Detailing Having completed the new baseboard we are adding detail across the layout. The most obvious addition is working switch stands! The other area receiving particular attention is the central mine withe the addition of chain to deflect the ore better into the gondolas together with a rash of chimneys and general clutter. New Baseboard Please go to the Photo Gallery - New Baseboard to see the latest photos showing the development stages and the completed baseboard. We hope you like it! We had a major concern that we could not match the rock colours with the rest of the layout but it's looking good. Fortunately we chose a very simple original colour palet - essentially raw sienna lightened with various amounts of white. The new baseboard fits between boards three and four (looking from left to right). The excuse for the board is twofold:
As part of the development we have had to insert an additional fiddle yard board (the darker one in the picture of the fiddle yard) to balance the extra front one. We can now have really, really long trains! Whilst updating the wiring for the new board we have taken the opportunity to introduce more dead sections to prevent us running into points which are set against us and hence causing shorts! These sections are controlled via relays depending upun the direction of the points. This has caused much head scratiching from our electrician! Whilst modifying the front of the layout, we have taken the opportunity to simplify the track plan near the large trestle by taking out a couple of points. These were part of the ability to run round stock on the back lower raod using the main line. However, the facility was never used in practice because of the disruption to the main line flow. |