Slowly working through the todo list and today the turntable was put in place, took several hours first drilling out holes then cutting around the circle and then trimming back to ensure a nice tight fit and then gentle pressure results in a perfect fit.

So plans now...

Main board / track etc

fit tracks leading up to turntable (tonight perhaps). (EDIT DONE!)

Purchase additional three points necessary to complete track work.

Work on baseboard joints (ie brass soldering etc of track work to ensure a good fit)

Source and fit point motors (DCC ones)

Electrical wiring

Remaining two boards.

As and when possible:

Convert all stock to kadee couplings

Convert all locos to DCC

Create a Class 13 out of two Class 08s that I have

Convert Hornby crane to more realistic representation

Create a breakdown crane rake (Southern pride kits look great)

Anything else I think of in meantime!

So far nothing too technical has happened and is unlikely to start happening until I start working on the electrical elements. Thankfully that does not appear likely to start happening before end of August so I have plenty of time to research the best way to wire up the tracks and points (not to mention the turntable!) to ensure maximum reliability in an exhibition environment not to mention ease of maintenance in the future!

I am pleased with the progress so far (even if its only little bits at a time!) and fully expect it to be completed by end of October although there is a possibility that we wont be able to fit it into the hall for the exhibition ooops! But despite that setback I am still planning on completing it by then.

PS just for sheer fun I took a picture of the APT rake in the station area although its obviously too long for the platform