Layout lighting - how far from the layout?

[Vecchio]

Question to those who know everything: 

I am just going to install lights for my layout. The baseboard is 80cm above ground - how high should the lightbar be? I suppose 190cm above ground should be good - so even the taller guys (and gals) will not have the light in their eyes.  Light will be LED lightbars. They look like a smaller version of a fluorescent tube. Have 6 in use in my house. 

 

any comments? 

 

Thanks

 

Vecchio

[PMP]

There’s no right answer, it will depend on how you design your presentation, how you mount them, how transportable you need them, and the output from them (how bright) they are. On my layouts the lighting is about 30-40cm above the board surface.

 

[Vecchio]

Of course if you are using the "in the box" approach you can go lower. 

Mine is 4.5m long and 60 (and in some places 120)cm wide. 

 

This may give a better idea about it then my description. 

 

20190906_162050 

[Ian Morgan]

Using modern LED strips and aluminium angle, the lighting can be quite unobtrusive, even if quite low.

 

I would suggest it is placed a little forward from the front of the layout, otherwise items near the front can be in shadow.