The venue of Shipston-on-Stour Branch is a relatively small apartment in France. And after nearly 70 years of life we have managed to accumulate a lot of stuff. Downsizing has been going on for years, but I think we are finally there and the space allocated for the layout doubles up as additional storage space below.

The carpentry is basically complete, except for backdrop and a facia board. The following photos illustrate the design and construction methods used. The layout is portable, in four modules, three scenic and one fiddle yard. Though the latter will be "on show" as well, just behind the top of the sofa.

I used MDF boards sold as skirting board material here in France. It is basically 10mm thick by 100mm wide and is strong and stable as long as it doesn't get wet. The frame is covered by sheets of polystyrene insulation board 20mm thick. This is quite easily damaged and one module shows what can happen when the local wind (La Tramontane) blows. It doesn't matter but it also doesn't look so good.

Bracing is also lightweight and sufficient to support the styrene sheet. The overall weight of each module is therefore kept to a minimum.

Module 3 was completed last week and is where the station throat will be located. It is also where the layout narrows toward the fiddle yard. Here are two photos of the construction:

Next I started Module 4 yesterday and with no interruptions completed it:

The modules are joined using baseboard alignment dowels (from C&L Finescale) and coach bolts:

Next the legs were fitted (very simple affairs that can be removed for transport) and the four modules united on one wall:

The entire layout can be taken down and re-assembled in just a few minutes. There will be some additional work done on the modules, including priming and painting, adding the back boards and facia boards, and I have bought some Dulux paint samplers to "paint" the basic earth below the eventual scenery.

But track laying can now continue in earnest. Modules 1 and 2 have already some track laid and the basic wire droppers have been connected to the DCC bus.