Fitting an access hatch

Installing the Boilerworks diorama into the layout presented a few challenges. Where it sits I needed a permanently available access hatch. The hole I'd pre-cut for the base was a bit rough so I dropped the diorama in then slid sheets of plastic from pre-packed bacon packs which are beautifully non stick down the hole. I then back filled the gap with plaster.  On removing the sheets when dry I had a straight, narrow gap between the base and the layout baseboard.  This of course made the fit somewhat tighter than before and removal became an issue.  So I drilled a hole at each end of the diorama, glued in a captive nut and made handles for two long, thin bolts by drilling through some plastic pipe. A bit of hot glue and presto! we have two removable handles for lifting out the diorama when necessary which just leaves two small holes to be covered with a bit of detail.   

The area between the boilerworks and the track may become Skid Row two with some cribs and shanties. The bow window house to the left belongs to the owner of the boilerworks and is an Anvil Mountain Models laser kit of the Animas Forks house that Wendy and I visited in Colorado.  I bought it ready made on Ebay as the kit is impossible to find. The maker, whoever he was, did a fine job and it's a lovely reminder of a terrific holiday in the States.  The garage is a scratchbuilt model I made many years ago based on the promo photos of a Builders in Scale kit.  When tidied up it will become Dan Webb's garage named after my son in law who currently works as an engineer for Aston Martin and is a "petrolhead"

The current project area.  

The plastic food pack sheets damming the gap while the plaster sets up.

The Walsh Duncan house from Animas Forks.

One of the removable handles.  The white area will have a rock face installed and some foliage to cover the straight join and a truck or something will hide the hole.