I am getting to the point where I need to close in my access hatch. I have an idea on how I will make it lift straight up. Once my scenery is done I do not see me having to use the hatch often, as there are no switches out of reach from the outside of the layout.
So post some photos and diagrams on how yours are done, are they hinged, just left open, made to look like something else. Mine will have a small pond in the middle.
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The whole football field lifts out. Nothing fancy - just lifts out. It can be set down safely on nearby yard tracks while I work in the hatch. But, I do try to wait for halftime or the little guys get upset (literally). 
Jim
Check out these:
Grandson on backside of buff. Also area to the right of the houses and behind the water tower opens.
Area under tank farm lifts up. The lift up section is attached to a 3ft 6 inch length of 1-1/2" plastic pipe and I have a 2" plastic pipe attached to the layout leg and the 1-1/2" pipe is inside the 2" pipe so when I lift the section I install a nail into a hole in the 2" pipe so the 1-1/2" pipe will seat on the nail. This way the tank farm is 2 foot above the layout and can be moved around out of the way to work on the layout.
Cold Storage building, closed and open.
Jim,
This one is done with a piano hinge.
Alex
No pictures to show yet, but on my AF layout work in process I need one for construction and maintenance. So, I have a 16" x 24" hole in place on my flat top benchwork. The piece of plywood cut from there will have on it Plasticville's Independence Hall as a "park square" scene with cannons, statues, and sidewalks. I plan to make a sidewalk encircling it with a lip over the roadways around it to set it in place.
Phil
Great looking hatches everyone. I will be heading to home depot to get some parts and will post how mine works on Tuesday.
There are two hatches to access the town area. One is behind the hill under the car wash/Mel's Diner. The base lifts up and unplugs from the accessory electrical to service that section of town.
The second hatch to service the town is the bus station platform. Again, it unplugs from the accessory electrical.
The Acme Brewing Distribution Warehouse covers an access hole for the harbor area. The panel next to the spur and the rear panel are removable to access track areas for cleaning and maintenance. We were going to put a removable roof on the structure, but we didn't think it was really worth the effort. Maybe someday.
Here's a hatch that swings down out of the way.
Latch prior to building cliff
I like the idea of a drop-down, that way you can unplug it, drop it, and move it totally out of your way. With a lift-out, you have to figure out what to do with it on top of the layout.
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