Rail 200 challenge

To mark 200 years of railways, Peco have launched a micro layout/diorama competition. For £30 posted you get the baseboard kit, a length of track, and it comes in a large cardboard box that can be used to store/ship the finished layout. It seems these have proved popular as the first batch of 200 sold out within days, and several more batches have been release (probably as fast as the supplier can make them!). Now, I didn't order one straight away as I don't really need another layout, but I do enjoy a challenge and it seemed a shame not to take part...

The flat-pack baseboard is laser cut from good quality 9mm ply. The straight track to use for the through track of the "modular" category, or you can build any scene you like and enter the standalone category.

Assembly is straightforward, the four bracing pieces slot into the underside or onto the ends of the board with a little PVA. There were just a couple of splinters to file off but the parts are cut with great accuracy and the fit is precise.

One of the ends had a slight bow (see the gaps in the slots). I don't have a big enough clamp to hold it while the glue dried...

...so I drilled a pilot hole and put a countersunk screw to hold the end tight to the deck. I also put one into each side beam (bottom left and bottom right) in case pulling in the top allowed the bottom to move out, and for good measure three screws the opposite end to match. These may not be necessary, but assembly including the screws was no more than 30 minutes. 

Now I just need to decide what to build. I've doodled a few plans, of which more later, but here's some of the inspiration that may be used...