo
Perth & Exeter Railway Company
Esquesing & Chinguacousy Radial Railway
In model railroading, there are between six and two hundred ways of performing a given task.
Most modellers can get two of them to work.
Moderato ma non troppo
Perth & Exeter Railway Company
Esquesing & Chinguacousy Radial Railway
In model railroading, there are between six and two hundred ways of performing a given task.
Most modellers can get two of them to work.