This post may seem basic by many modeler, but I wanted to share the process I have for installing my fascia mounted turnout control panels.  This is just one of may methods that could be used and I use this method because 1.) I don't know any better; and 2.) It works.

It seemed like it took me forever to finish the tunnel portal and rock cut area in the back of the alcove expansion.  Since I work from the back forward, I needed to complete this area so I can work on installing my gravel plant in the foreground.  I'll be using the Walthers "Glacier Gravel" kit (doesn't almost everyone?) and need to get the sub-roadbed in first so I can get the track and turnouts put down.  Below are a couple of pictures of the area.

For all of you that's been following the construction of the tunnel portal to remote staging located in the rock cut I've created a little video to show you how it looks from the "train view" via my MUVI micro camcorder.  You will remember that the area isn't visible to trainroom visitors as it's hidden by a foreground hill area.  I needed to scenic the area as I do enjoy making videos with the train cam and I also have a wireless train mounted camera I use during open houses.

O.K. - try not to laugh, but if you've got around 12 minutes with nothing else to do please check out my video of my very first operation "mini-session" in my alcove area.  The actual session took about 20 minutes but I edited it down to about 12 minutes to hopefully reduce the "snore factor".  The video is kind of a "quickie" but you can get the idea.  As usual, your comments, suggestions, and remarks are appreciated.  Thanks for watching!!!

In my last posting http://model-railroad-hobbyist.com/node/6710 I had gotten to the point of starting to finish and install the tunnel portal.  This posting shows the latest work in that area.

Here the portal is just sitting in place for a test fit after adding paint & grass.

It's time to start working on the pass-through into my office for remote staging.  I already have the turnout in place with a Tortoise(tm).  I just finished the landscaped area on the left and glued it in place.  As I was looking at the area I felt like I was being watched!

My Son and family are visiting us and he used his new camera to take a picture of the railroad room using his panoramic feature.  Even though this area isn't new construction I like the look of the picture.  Thanks to Alan you can click on the picture below to get a larger view.

With the left rear corner of the alcove expansion "finished" - including Buck & Loretta's place it's now time to work on the right rear corner.  I've decided that since the Gravel Plant will be in the foreground that I'm just going to leave the rear area forested without many details.  Below are a couple of pictures of the work thus far.

Buck & Loretta done finally showed up and are back from a beer buying trip only to find Uncle Herschel had done stopped by to chew the fat - and thar's a plenty of that a hanging out of the bottom of Buck's "wife beater" shirt.  Buck ain't never gona lift a hand against ole' Loretta since she ken shoot the eye of a tick at 100 yards!  Although Buck's the only one with a beer in his hand, he'll be a sharing some brew with Herschel as soon as Loretta goes in the that there trailer house to fetch some!

To many this would be a "big woopie" task, but for me it's a big deal as it's my very first turnout control panel on the layout.  When I first started the layout a few years ago I determined that all mainline turnouts would be controlled by switch motors.  I've installed the motors as I've been building the layout but none of the turnouts have been able to be thrown electrically.  if I wanted to operate a turnout I used a push pin and piece of foam to lodge the turnout in the "other" position.  Since I've actually been doing a l