Hi All.

Something of a milestone today. The first fiddle yard has been joined to the main scenic board for the first time, and it fits!! In fact, the fit is just a fraction too tight as the fiddle yard left some black paint on the end of the other board, but i'm not complaining about that!

In the run up to RMweb live, work on the layout will focus on getting the thing operational, and presentable, in that order. The second fiddle yard is now largely complete so I hope to have this connected up during next week. Track laying and electrical connections to the fiddle yard will then be completed, along with the laying of track on the traverser. I'm also hoping to have the facia for the scenic section started and painted to finish things off nicely along with a curtain to hide the mess underneath! No doubt the show will expose any issues at the most inconvenient moment!

The layout is resting on two Draper trestles, whilst the fiddle yards will probably use home made versions. It seems to be a pretty sturdy affair, even without being clamped to the trestles.

Height wise, the rail height from floor is 123.5cm, which feels about right when viewing from the front.

The only problem I have now, is where to keep all the various parts of the layout when not in use!

Tom.

Ropley is a N Gauge Model using 2mm Finescale Easitrac modelled after the real location on the Mid Hants Railway Watercress Line.