2012-04-30 Update

Update- I haven't written for a while, but things are still moving forward. I've been working on two main areas of the layout: 1) forming the terrain; and 2) turnout control. On the first, I've attached the risers to raise the track back to the upper loop (after attaching the plywood deck to the foam supports). I now have (most of) a path to get from the lower loop to the upper loop. I am waiting on some cork roadbed and my additional track to arrive, so things are at a pause until more material arrives. In the meantime, I've been playing with some electricity. I decided I needed an electric control for a hard-to-reach turnout in a key spot. I've successfully modified the ends of Atlas snap switches to use a momentary SPDT (on)-off-(on) toggle, which I installed into fascia board (yes, had to add fascia in some spots). I looked at modifying the Atlas switch to fit my area, but couldn't make one work well. So I went exploring for turnout machines, and came across the Mole. A small motor from Proto-87, it seemed to fit the bill size-wise. As I'm no electronics guru, it took me a while (and a lot of patience from Andy at www.proto87.com) to get it right, but the installation is finally in. I now think I'm ready for the scenery forms around the motor (hillsides, etc.).