Brief Progress Report

The framework for the five "pre-fab" layout sections is done. The sections will reside in the garage a little while longer, awaiting recarpeting of our house, which will happen within the next two weeks. (We're having 25-year carpeting installed, so I doubt we'll have to repeat the process...in 25 years, I'll be nearly 90!) In the meantime, I hope to have all the remaining lumber for the layout...legs, backdrop supports, baseboard...and the backdrop itself...cut out and ready. I'll do a trial partial assembly of the whole works in the garage, then move the sections to the train room for final, permanent assembly.

Because the Texas coastal area I'm depicting is very flat, I will use a solid baseboard, with any needed slight elevations built up with scrap wood and cardboard. The "downtown" area at the rear of the layout, for example, will be only an inch or two higher than the area at "water's edge." In S Scale, an inch represents about 5 feet. Because this layout is semi-modular, I prefer a solid baseboard. The actual water area will be on a special section to be bolted to the main layout frame. I envision the water's surface as being about 10 feet (2 inches) below the land. Tidal changes down here are slight compared to those in the north. If I were modeling my home town of Seattle, for example, I'd need much higher piers...not to mention much greater land elevation changes to represent the steep terrain.

The lighting is done, thanks to a purchase of four wall lamps, and I have to say I'm very pleased with the results.