Probably going to do this for my shelf and hood. Not sure I need the bottom piece of 3mm MDF, was thinking of putting it in place to hide all the wires, would not need the rear pine section either then. the backdrop would be thin MDF or sheeting that I can paint blue and fit behind the DIY hollow core designed shelf and top shelf as per my last layout.

Liking this plan a lot... got a lot of elements I like... and can be made as a smaller layout or larger L shape

[attachment=25977]

[attachment=25976]

Or like this

[attachment=25978]

Any update?

No Updates as yet, got a baby due any week now and have a lot of work to get done before it comes.

Not rushing to start as I still don't have my DCC system or even a loco to run so I don't want to build the shelf and then not have any thing to run it with. I'm also having a break from designing and rather doing some reading on railroads and branches. Seem that one can get stuck on one line of thought and its very hard to come up with new ideas if you carry on evolving a previous plan.

Hope to have some progress in the next month or 2.

Hows this for a great idea as an un-coupling tool...I'll definitely give them a try. I know I can get them locally, cheap and also a lot less bulky that these...

http://bogonggeehirailway.blogspot.co.za...pling.html

I've been reading a re-reading LM's LAJ and other blogs as I feel I have some ways to go before I have something that can be passed off as realistic. LM seems to always try and have the fronts of the buildings included on both rear and front industries, this makes it all seem more real. i have only ever had ta slice of an industry on the front side of the layout and think I need to try lower the amount of track and make room for more realistic buildings...

[attachment=26058]

All the buildings in the front are non rail served.

Just make sure the front buildings don't interfere with operation. I've learned that the hard way...

Matt