After a long break, work resumed on the layout. More precisely, my attention turned to the LR segment. The entire ramp was already build, but there was a small problem. Many years ago, when the big foam board was initially placed over the wood one, there was still some remaining 
space. To fill this up, a small section of different foam was used. This is visible in the first picture, right next to the point where the SR goes to its right-most position. So the LR ramp has to cross both types of foam boards. Unfortunately when the first one was built, i didn't notice the slight difference in height between the two, because the small board is somehow "swelled", but leaving the joint between the 2 boards level. And so when the ramp was completed, there was quite a noticeable difference in the inclines along the ramp. The new adjusted track plan (done when I decided to use flex track) made use of a larger radius on the LR ramp. The original plan was for the individual ramp pieces themselves to be temporary removed, and then glued back in the right position for the new curve. But there was a problem: the plan also called for a higher track elevation in front of the station on the PT segment, so the incline of the new LR ramp would be totally different. So I decided to build a completely new ramp altogether - consisting of 6 individual pieces.To solve the height difference between the foam boards, the extreme most 2 pieces would lay directly on the big foam board (the material for this one is hard, and so serves as a good base), and the rest of 4, that would had come above the small foam board will be done just like one of the switches on the PT segment - namely using the 1.3 cm squares attached dirrectly to the wooden board, a "girder" to get to a higher elevation, and on top of that the ramp pieces themselves. Holes for the "girders" where made, the pieces of foam squares that were in the way were removed, and alchohol was used to get the glue out. A screwdriver also came in handy, as to gently shave away excess foam and the glue, since the latter has a tendency to harden as 
soon as the alchohol evaporates. After 3 of these "girders" are glued, along with the 1.3 corresponding pieces, a new problem appeared: the whole thing would move way too much, because the 1.3cm bits do not secure the structure sufficiently. The solution is to glue another piece of foam, so one side rests on the "girder" and the other one on the foam board.
space. To fill this up, a small section of different foam was used. This is visible in the first picture, right next to the point where the SR goes to its right-most position. So the LR ramp has to cross both types of foam boards. Unfortunately when the first one was built, i didn't notice the slight difference in height between the two, because the small board is somehow "swelled", but leaving the joint between the 2 boards level. And so when the ramp was completed, there was quite a noticeable difference in the inclines along the ramp. The new adjusted track plan (done when I decided to use flex track) made use of a larger radius on the LR ramp. The original plan was for the individual ramp pieces themselves to be temporary removed, and then glued back in the right position for the new curve. But there was a problem: the plan also called for a higher track elevation in front of the station on the PT segment, so the incline of the new LR ramp would be totally different. So I decided to build a completely new ramp altogether - consisting of 6 individual pieces.To solve the height difference between the foam boards, the extreme most 2 pieces would lay directly on the big foam board (the material for this one is hard, and so serves as a good base), and the rest of 4, that would had come above the small foam board will be done just like one of the switches on the PT segment - namely using the 1.3 cm squares attached dirrectly to the wooden board, a "girder" to get to a higher elevation, and on top of that the ramp pieces themselves. Holes for the "girders" where made, the pieces of foam squares that were in the way were removed, and alchohol was used to get the glue out. A screwdriver also came in handy, as to gently shave away excess foam and the glue, since the latter has a tendency to harden as 
soon as the alchohol evaporates. After 3 of these "girders" are glued, along with the 1.3 corresponding pieces, a new problem appeared: the whole thing would move way too much, because the 1.3cm bits do not secure the structure sufficiently. The solution is to glue another piece of foam, so one side rests on the "girder" and the other one on the foam board.Lessons learned from this episode: 1. the foam boards rated 5 cm are actually 4.8 cm (discovered this when the ramp was first mounted as a test), 2. 2 pieces of 3 cm stacked on top of each other are actually 5.85 cm - so I ended up cutting 2mm and 1.5mm foam strips to fix this - 3. assumption is a bad thing (1. and 2. happenned because of this), 4. a level is priceless - a small nifty one that was in the house and found its use for the first time on the layout (i wonder how i manage to build the rest so far without it!), since the ramp itself needs to be level (later the ballast pieces that will come on top will tilt the track on the inside of the curve).
In anticipation of more track laying, 12 tie strips were given the first coat of paint using the airbrush today. The next 2 coats will have to be done as soon as possible, because a new order is coming this week, containing amongst others, the switch that's right on the start of LR, a couple of wheelsets to convert a couple of cars and, not least - the Noch Gras Master.
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