In the photos for Step 4 on page 56, it shows the foam having been cut away to make room for the cab panel. Alas, this was not described in the text anywhere. I have been trying to figure out where to mount the panels on my layout, and the idea of cutting away a block of foam like that (I also use foam for my base) would allow me to mount the panels up higher rather than hang them below the layout or build out a fascia that far from the edge. Buttons and switches don’t require much clearance on the back side, but the cab panels do. I would like to see some more information on clearing out the block of foam as was done in this article.
My layout construction is similar to yours. 1X4 frame and foam. Except that I placed a 1/2" plywood “table top” under the foam.
(From your site)
I also use the Atlas like David Popp’s project. I used the template to cut and place the panels in the 1X4 frame around the layout. Later when I added the 1/8" masonite profile/fascia on top of the 1X4s with Liquid Nails, I just marked and cut holes for the panels.
This allows the “throttle bus” wires to run under the layout with the rest of the wiring. No modification to the “fascia” is really required. If you don’t plan to have profile boards the same method will work.
