As promised I am going to make a module to fit with the excellent réseau MOMI.

Having scrutinised the plans and pictures and considered the options I have decided to make this into a broader project.

1. The distance that the MOMI group exhibit is mostly too far for me to attend regularly so there has to be more use and value than 1 or 2 exhibitions a year.
2. I already have a portable layout and this module needs if possible to have some sort of integration with that but at the same time be self- contained and be a model on its own.
3. My daughter has expressed some interest (at St Aubin earlier) and is quite creative and dextrous so I want to involve her and for it to have a good deal of autonomous play value.
4. It must fit sensibly in my Twingo and be manipulated by one person.

So a module measuring 1100 mm long (which is the length of the straight boards on my portable layout) x 900 mm which is the MOMI standard width.
As soon I started I realised how big this is going to be and it will be the limit of portability by one person.

I've used 10mm MDF for the most part and have constructed this so far.








You can obviously see there is going to be a siding of sorts and some drop-down scenery. But.....I'm not going to tell you what the theme is yet.

This will be an interesting project and especially with Brian building a module as well.
I hope people will enjoy seeing the progress of both and probably completely different approaches to building.

à suivre, to follow .....

The second MOMI project on this site if I'm correct? And a multiple-use module for sure! Considering all the demands this must become a real interesting little layout on it's own than. And the best of all will be you're building it together with your daughter what will make it something extra special.
Have fun!

I was a little surprised at my daughter at St Aubin as it was her who pursuaded me to take the OO layout so that she could operate it. Sadly it is so old, rather fragile now and difficult for even a dextrous child to operate successfully without supervision.

If I can involve her in this project then it satisfies many criteria not least an increase in my (now 'our') railway budget from the household accounts.

While I have the post open, I am looking for some tips and techniques on creating (lightweight) undulating grass scenery and embankments.
I know some of you are quite experienced in this area. My last primitive efforts were many years ago in OO scale.

This will fill the open area on the baseboard.

Sorcerer's apprentice?........

Some modelers use PU foam on diorama's to make landscapes. Spray it on, let it expand and dry. Than you can cut and shape it in any form you want. It's relatively strong and light weighted.

Here's an example of a N gauge layout. Dutch language but the pictures show the story.

Here's a better example, a gauge 1 scale military diorama. The sloped hill is made out of the spray-foam.

Thanks Paul, very interesting and has possibilities.

I spy a couple of MOB "Boissons Riviera" wagons in the background, can't remember seeing them on any of your exhibition layouts?

Do you still have that fleet of barrel cars? Might like to borrow a couple for the "Cognac" module

I think the MOB wagons appeared once along with the Kronenberg ones, but not for long while now. I have about 6 in all.

You may well lease the wine wagons. I have three 4 wheelers and a bogie with 3 barrels.
They haven't been used very much as they don't hold enough for me.

Will that be sufficient for the output of your enterprise?

...Oh and I'd expect them back full.

Some more progress. Working with MDF especially this damp weather means it has to be sealed hence the battleship grey.

The main part of the module will consist of a large full length semi-relief building. This will be separate and detachable.

Nice work Carl.
What sort of industry is it gonna be? The second brewery on the MOMI layout?