I am starting work on the hidden loops which will lie behind Cowes and the line along the Medina. To do this I had to get a sighting shot on how Cowes would fit, which is what the photo shows. The track templates are generated by the Trax3 software. Behind are some Peco turnouts (the hidden section will be laid using Peco Streamline. Important things here were to see where the turnouts would be in relation to the baseboard frames (I'm using underslung Peco turnout motors on the hidden section) and also in relation to the baseboard joints. Everything good so far. First objective is to get the hidden loops and sidings operational which means making the decision on DCC vs Analogue, and building a control panel. Well, DCC has won the day and I've dug my ZTC511 out of the box it has been in since I bought it in ?2007. And I'll attempt to fit a chip into an O2 in due course. Meanwhile I can test on analogue. But for now the first task is simply to screw down hardwood strips for the baseboards joints (glueing PCB sleepers thereon) and cork sheet for the trackbed. But in the 30 degrees heat, even with an (obviously underpowered) air-con unit, it is hot work.

BUT, we are underway on the great project!

Chris