When the designer saw the builder placing the terminal blocks upon an old plank at the northeast corner of the layout, (Plate 216) he said:
"Of course, you're going to conceal that hideous thing somehow, aren't you?"
The builder replied:
"Certainly not. It mustn't be concealed. It must be easily removable for maintenance."
--more--
The left half of the sketch shows the distribution panel at the northeast corner as the builder intended it to look. The wooden mounting board with the terminal blocks is resting directly upon the baseboard, and the embankment-level roadbed can be seen above it. The builder was proud of this arrangement, which he considered to be quite elegant.
The right half of the sketch shows the designer's "remedy" for what he called "an intolerable eyesore". The designer proposed that a 00-scale two-level coal-fired power station would neatly disguise the distribution board.
The upper floor of the power station would rest upon the embankment level, and would be conterminous with the corner roadbed. The design represents a classic brick structure with high arched windows and a tall smokestack (or two). The upper floor of the power station would be fixed in place and illuminated from within.
The lower floor of the power station would repeat the arched windows of the upper floor, and would also be illuminated from within. However, this lower section would not be fixed in place - it would actually serve as a removable "drawer" that would contain the mounting board with the terminal blocks. The entire lower section would be able to slide out on its own plywood base, with the mounting board for the terminal blocks resting upon the base.
Why the mounting board is painted black
This explains why the designer insisted that the mounting board be sprayed with glossy black enamel.
The designer elaborated:
"An observer who happened to look through the lower-level windows would see row upon row of black terminal blocks upon a polished black floor, all of which would resemble something electrical that one might see in a real power station".
There was no comment upon this from the builder.
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