To take several steps forward, I first needed to take a major step back. I was never really happy with the center section of the layout. With the planned expansion of the layout to the left side of the room, I decided to rip out the center section. Removing the scenery was easy. All I then had to do was cut the 1-inch thick Masonite laminate I had made two years ago for the mainline. It took some serious elbow grease, but I got it, as this next photo shows. Only the backdrop remains.



The new-and-improved center section will also have better thought-out benchwork. First I cut and glued 1-inch wide strips of 3/4" plywood to the bottom edge of the backdrop panel. The space under the layout in this center section needs to remain clear, so the front and back panels will be an integral part of the structural design of this section.



Next I put several coats of white base paint on the backpanel. It was much easier to get to now that all the scenery is out of the way. I then cut a new front fascia panel for the center section of the layout. My backdrop panels are 13 inches (33cm) tall, so I made this new front panel 11 inches (28cm) tall. I then marked off where I wanted to have a mountain pass on the front panel and sketched out with a pencil where the top profile was to be. Next, I used a straight-cutting bit in my hand-held router and made the rough outline you see along the top of the panel free-hand. After that a pass with the orbital sander and the panel was ready for use. The panel spans the space between the two sets of bookcases, about 80 inches (203cm). This next photo shows the same kind of 1-inch wide strips of 3/4" plywood glued to the bottom edge of the front fascia panel. For the photo, you are looking at the back side of the front panel.



With the front panel in the correct position, this is what the area looks like. The benchwork structure will rest on, and be attached to, those 1-inch wide strips of plywood. I also moved the front fascia panel several inches into the room from where the previous front panel was.



This is what the section looks like with the front fascia placed in its spot (nothing is attached yet). The unpainted front fascia panel gives you a good idea of the mountainous profile I intend to build in this section.



The new subroadbed and scenery will be supported by a set of 2-1/2" (6.4cm) wide, 1/4" plywood boards. They are roughly placed in the space for dry-fitting. The boards are 14-1/4" (36cm) wide so that will be the new depth of this center section of the layout. If you look closely, you might see a set of four holes drilled in each board. Those will guide the bus wires for the DCC and the 12-volt accessories that run under my layout.