Need Help lowering my layout

[dnhouston]

Ok, this may sound crazy, but since I haven't had any time to really work on the layout over the last two years, I've had lots of time to think about what I have and what I want from my layout.  After attending a couple of open houses last fall, I've decided I want to double-deck part (maybe all) of the layout.  To do this, I need to lower the current trackwork by about 12-14 inches.  It's easy enough to go in with the cordless circular saw and chop the length off the legs, but I'm afraid the layout will break/splinter when I do this since I obviously can't do the whole layout at one time.

Has anybody tried to lower a layout before?  Any suggestions or pitfalls that I need to watch out for?

BTW, here's the existing trackplan (larger version at http://www.djnrr.com/Images/djnrr_room_2010.jpg )

[John]

what height is it now

[dnhouston]

52" at it's lowest point, and I want to drop that to either 42" or 40".

[wm3798]

If you can get to some ceiling structure (joists or something strong like that...) you could put a series of pullies in, tie off the layout to a main cable, then once the legs are cut, lower the whole mess at once.

Or, use a series of bottle jacks (the kind you would use to jack up a part of the house) and a system of beams, then after the legs are chopped, let the jacks down.

Lee

[Wardie]

What type of benchwork construction is it underneath? L-Girder, box with plywood top?

[DKS]

Has anybody tried to lower a layout before?  Any suggestions or pitfalls that I need to watch out for?

Haven't lowered one, but I helped raise one many years ago. The layout was about the size of yours. What we did was get a bunch of people together, and gave each person a key part of the layout to man. We placed a cinderblock next to each leg, and when we all raised the layout at once, each person kicked a cinderblock in place. It took a couple of hours to arrange, and about three minutes to execute.

Obviously you have a different situation, but perhaps you can use a variation on the trick. One at a time, cut a leg shorter and put a block of some sort under it. Get a bunch of people together, and have everyone lift the layout a little, all at once, and have them kick the blocks out from under the legs, then slowly lower the layout together. Might work--not something that's done every day, of course.

[chuck geiger]

http://sandiegorodandcustom.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/abes-lowered-car.jpg

[dnhouston]

What type of benchwork construction is it underneath? L-Girder, box with plywood top?

The benchwork is L-Girder

Lee - I like the jack idea, but don't have any of those just sitting around, and really don't want to buy a bunch just to do this job.  And my wife would kill me if I ripped out the ceiling to do the pulleys off the joists.

DKS - That was where my thinking was going.

Maybe it's time to schedule a layout lowering party. ;D

[Bob Bufkin]

Plenty of rental places you could rent them from.

[John]

how many legs?

Get one clamp for each leg .. sister a 2x2 onto each leg and tie it up with a C Clamp .. then cut the leg to the length you want .. do that for each leg, .. then slowly lower it 1 inch at a time per leg .. start on one end, then move to the other end ..

[Wardie]

how many legs?

Get one clamp for each leg .. sister a 2x2 onto each leg and tie it up with a C Clamp .. then cut the leg to the length you want .. do that for each leg, .. then slowly lower it 1 inch at a time per leg .. start on one end, then move to the other end ..

Probably the best one man approach right there especially with l girder. I have never built L girder and am not sure how well it will lower.

With a lot of people to help the brick under leg might work too.

[ednadolski]

52" at it's lowest point, and I want to drop that to either 42" or 40".

If there is enough vertical clearance, maybe you could instead build a 10" - 12" tall floor/platform?

I'd be a little concerned, tho, about trying to build a second level above an existing layout. You'd have to be pretty careful about controlling damage from reaching & leaning over the lower level, dropping tools/materials, spilled coffee (my bane), etc.   How are you going to support the new level?  How about lighting for the lower level?

Ed

[dnhouston]

Great idea John, and I have a bunch of C Clamps lying around from when I initially built the framework.

Ed, I'm not too worried about the damage, more of the layout is "plywood prairie" than has scenery.  Support was going to be primarily from wall brackets for the upper level.  I'm still not sure if I want to try extending out over the peninsulas.  For lighting, I am really intrigued by the LED strips that Tim used on his layout, but I may end up going with fluorescent or good old incandescent.

[ednadolski]

Hm, David, if there's more plywood than scenery then that seems to me like it perhaps opens more possibilities for you.   If you're willing to rebuild some (or even all) of the base level, then you can consider trackplans that are really designed to fully utilize two levels in a unified way, and resolve a lot of the potential design problems and constraints that are almost inevitable when trying to "add a level"  to an existing layout.   For example, how will the trains travel between levels?   You could do a helix, but it would probably be a sizable one, and in addition to having a fair footprint the trains could end up being in it for a long time when going between levels.  Also, you might need to double-track it if it could become a bottleneck for trains waiting to travel in the opposite direction.   A plan designed for two levels could minimize those kind of effects and even turn them to advantages in some cases.

Ed

[ArtinCA]

The idea of new legs would probably work faster. You'll just have to watch the racking when you do the job.

Art