In the way

The disadvantages I see with cables is they can get in the way and takes away from the overall look at the layout.  
 

Joe

Rod vs cable

If you really need to suspend part of the layout, a rod would have the advantage that bumping it wouldn’t bounce the layout up.  It’s probably also easier to paint a rod black than it is to paint a cable black.

What I like about cable over

What I like about cable over rods is that I can put a temp leg under the layout and remove the cable using the built in release device and it is out of the way for photos. I just like not having legs and braces under the layout, I prefer a clean look. 
 

Painting the cables is no issue, takes just a few seconds

Removable

You could make the rod removable pretty easily - fasten to a hinged block at the top, fasten to a removable bracket at the bottom.  There’s probably a more sophistiated way, but one approach would be to expoxy the rod end into a small block of wood.

I would love to have

I would love to have suspended the layout from the ceiling to get the clear space under the layout, but bumping the layout would cause it to swing - cable or rod. 

The tracks along the wall are on brackets, so space is clear underneath that portion. But the center peninsula is the issue. It is 50 feet long. The potential for sway at the far end would be huge.

Is that the OEM name? Gripple?

Hi Dale - I have an application where these might be the cat's meow. I'm going to have a 1-track wide bridge as it were going through a doorway connecting the layout to a helix located in an adjoining room. It would be way better to suspend these "bridge" sections vs. having traditional legs. I don't think sway will be too bad of an issue seeing as how each end will be attached to solid structure - the helix or the main section of the layout. I also like this cable idea over the threaded rod route.

It will be awhile before I have to tackle this aspect of my layout build, but would like to know what the brand name of this system is. Gripple? And where you got them. Bix box store?

Thanks for posting this!

What's the benefit over shelf

What's the benefit over shelf brackets?  Thinner benchwork or deeper benchwork?  The lack of stability seems to be a really big trade-off.  I built my layout with brackets and it's only about 3 " thick.

For those times when you can't do a shelf...

In my case, my narrow, ~4" wide "bridge" section won't have a wall on either side, so suspending from the ceiling's joists make perfect sense and I think these these cables will give me some more options than threaded rod.

Paul, Gripple is the brand

Paul,

Gripple is the brand name. you can google Gripple USA and see what their product line has, They have a lot of options. Another company with a similar product is Duro Dyne. I don't think  either one is stocked at big box stores, but they may be able to get you the duro dyne brand, which can also be found through HVAC supply companies The gripple brand, which in my opinion is a superior product is harder to source. They are available from some construction suppliers. Here in Colorado I am only aware of 2 companies that stock them. If you only need a few a I can help you with that, just send me an email to manofkountry@yahoo.com

The nice thing about these devices is that the cables are easily removed when needed just by pulling on a pin to release the lock.

Milt,

You are correct about the cables on a peninsula, I tried that and its really nice until the first time that someone bumps the layout. And my peninsula is no where near 50'. I think cables have uses in some areas, but it is not a fix all solution to gain clear space under the layout. I like the way they support my 18" to 24" wide sections of layout and that is where I will use them.

It's all still in the experimental stage for me, I have a few installed and if after some more time passes I find other issues or just simply decide I don't like them it will be easy enough to change.

Dale,

Are they adjustable - i.e. can you change the length of the hanging cable easily?  I'm thinking that issues like sag, etc. might arise longer term, necessitating a height adjustment; or would it be better to insert a turnbuckle in the run, up high of course, so that one could fine-tune the height?  Or, if hanging from a screw eye in an overhead joist (for example), make sure you leave enough thread to screw the hook in a turn or two if needed?

Curious

Blair

One man's ceiling...

One man's ceiling, is another man's floor.  Or more likely, the wife unit's. 

Just remember those floor joists above you will move when someone walks on them. 

Randy

Blair, They are easily

Blair, They are easily adjustable. They have a pin located on the bottom of the device, simply pull it out and the lock releases allowing the cable to be removed or adjusted.

When I have some time, probably tonight or tomorrow morning, I will post a short video showing how they work.

Randy, since the structure

Randy,

since the structure above is the roof (layout on second level of home) I don't see that as an issue.....unless of course and angry bird happens along

Dale...

What about Christmas Eve?  How's the layout gonna take eight reindeer, a fat guy, and a sleigh full of toys bouncing around up there? 

I was talking to all these other guys with rooms and junk covering their layout spaces.  

But still, there is the whole Santa issue. And gargoyles. 

Randy

Roofers

Santa is magically light footed, surely not a problem for a suspended layout 

But if you need to get your roof re-shingled, just remember to remove anything that might be bounced off the layout by large roofers walking around and dropping bundles of shingles.

not for me

Obviously it's your layout, so do as you please, but I don't see the value of trading utility under the layout for inconvenience on the layout.

Dale,

What I had in mind is support for my upper valence, which generally doesn't care if it bounces a bit from my weight crossing the kitchen above.  I had a choice - support run from the joists above, or thickening the structure behind the backdrop(not very appealing, as I'd lose scene depth to do this), to allow stronger bracing. 

But we solved this yesterday, installing vertical wire supports(actually, the wire usually used for false ceiling supports) from the joists above the ceiling.  Not as easily adjusted, but then I don't expect to adjust them often.  In one location, that upper valence work will also carry a staging yard, but that's in a less-heavily-travelled section of the house.

So thank you, and others may be interested in your photos, but for me the issue is moot.

Blair