CSFT looses weight.

Not that the CSFT was overweight! But in order to fit our new (to us) car into the garage I needed to do some surgery (or is that butchery) to the CSFT.

This involved moving the whole layout about 9 inches (200mm) closer to the back of the garage, and some 'adjustment' to the Forest Junction module. The adjustment was removing about 1/2 a foot (15cm) from the front of most of the module, but leaving the section where the module connects to the rest of the CSFT.

The changes to Forest Junction were done in place with the module still connected to the rest of the layout. The only thing I did do was disconnect Illinook from the module to facilitate cutting Forest Junction.

Above: The module before changes were made.

Above: Another view of the module before changes were made.

Above: The surgeon / butcher at work. This is after the decorative stained wood frame has been removed from the front.

Above: The resulting 'fault line' part way through the adjustment.

Above: The front frame removed, showing the aluminium trestle that supports that end of the module, and the general undulating nature of the scenery near the front of the module.

Above: Rather than re-configure the sub-baseboard frame, I decided to leave any framing where it was and work around it somehow. This photo shows the 'dog leg' that resulted from that decision, and the front framework added back onto the front of the module after the other sub-baseboard framing was cut to length.

Above: While the 'adjutsment' is considered finished, there is still some scenic work that needs to be done to make the area look realistic again. What a good excuse to re-scenic the surrounding area too!

Following are a few photos of the 'dog leg' in various stages of the adjustment.

The 'dog leg' completed.

Above: The 'adjutsment' completed.