So after posting last nights update I was feeling pretty pleased with myself - I had a nice, flat and solid baseboard which looked good.

Impatience, however, then took over - I was keen to fix the end pieces to the boards, so took out a couple of the screws as the sides seemed to be secure. Of course, allowing a couple of hours rather than the 24 recommended on the tube of Gripfill was too soon, and I quickly found I had to put them back. Luckily, no damage occurred and this morning I was able to attach the side pieces and also, again taking the "belt and braces" approach, purchased 4 angle brackets to secure each board to its neighbour on the corners.

As per Buffalo's comment on the previous post, I have also added three battens to act as further bracing underneath - two at equal lengths and one at the somewhat roughly-cut end. There is enough wood - purchased for a long since abandoned scheme and discovered today resting in my parents loft, to add more once the track is down and I can avoid points etc.

Tonight I have also been able to add cork to the top of the board - this is a personal preference and also I was unsure if my usual method of weathering track - blasting it with a rattlecan of Sleeper Grime - would be suitable on a foam baseboard. Wickes again seem the only local supplier for cork tiles, and they sell them in packets of 9. I'd calculated a total of 10 would be needed, so rather than buy another packet for one tile, I used the offcuts to fill most of the gaps, just leaving space where there will be no track and than can easily be covered with scenery.

To go from paper dreams to something physical always feels like a big step, and one I have sometimes struggled to take in the past, so this will go down as a very productive weekend!