The biggest fault of my last layout was the substandard frame, and subsequent warping. I was determined that this would not happen this time.

The project initially had two helixes at each end and the main scenic area in the middle. This worked well, apart from the fact that the trains spent too long "off scene". The solution was to build the layout as it is now.

Most of the frame is 2'x 1' timber, with a couple of 2'x 3' lengths to strengthen the structure, and plenty of bracing.

Only the main scenic section is level. The rest has sloped baseboards (the whole board is molded to the shape needed, rather than starting with a level board and adding the gradient to it).

Anyway, the pictures will tell a better tale.

Click picture to make it bigger (but you knew that already!).