Christmas is coming and it is clear that the turntable will not be finished before I leave France. Several parts are back ordered and I have come to an impasse. But at least I can continue to work on the overall layout and a trial run fitting the three baseboards together, along with the backdrop, has demonstrated that progress has been made. The upper level of the turntable has been fitted (temporarily) and the turntable module has been placed into its space. Some cutting and adjusting had to be done to clear cabinet fixtures, and the need to shift the turntable to the left does not look pretty. As always, "next time" it would be different. Here is the turntable module in place:

The front and sides of the baseboards will be framed by a piece of trim matching the IKEA cabinets. This will also prevent rolling stock running off the layout. The right side of the turntable module is screwed into brackets attached to the interior of the cabinet carcass. The left side is currently sitting on a rebate cut in the adjacent baseboard. Eventually these joins will be strengthened; as it is they are simply placed next to each other.

An overall view of the layout:

I have placed a few items on the layout for scale (the layout is 2.4 m by 0.6 m).

Also note the two pictures above the scenic backdrop. They are prints by Philip Hawkins, framed by a really good frame shop in Wellington, Somerset - Jack knows his stuff and comes highly recommended. On the left is Tamworth Memories, which is certainly a very real title for me. The Scot is also a favourite, 46132, The King's Regiment Liverpool, my father's World War One regiment. On the right is Summer Saturday at Snow Hill, with 5070 Sir Daniel Gooch bringing in the Cornishman from Wolverhampton to a crowded Platform 7. I grew up near the North Warwickshire Line and this named train was the "top link" on the line. So lots of good memories on the wall above.

Recent posts have covered the possible coal hole and the plan for this is shown below:

Dobbin (Jinty) is located in the coaling road, the wagon where the inclined siding will be located. Coal will be delivered by running straight across the turntable; not prototypical but space is limited. The paper strips beyond the wagon are 6ft radius templates. In the far distance is my "fiddle yard", a place on the layout where a Metalsmith's locomotive cradle will be set into a space in the baseboard, allowing stock to be exchanged. It would represent the rest of British Railways.

To see the SketchUp design, go here.