Hidden escape stairs... ideas?

[Julian Amrine]

Our design calls for escape stairs that fold out of the side of a 4x4x4' wagon during one scene (they are escape stairs and are never seen by the audience) and also fold in to the interior during other scenes so it can butt up flush to other scenery. Any ideas on how to do this smoothly? Just brainstorming...

 

[DRU]

How much space do you have under the platform? You can have the stairs pull out like drawers, lock into place out, then unlock to be pushed in. Either separate or as one unit.

 

[bobgaggle]

Could also build a stair that flips up into the platform, benefit is that it sets in one motion, no locks or bracing. Fun problem to figure out