Flixton Aviation Museum

Hello There! After moving to the border of Norfolk and Suffolk, I am now very close to the above museum. I visited it in the 1990's and I found it has taken on a much bigger presence on the same site.

The main thing that caught my eye was the replica of the Colditz Cock. This was based on information from the British in mates of Colditz Castle. This exhibit was built for a Channel 4 program and has been shown to be able to fly. Unfortunately there is only one photograph of the original and when Russia took over that part of Germany, after the war, it was never seen again.

The skin of the aircraft was made from mattress covers stretched across the frame and stiffened by covering in a dope glue. This was similar to aircraft from WW I

Further around the museum was a post was Austin Champ. I knew a garage owner and magistrate, in Great Yarmouth, when I was a teen ager and he had one of these in storage in his garage!

Further around was a Morris, Mk1, light recon car. this was in very good condition.

Next a British paratroop Wel bike.

Now a bit of a trip down memory lane. You cannot imagine the feeling of seeing an aircraft that you spent ten years of military service supporting and find it as a museum exhibit. It makes you feel very old indeed.

There are a number of side rooms holding a number of exhibits from the Second World War. Here are a number of aisles of aircraft parts both donated and recovered from crash sites. 

Thee are also a number of completed models showing various aircraft which had flown from the many airfields that existed in East Anglia. 

Another building housed exhibits connected to the American groups and squadrons that were also based around East Anglia.

I have seen silk escape maps in other museums but although this one was in pieces it was closer to the cabinet glass that what I have seen before.

Spoils of war are available through many centuries and here is something from the Falklands War. I also found one of these, sitting in a hangar, when I spent some time in the Falkland Islands.

This Phantom was also given the markings of a plane that served in the Falkland Islands post war.

In yet another building there was a museum to the RAF air sea rescue service and Coastal Command Museum.

In the corner of one room there was a mock up of a model making room. This had models from a long time period and also bought a few memories back.

The number of times I went to the local toy shop to buy another Matchbox two or three colour kit, to make over the weekend.

This room extended to a display of old models

The Second world war exhibits included a few cabinets of German memorabilia

I have an equivalent presentation, given to me after I had served in the Falkland Islands

Here are a selection of incendiary bombs

A number of Dinky toys, or equivalent are also on display

Lastly a model of the Air Naval Station which was on the South denes in Great Yarmouth. The last remaining building from this station was demolished while building the new outer harbour.

Over all this is well worth a visit, for the diversity of exhibits and periods of aviation and conflict covered. I would recommend a visit.

Modular Terrain Part Two

Hello There. Here is the next part of the modular terrain tutorial. The first part is here

These tiles are intended for use in North West Europe, or for the American Civil War.

Before I get to the plastering, I had some old off cuts to use up, (Again being stored 'In case I need it'!). I glued them in place using the expanded foam, in a handheld can. I placed weights on top of the styrofoam which was being glued. To stop the weights, (in this case cans of paint), from sticking to the cans I placed a sheet of newspaper on the tile first.

When it had set I ran a Stanley knife along the wooden edge of the tile, cutting into the styrofom which was standing proud of the top of the wooden surround. I used this cut as a datum line, so when I reached it when levelling the surface with a Stanley surform planer, I knew I had reached the correct point to stop.

I then had a point to cut the protruding surface of the styrofoam tile and could use a wood saw to cut most of the excess styrofoam off and not make so much mess. I could also use the flat sheet for other tiles, that was cut off, for other tiles.

Once the tiles have been cut flush to the top of the tile, this can expose some gaps in the tiles.

To save time I fill the gaps with some tile adhesive. Doing this in steps, it dries more quickly than doing one thick layer.

Once it had been sculpted to shape, with the surform, I could then fill any deep gaps with tile adhesive and leave to dry.

Next cover the surface of the scenic tile with tile adhesive and level by drawing a 600mm long steel ruler across the surface. Then brush over the surface with a wet paint brush. This levels the last of the surface and smooths out any ripples in the surface.  Then brush over a layer of PVA and add small stones and sand to taste.

When dry, this may take a day or two, remove the excess sand and scatter sawdust where required and then add thinned PVA to the sawdust. This can be stippled in place with a paintbrush and levelled.

Again, when dry, paint brown. As I require a large quantity and needed a colour similar to Vallejo English Uniform Brown I mixed some acrylic artist paint. I used raw umber and yellow ochre to get the required shade. I added some PVA glue and water to thin to the required consistency.

When dry I dry brushed the surface with a mixed version of Vallejo Iraqui Sand. I made this up using the English uniform from above and added plenty of white to get the shade I wanted.

This is a subtle step. Above the un-dry brushed scenery is on the left and the dry brushed  scenery is on the right. I admit it is difficult to see in the above photograph but this step does make a different.

The next step will include adding the flock and sealing.