Construction
Baseboards are lightweight 6mm ply construction, braced with 75mm x 18mm pine to form sandwich beams. End plates are 12mm ply, deck and bracing is more 6mm ply. I was persuaded to try this system by an experienced modeller railroader, but I think this is too light and may prove problematic as it is already warping.
Connection is kept simple with just 4 x 6mm bolts and wing nuts per board junction. There are 4 boards: 2 1m x 600mm scenic modules, and the two others are half length 180 degree turn around boards. There are thoughts about making the concept modular for future expansion so at the end of modules lines exit at prescribe distances from the front.
Legs are made of 18mm x 35mm pine, with hinges and cross braces. The end boards have a mono-leg bolted in with M6 bolts. Rail level is set at about 1.1m.
The layout will be presented within a proscenium arch, and have its own independent lighting system. None of this has yet been constructed.
Electrics
Train control is NMRA standard DCC - currently supplied by a Digitrax Zephyr command station/booster with hand held tethered throttle. Serious consideration is now being given to PC and software, or one of the newer "state of the art" all-in-one command stations (e.g. Viessman Commander or ESU Ecos) replacing the original Digitrax unit. This will enable full or partial automation.
Visible turnouts on the scenic boards are electrically operated with Peco twin coil motors. These will now be DCC controlled. Originally the turn-outs in the hidden storage sidings were to be hand thrown, but in view that PC or Command Station semi-automatic control is envisaged these will now also be electrically controlled.
Signalling will be the older style (pre-reunification DB) KS colour lights by Viessmann.
Scenics
There is nothing especially startling about the style of scenic construction. The landform is made with 4mm hardboard formers, covered with chicken wire, plaster bandage and plaster - sealed with earth coloured household emulsion paint.
Even in N my preferred basic ground cover is sifted natural soil. Scatter, sheet and tuft "vegetation" is by Woodland Scenics, Noch, Busch and Silfor.
Roadways are a mixture of plaster, printed foil and sheet materials. The main road is "cabled" for Faller Road System vehicles.
Buildings are a mixture of German plastic kits (from Kibri, Volmer, Piko and Pola/Faller), craftsman resin kits from the Dutch Architect range, card kits and scratchbuilt. All buildings are painted, inked and dry brushed to provide weathering - I really dislike the pristine glossy look of un-painted or un-weathered plastic kits frequently found on many European layouts. I am modelling modern Germany so as controversial as it is in some quarters - graffiti is prominent in appropriate places.