Just a quick update from me - here are some summery snaps of a "quickie" layout I've been knocking together since Christmas. The idea was to have something other than Cogirep to exhibit this year, and to plunder the scrap box and general leftovers from my old layouts to the fullest extent. For a long while I've also wanted to create a compact, valleys-themed terminus on which 56xxs and panniers can potter about happily, and which gets away from the chocolate box look of so many GWR branch line termini.

Having never built a BLT until now, it was also something new for me.

Since I had a lot of perfectly good Code 100 Peco left over from the demolition job on Wyvant, when I had to relocate from Holland to the UK, I played around with points and eventually settled on a simple plan which enabled me to shoehorn in the engine shed and some small goods facilities. Obviously Code 75 or handlaid would look better, but I'm not one to get too worked up about these things.

The plan is not very prototypical but I wanted to be use that shed! I also added a carriage shed reminiscent of the one at Porth, using the Ratio kit. It will be painted and weathered to look suitable grotty. The idea is to suggest a terminus at the end of its days, struggling to survive.

The boards, which are about 3.5 foot in length, are made from extruded foam and MDF edging, with only a tiny amount of wood in each one to serve as corner reinforcing. Over the last couple of years I have been using foam more and more, and with this layout I wanted to make the leap into the unknown and abandon wood as much as possible. The boards were incredibly light, but by the time scenery had been added, the weight began to build up again. I wouldn't call them particularly light now, but they're not as hefty as if they'd been made conventionally. The downside is that they are probably more vulnerable to damage than timber boards but all that means is taking a little bit of care when moving them.

The main scenic element I wished to include was the track being at a higher level than the roads and buildings. This was very easy to achieve with foam. The track is glued and pinned, and point motors are installed. The "control panel" is very small and recessed into the front. The layout is intended to be set fairly low compared to Cogirep, but with a high backscene, and to be operated from a seated position (most of the time).

Early in the construction:

There is still much to be done but Paynestown will be on show in some form or another

at the Lord and Butler open weekend in Cardiff later this month:

http://www.rmweb.co....ition-any-news/