Looks like good fun. There's a lot to be said for building a table top style layout from off the shelf items. Progress is a lot faster 
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David
.David
Dublo Three Rail Layout
Back in 2016, after a break of a few decades, I decided to get back into railway modelling. For some reason I can't quite fathom, I decided not to create a scale model with modern models, but instead started accumulating a range of Hornby Dublo three rail equipment. Fast forward to 2018, and the layout that I eventually built took shape as a very old-school double track oval with reversing loop, goods yard, turntable and engine shed and a four track terminus, all on a board that is 8'x4'. The funny thing is, I'm getting more enjoyment out of it than I did from all the terminus to fiddle yard scale models I have had in the past. Both our grandsons love it too. It's too early to say whether or not our granddaughter is interested, although she has watched the trains go around, but then she's only one year old.
here is the track plan. All the points, signals and uncoupling ramps that are not easily reached from the control panel are electrically operated.
![19998]()
Here is an overhead view of one end of the layout. The Flying Scotsman is a Trix model and the Caledonian locomotive at the far end, somewhat improbably hauling a rake of Gresley LNER teak stock is a GEM body kit on a Tri-ang B12 chassis converted to three rail. Everything else is Dublo.
![19999]()
here is the track plan. All the points, signals and uncoupling ramps that are not easily reached from the control panel are electrically operated.
Here is an overhead view of one end of the layout. The Flying Scotsman is a Trix model and the Caledonian locomotive at the far end, somewhat improbably hauling a rake of Gresley LNER teak stock is a GEM body kit on a Tri-ang B12 chassis converted to three rail. Everything else is Dublo.
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As some will know, I am using Rocoline with track ballast for my shelf layout. These points have live frogs and in the embedded track, they are already wired to switch polarity when the point changes. The points are non isolating so both roads are always live.
Roco make a DCC controlled solenoid point motor which fits into a space under the ballast. This has three wires. Two are attached to fishplates which I connect to the heel of the point. The third wire has a clip which you attach to one rail to put it into programming mode. Once done you disconnect it, fold it under the base and that's it.
I have motorised four points so far.
I prefer slow action motors to solenoids but for ease of installation this is hard to beat. When using the route setting feature of the Z21, I do sometimes have to ask twice or change the point manually to get what I want.
So long as the fishplates continue to make good connections, the four wires I have from the Z21 will be enough. Two of those wires are for the programming track.
Adding other DCC controlled accessories such as uncouplers or signals will add wires and boxes.
David
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