Foundations

Baseboards

The baseboards for the layout are formed from three 4’ x 2’ boards I bought from Allan Sibley. The right-hand board was slightly reduced in length to fit the shed. These consist of a 4” deep 6mm ply frame with a 6mm top additionally supported midway across the length of the unit. The corners are blocked, glued and screwed.

I have overlaid these boards with a 9mm ply topping which has enabled me to extend the width of the baseboards and create a curved front profile.

A 6mm hardboard profile board follows the ground contours and covers the top of the curtains which conceal the under board mayhem. The 300mm high back scene is formed of 6mm mdf with 300mm radius corners.

The Track

The track I have used throughout is PECO code 75. This does not accurately portray the American prototype but it is the product I am used to working with, includes in the range all the switch varieties I need and, most importantly, is freely available in the UK. Had the Peco code 83 US range been available when I started construction this might have been a better choice but it still lacks the curved switches which have been imperative in getting Keene to fit in the available space.

The track is laid on Woodland Scenics foam track bed except in the main yard where I have used Exactoscale foam underlay. This is slightly thinner which creates, marginally, the appearance of a lower standard of construction. Besides I had a roll to hand! The track bed is glued to the ply sub- base with white pva glue which does the job quickly but can be easily removed if required. The track is then pinned down using Peco track pins in pre-drilled holes. So far this combination has worked well.

Control

The model is set up to be operated by Digital Command Control (dcc). This is a system whereby the locomotives are controlled by digital signals sent by the controller. This has many advantages. Most significantly it means that more than one locomotive can be run on the layout at the same time independently and that sound can be added to the operations. To allow this the locos have to be fitted with microchip decoders and, if desired, speakers. In the case of switchers which are too small for the addition of onboard sound, a stationary sound decoder will be linked to the movements of the locomotive. In addition the hand-held control unit can be used to operate switches, etc.

The system I have chosen is Digital Plus by Lenz and initially I purchased a Set 100 which comprises a LZV100 unit, a LH100 hand controller and a transformer from Waltons of Altrincham. I have since added a LH90.