Most of this afternoon was spent removing more of the HO track and scenery and have now only got to remove the lake and surrounding area. That will be tomorrow's task.
So far I have filled 3 extra large contractor bags with the old layout and dulled 2 saws in the process. I can't believe just how much foam and plaster went into that build. The new layout wont have any foam in it, I don't think, and only half the plaster being an open grid and cookie cutter layout.
Speaking of that, this is the approach I am going to take ... something a little out of the norm but might be forced due to circumstances. Once I have everything cleared from the bench work and the extension bench work in place, I am going to lay the Track Plan on the current (still fixed in place) ply and trace around it as if I was using it as the sub road bed. I'll then cut it as you would any cookie cut sub road bed, and remove the off cuts so I'll be left with a "flat" cookie cut sub road bed - make sense so far?
If I am able to remove that sub road bed from the framework, then all will good. If I can't, and I suspect this will be the case, I will re cut the track plan using new ply and sit that on top of the track plan that will still be attached to the bench work framing. Basically, the ply that will still be on the bench work will form my template for the new ply and act as a base for the risers.
I think doing that will give me the benefits of an open grid/cookie cut sub roadbed and make putting in the risers that much easier. If that is how things turn out then the risers will more than likely be 2 X 4 so I will be able to "angle" the tops to match the grade and get a good solid flat track with equally solid joins where necessary.
Hope all of that makes some sort of sense - I know what I am talking about I think, and I think it will all become clear when I can start with the pictures of the build.