Of course, the eye screws were just a bit too small for the PVC, so each one was removed and the eye spread a bit. The first length cut of the PVC was too long, of course -- but thankfully it was not too short! A quick removal, cut, and replacement solved that issue and the whole gizmo seems to have done the trick. We'll see how long it lasts before something else comes up. If it works, it will make operating the layout a lot easier. The backdrop has made reaching the turnouts more difficult.
Photo may not show what's up but this is the installed solution from an under-the-layout view:
Another problem had been that the layout was collecting dust in the workshop. So, I chose a sheet of plastic that had wrapped a new mattress and then been used as a drop-clothe for painting. With a couple of ~18" supports at two corners and the backdrop, the sheet could be stretched over the layout and thumb-tacked in place. That kept the dust from continuing to collect, but I was noticing little black flecks on the layout in somewhat random locations. It finally occurred to me that the bottom side of the plastic (drop-clothe) sheet had black paint sprayed on it. This paint was coming off in little flakes!
Memory of another plastic sheet came into focus, so this piece was retrieved from the lean-to and rinsed off to remove some of the dirt and dust collected from almost being outside for several years. As I was spreading it over the pick-em-up truck to dry, it became evident that this piece of plastic might cover the whole chassis of the Olds 442! And, it did. . . .
Plan B: turn the drop-clothe plastic over with the over-spray on top. We'll see how that works. Note the square area that shows where the black paint is NOT!
