06-12-2009, 10:13 AM
I may be too late with this post, but here goes anyway. If you are going to operate the lower level from an office chair on wheels, don't forget to recess those under layout cabinets far enough to allow adequate knee room. Think of the lower bench work as a monster desk. If the upper table is at or just below eye level, you will need some sort of portable platform to raise you up about 12 inches or so. If you don't elevate your self a bit, you won't be able to reach into the layout at all. Basically the layout has to be just below arm pit level for you to be able to reach in. If it is just a bit lower than that, say at the bottom of your rib cage, it will be easier to reach in without destroying the scenery at the front edge. If it is necessary to reach the back of the layout to re-rail after a derailment, you can use a small step ladder and some hand holds above the layout if that is possible. If you design a 12 - 15 inch high recessed "toe kick" under the cabinets, you can then store your foot boards for the platform vertically in the toe kick with some sort of simple latching device to keep the boards from falling over. Some small "sawhorses" built to the right height to lift you to the level that is most comfortable for operation and the same width as the foot boards could be stowed vertically in an open shelf under the layout.