I know I can buy them but I wanted to try and build myown. I know that stairs come in many different shapes and sizes but what dimensions do I need to have for a set of "1/48 scale" steps going into the mobile trailer I'm building. I tried using 11" deep and 7" tall but I got some good awful fraction. Nothing to fancy just how tall and deep they need to be. Thanks for all the help I have received in the past from everyone.
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I have been doing industrial "stairs" for the last 46 years as a structural draftsman.
Today, Industry standard as well as a lot of building codes goes by the "7-11" rule.
Back in the day, we had another rule we went with. The height of (2) risers plus the width of the tread had to "fall" within 24" to 25". This allowed for various heights of risers and tread combinations. For instance, (2) 6.5" risers and (1) 11" tread equals 24".
I have seen risers as short as 6" and as tall as 8.5" in the industry. Once you get over that height of tread, the stair becomes a "ship ladder" type and then there are all sorts of options. Remember, the maximum height between landings for a tall stair should be 12'-0".
For our 1:48 scale layouts, I would just go with what looks good. I doubt OSHA will be visiting your layout to look for compliance! 
Hope that helps.
Donald
Way back in the day in commercial construction we used "rise 7, run 12". But in stepping for trains and things I tried to use whatever looked right. In the photo below I had to fudge up a tad on "rise" and skimp on "run" to finally reach (behind gate) the high entrance to Ramsford Palace,then if it looked a little off I covered it with snow.
Foam steps.
Those fractions are what "scale" is all about. You have to compromise by rounding things off somewhere, even if it's in microns. The level of acceptable inaccuracy is personal.
Stairs. BTS kit. Top set is more like a ladder.
The kit came with a jig to support the stringer as the treads were glued in place. Much of the handrail was not part of the kit.
Up close, follow scale. Distance, whatever looks good........................
Station steps like these were made in 1932. Steps were many and also short due to the high rise up to street level as with subways as well. Many things to consider in proper era modeling.
Just measured my steps. Height of tread 7.5". Length of tread 10.5". I bought Rusty Stumps laser cut stair kit to use in scratch building.
Trainman2001 posted:Just measured my steps. Height of tread 7.5". Length of tread 10.5". I bought Rusty Stumps laser cut stair kit to use in scratch building.
I have done a couple of sets of stairs 1:1, using very nice 2" X 12" lumber for the stringer. Rise/Run layout usually requires some head scratching. The idea is to get all the rises equal, combined run usually has to fit a certain space.
On a petroleum storage tank, we use 8 1/2" rise by 8 1/2" run. For models I make I use 3/16" x3/16" ( 9 x 9)
alan graziano
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