Updated 5/16/2012:
Decent progress has been made:
- I made a good decision a couple of days ago. Instead of trying to piece together scraps of masonite for the floor of the access hatch "sandwich", I bought a 4'x8' sheet and cut the piece to the proper dimensions. A single piece was the correct solution; I would have spent much more time playing around with a piece-meal approach.
- I installed "stops" (small blocks of wood) to help position the hatch on the layout.
- I finally came to some decisions about how the hatch would be quickly removed. After the electrical connections are decoupled, a scenic wall will be removed, allowing the hatch to slide out from the main part of the layout. A number of clearances will be measured and marked for cutting. Those spots needing clearance will be trimmed before anything else gets done.
Once the trimming has been done, the complete sandwich will be assembled. This involves screwing the floor to the ribs. Painting (a slag gray / white) will be next. Following that, subroadbed, track, and electrical wiring will be installed.
George
