QUOTE But then again, I haven't tried yet and who am I to questian IR anyway
you're YOU, lancashire fusilier....and IR does need questioning...he simply puts forward HIS view....doesn't really set out to create tablets of stone....
What i was suggesting was to create the pointwork, on the bench, on a sub-base of some sort [ply, thin, is fine......] which is then secured to the baseboard framework.....assembling the assemblies like a jigsaw.
scenery doesn't require such support.....
BUt Monsewer Rice isn't teh ONLY one to go that route.....
I've found this which perhaps goes some way towards explaining things?
http://www.s-scale.org.uk/gallery17.htm
The ply track bases...[note, 9mm ply isn't an 'absolute'...just what was to hand].....although screwed down here...with the templates stuck on top, complete with sleepering.....could just as easily have the P&C work, and plain track, assembled AT THE BENCH...then screwed into place......obviously creating the sub-bases first, and assembling them onto the boards, once their shape has been decided upon [by experimentation with a full-size template??}..then removing them to one's comfort zone, building the pointwork, and 'linking' plain track, then re-assembling onto the base framework...............................if careful with the screw locations, each sub-base could be removed for maintenance, no more difficult than separating a whole base board of a trans-portable layout [as for exhibitions?}???
BTW, this baseboard illustrated was made up in a furniture workshop.....spare time 'n all that....hence the posh tools and marvellous workmanship?