Construction of the baseboards is in 9mm ply. Below is a photo taken on 30th May showing the basic idea.

followed by three of the boards put together. Boards are located to one another by metal dowels and then coach bolted.

After construction of all the boards there commenced first the track laying and then the wiring. Operation is by DCC so every length of track on each board is linked to two buses, one for supply of the electricity and one for return. Glenn insists on neatness and his wiring is a joy to behold. Point wiring (including changeover switches for the frogs) was not multi-coloured on the remainder of the boards. Red wire was used for every connection but each wire is coded at each end to ensure ease of rectification. We always said that if the layout didn't work then we could turn the boards over and have a demonstration in wiring! Date of the photo 18th July.

Glenn's friend Ian Bush arrived for a few days in August and the layout moved along at an incredible rate. Ian himself constructed the depot inspection pit (inside the depot shed) out of brass angle. The following photo doesn't really do it justice.

In addition, end plates for the carrying of the boards and backscenes were made. The way the boards link together for ease of movement and storage is another case of a design working to perfection.

That weekend the sun shone again so the first full assembly of the layout was tried. Not only were we able to "play trains" for the first time but checking of all the electrical connections was achieved (and a couple did need changing). To find any faults before ballasting commenced would ease any changes necessary considerably.

We had spent 11 weeks so far and had 8 weeks left until the exhibition - a reasonably completed layout seemed a long way away.