I saved as favorites some prior Tortoise related threads, so I looked them up:
- more input on using under 2" foam
http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/11/t/172362.aspx
http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/11/t/202274.aspx
- a couple of threads on installing
http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/88/t/78158.aspx
http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/11/t/202274.aspx
One other thought. Before starting my first layout install, I took a piece of scrap plywood and installed a tortoise on it with a turnout and short pieces of flex track extensions. I used that to practice soldering rail joints, installing the Tortoise, wiring a DPDT with an LED in series, mounting the DPDT & LED in a temporary “control panel” (a piece of cardboard. I raised the plywood about 5" with scrap wood legs on each end. I used a Railpower 1370 power pack variable DC output for this. I later managed to ruin the 1370 so I acquired the Circuitron power supply for my layout. I found the exercise most useful.