layout thoughts

["Randall Howell" <rhowell@austin.rr.com>]

I agree The appearance needs to be kept up but a way to see 
the  trains is needed.  I have asked in the past about our "layout  
height"  it's supposed to be entertaining to ALL ages & I liked 
the  "Lower level" layouts as the shorter viewers, This includes 
those  in wheel chairs (and I've see some at every show), can 
see "ALL  the action & displays.  This would also make it easier 
to see our  own trains.  As long as it it not lowered shorter than 
our height on  hands & knees the crawl under will be the same 
as it is now, I'm  not using the extra headroom now when I crawl 
under.  I don't  think I will miss it.  The Plastic sides sized just 
short of the train  height to just above train height would be 
enough to serve both the  need to retain a train from hitting the 
floor.  Plastic 1/2 to 2/3 as  high as the train will do this.  As well 
as serve  to keep those little  hands off the trains.  If we make 
the plastic too high it will distract  the view especially when it 
gets dirty or scratched, not to mention  taller plastic will cost 
more & then wont be replaced a quickly. 
Has anyone thought about mirrors above the layout to aid in  
viewing the trains.  These are much like the mirrors used during  
cooking shows but these will point in not out.  On the outside  
could be posters, banners or other signage with the clubs name 
in  it.  A few uprights on the corners & one in the middle would  
support these. 
Loosing the skyboards only on the turns (or having lower height  
ones would help with the view for now. 
Randall 
  

On 4 Mar 02, at 16:14, Adrian Elliott wrote: 
I agree that the skyboards make it difficult or impossible to see the 
trains  and that we should be able to see the trains for varioius 
reasons.  However, I think that leaving out skyboards would be a 
step backwards  in the appearance department. 
I like the idea of the persons who are running trains being on the 
outside  of the layout. I also think leaving skyboards out on just 
the corners  would help us see the trains without hurting the overall 
appearance of  the layout. 
Just Brainstorming here but, how about shortening the legs by a 
foot or  so.
 Benefits: 
1. We would then be able to see over the skyboards without any  
difficulty.
 2. The layout would be easier viewed by the younger visitors. 
Drawbacks: 
1. We would have to make alterations to the skirting.
 2. The youngest visitors could reach our trains much easier.
 3. It would be even harder to duck-under the layout. 
Bridge modules like Ed's and Rick's allow us to see the trains as 
well.  How about one bridge module on each of the three non-yard 
sides of the  layout. If we had the corners and the bridge modules 
we should have no  problem seeing the trains. 
I think everybody is agreeable to plexiglass on the corners. Let's 
do it.
 ------ TTAT members reflector.