Backdrop Height - Model Railroader Magazine

Doc in CT

Doesn't the height also depend on where the backdrop is? If it's a wall, then the height can be eye level or what looks good. If it's a view block (for example on a peninsular) then the height is dictated by ceiling height to some extent. Too tall and it blocks room lighting and air circulation (unless of course you layout room was purpose built).

Maybe, but I've seen some home layouts where the backdrops were built similar to modular layouts with fairly short backdrop panels (guessing 16-18" height) and a wall directly behind them - the wall was a contrasting color (either wood paneling or something radically different from sky blue) and to me, it was very distracting and detracted from the layout. 

I remember recently seeing a photo of someones home layout - in the view you could see a birds eye view of a large part of the layout and what was really jarring was all the wood paneling used, both as fascia's and on the walls.  I know in the olden days, wood paneling was all the rage, and was considered very attractive, but in a train room, it's "too attractive".  Some even consider wood paneling "dated" but even if you disregard that notion, the fact is wood paneling does visually distract from the railroad scenes - vertical lines of wood grain with black dividing lines etc., not good.

Proper or idealized back drops and fascia's can really make a HUGE difference in how a model RR looks.  David Barrow of Cat Mountain & Santa Fe did some MR articles on this very subject back in the 1990's where he discussed valences, back drops, and especially fascia's and aprons - and the color used.  In cases where it was well done, the railroad scenes really held your attention and he said visitors would talk in hushed tones due to the almost museum like setting.

The point being that everything around the railroad was arranged to draw your eye to the railroad scene and to not be noticed.  Facia's were usually a neutral tone or black, but also matched the scenery too.  In the article, it was noted that in eastern RR benefited from dark green fascia's while western RR's benefitted from some shade of tan?  But I digress.

Anything you can do to enhance the scene is a good idea.  Layout height, back drops, fascia's etc. all contribute to the immersion of the scene.