Each module needs a facia board as well as a back "scenic canvas".

If I was in England I would ask for hardboard, while in the States it is known by its brand name Masonite. It is also sometimes called HDF. Wandering round several bricolages in France I could not find any on display, which is usually the quickest way to source something. In this case, however, I simply didn't see any hardboard at all.

And how do you ask for something if you don't know what it is called?

Well, of course, the internet came to the rescue and I discovered that it is known as Isorel. Who would have guessed! But why did I never see it on display?

Well, the answer seems to be that it is kept out back in an area where staff can cut it to measure. And there I was thinking I could just buy a sheet! So now I need to measure each piece I need and go back and have them cut the pieces for me. Which I will do in the weeks ahead.

I have been spending a lot of time reading other people's experiences and one topic I came across was on the choice of color to paint the front facia board. Black seems to be the best choice, or else a very dark green.