Time to finally start laying track and I decided that I needed to start with probably the most critical bit of the formation, the single slip and turnout into the loop. The template from Templot showed these a 1:8 crossings, which is actually the shallowest diamond that you can have apparently. Anyone who has ever made a diamond crossing will tell you the most difficult bit is making the obtuse crossings - they are a pig to get right. That said after spending the whole of Friday evening turning the air blue (sorry Brian!) I managed to get them to my satisfaction.

I've made the track off the board so I can work at a comfortable level on the bench and spin it around from all angles. The crossing is not straight which makes it all the more amusing. Exactoscale components on ply works well, the solvent melts the bottom of the chair and gives a decent grip onto the sleepers. I did have some issues with the chairs not having quite enough grip on the rail to stop the sleepers moving on the complete point (this is always a problem with the slide chairs) and had to resort to some 'thin' super-glue. This won't matter once the formation is stuck onto the foam.

I've also attached the first 'TOU' (turnout operating unit) to the underneath of the baseboard. This is one of the design I cut on the laser cutter from acrylic. This was pleasing easy to fit and adjust so I'm rather happy with it. The plan is that the operating arm connects to a servo on a separate mounting plate.

The crossing appears to pass the 'Weeeeeeee!' test with a wagon and coach (at least until it runs off the ends of the rails! I was a bit cross when one wagon jolted over the crossing until I checked its back-to-back and found it about 3/4mm too narrow and the wheels covered in clag.

All rather satisfying so far, dare I try and power it up?

David