Suffolk Dave

I've just painted some of the 4mm figures from Modelu and a couple of scooters from Dexter's Cove Models. If it needs to be said, I'm only a customer of these two purveyors of fine scale loveliness. No fancy diorama as my layout is still rather embryonic at the mo' so, I set up a small studio in which to snap them. The figures will adorn my 1930's shunting plank while the scooters are for a mate's 1950's depiction of t'north. As for the dialog, well I just couldn't resist it...

My Dad worked in a Co-op grocery/butchers in the 60's and tells a tale of a huge spider emerging from bunches of newly delivered bananas. He went looking for a box to put it in and when he returned a colleague had stamped on it!

Intercoursing predictive text!

Thanks to Capt. K for the explanation. I feel honoured to have tapped into such a rich seam of intellectual discourse in the lower bowls of the forum, where, truth be known I rarely venture. I must head this way more often.

I’ve come across CTMK a few times on the forum. It’s clear the authors are referring to ‘er indoors, or even She who must be obeyed but what does it actually stand for. I’ve googled it and the results didn’t shed any light. Thanks

Powsides used to do some pre-grouping transfers back in the day. Could be worth checking them out.

Fabulous! Thanks for sharing

Excellent, more GER loveliness from Oxford.

After 12th February then - excellent news!

Good to hear that some progress is taking place

Thanks for this Craig. The P4 world always raises my curiosity but I’ve never dipped my toe into it!

You've made a lovely job of the weathering and I am intrigued by the conversion to P4. It would be interesting to know what that entails. Have you added compensation or replaced any of the original model?

Suspicions confirmed, perhaps: this Fisons wagon isn’t really suited to periods before WW2

Nice but it looks a bit ‘modern’ to my eyes. Hatton’s lists it for eras 2 and 3 but according to this site https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Fisons The company didn’t become ‘Fisons Ltd’ until 1942.

No sign of 272 in Ipswich today...

You know it's worth the wait...

I think you've tapped into some themes in British (English?) culture. There is the nostalgic thread that runs through us: we assume the present is so crap that we forever look back to a past that in reality didn't exist the way we remember it, and the class system. We seem hard wired to sub divide folk and then place them in a hierarchy where we can then sneer at them for our chosen reasons. Personally, I lean towards the 'couldn't give a toss' attitude about what illinformed people think, or do in their spare time. Play with trains, ride your bike and, in my case, go watch some birds. Enjoy the moment!

Such a shame Jim's GER Loco sand wagon isn't on the 4mm list. If that could be scaled down from the 7mm version I'd have it. I've built some of his 7mm kits and have found them to be well designed. Moreover, he writes some excellent instructions which don't assume you're an expert.

What a great idea and a delightful and simple track plan. Jim, what scale/gauge are you thinking of for Middleton? If you had room for expansion you could have a Minsmere Halt perhaps?

Thanks Phil. An interesting approach that looks very effective. I saw RQ at Ally Pally at the weekend and it looks good in the flesh. I'd be interested to read about your weathering approach too.

Apologies if I missed this elsewhere but I'm interested to know what paint was used to spray the newly laid track. Was it a airbrushed or sprayed straight from a can?