Flaxfield- A bucolic 1950s Suffolk backwater

[Osgood]

I have cleaned up maybe a dozen unrestored GER signs over the years and not once found any trace of blue paint.

 

[BrushType4]

A Middy thread to watch - popcorn at the ready.
View attachment 217818

If it is of any interest at this stage in your planning Rob, this is how John imagined Cratfield might have looked had the line opened to passengers and stopped here, not Laxfield - hence the engine shed from Laxfield.
It was to be his last portrayal of the Middy, this time in S7.

The level crossing / platform fun is again at play, as is the push-back to run-around, albeit in a slightly different format to the Laxfield plan, and a coal yard replaces the mill.
The line back west to Laxfield runs out lower right.

A surveyor has been seen stalking the fields off the baseboard to the left - reckon he’s working on a scheme to extend the siding yet another station further towards Halesworth……

View attachment 217819

I would love to build that.

Apologies for post hijack.

 

[NHY 581]

Many thanks to everyone for their comments.

I've understandably gone with the black and white option but seem to have overdone the rust on what is after all the Mk 1 version. Rather too chocolate for my liking !

However, easy to improve upon and I can revisit after the Exeter show. This is the current state of play.



Rob.

 

[NHY 581]

Morning all,

The main motive power for Flaxfield will be J15s, as outlined earlier. I now have transfers, number plates and shed code plates for 65447 and 65459, two Mid Suffolk regulars. An order will placed for a non-Westo job on due course, either 65388 or 65361.

However, Accurascale's J67/68/69 will be breaking cover at the end of the year. These images released by Accurascale look to be very promising. East Anglian examples are planned for the second batch so there will definitely one available at Flaxfield at some point.

Here's some of those images.











I have indeed ordered a G.E.R liveried example.....I mean, who wouldn't !?

Rob

 

[NHY 581]

Morning all,

Plotting continues and the rough 'plan' for Flaxfield is pretty much arrived at but the first sod is not due to be turned for sometime yet. I intend to complete the buildings first. However, the baseboards will be ordered in August for what looks to be a September/October delivery....

In the interim, there's been much looking at Tollesbury Pier as a potential side project / test piece thing. Minimal space, minimal trackwork to potentially produce a very basic dioramaesque model. Provisionally titled Blackwater Pier, this could then be used to evaluate a couple of things ahead of a start being made on Flaxfield.

So we're not actually standing still. Just nothing to show.......yet.

Rob

 

[NHY 581]

Morning all,

Well, my "test piece/plank" idea seem to be morphing into something else.....( why am I not surprised..)
In my defence, it's still pretty basic though........









Ignore the board, platform etc. Just plonked to test " look and feel"........

And it seems to demonstrate promise.

Blackwater Pier could therefore see the light of day........


Rob

 

[MarkR]

Hi Rob,
Looks interesting, what are the origins, please, of the 6 wheeled full brake carriage? Thank you
Mark

 

[NHY 581]

Hi Rob,
Looks interesting, what are the origins, please, of the 6 wheeled full brake carriage? Thank you
Mark

Morning Mark,

It's one of the Hattons Genesis coaches. Perfectly adequate for my needs.

Rob.

 

[MarkR]

Hi Rob,
Many thanks, I will search for one, to put in store, waiting for Bugglesham to materialize!
Mark

 

[Rob R]

It's looking bleak, cold, wet and windy already...

Bracing might be a better description?

 

[NHY 581]

Morning all,

Some unexpected free time this morning has meant that space has been now freed in the Room of Doom meaning that Ewe will return to its usual perch previously occupied by the aborted Wells build ( which incidentally has been taken on by somebody ).

I've also hatched a plan regarding the test piece and will collect the wood later today so we may well see a bit of baseboard building over the weekend.

Rob.

 

[NHY 581]

Well, I have wood......so to speak.

 

[46240]

Good afternoon Rob,

Glad to see your mojo has returned and looking good so far.

Long may it continue!

Cheers, Nigel.

 

[Yorkshire Dave]

Well, I have wood......so to speak.

Ah, but can it be seen for the trees?

 

[NHY 581]

Ah, but can it be seen for the trees?

Not yet.....but I'm sure all will be revealed...

 

[Phil O]

Rob,

Great to hear that you may be getting over your recent outage!

 

[Osgood]

Ah, but can it be seen for the trees?

 

[NHY 581]

Rob,

Great to hear that you may be getting over your recent outage!

We'll see, Phil.........we'll see.....

 

[NHY 581]

Mmmmm..........



This evening sees a spot of 3D planning for the test track, the board for which could hopefully be built tomorrow. Despite misgivings, I probably will go with the Peco medium radius Bullhead points.

It is after all meant to be a test track.

Rob

 

[NHY 581]

Evening all,

A little later than anticipated, but the baseboard for the test plank thing is coming together. The top is only screwed down temporarily and will be lifted off to cut in cable runs, bus bars, before being properly glued and screwed down.



There are the inevitable ( many ! ) rough edges but for a first attempt at a scratchbuilt baseboard in what must easily be close to fifteen years or so, I'm quite pleased. It might even be square !

I have a matching fiddle yard to splice together in the same fashion then both can be tidied, filled and varnished.

But I have to say, a good weekend's work.

Rob