Fascia

Over the past two weekends I installed the fascia panels on the sides.  I had plenty of hardboard pieces leftover from the backdrops a couple years ago so I didn't need to buy anything else.  Plus some leftover grey paint.  This was pretty easy - cut the pieces to size, drill pilot holes, screw them in, prime and paint.  As some model railroading sources have pointed out, these really make the whole thing look neater and nicer. 

Next up: ballasting the track.  After that, we'll need to plan and learn how to model water for the river channel, and plan out more of the structures around the steel mill area.  I'd like to put that grain elevator into play and perhaps a malting plant next to it, and some other steel-related structures.  Maybe a pipe mill, a boiler house too.

Lessons learned:

1. These don't need to be perfect.  Sometimes they don't fit snugly next to each other.  Sometimes they need some shims underneath to even things out. Whatever, good enough.
2. I've found that buying the tools you need is never a bad investment.  Buy something good that will last.  You'll learn how to use it and odds are you'll need it again.  At which point, you can put that previous knowledge to work.