Sylvian Tennant

Lovely work there, my friend wants to do one as well, this will be a handy article for him.

Agreed Matthew, a beautiful name. What livery do you plan to have it adorned with.

That some lovely q=weathering there mate. Truly inspirational.

I don't have an airbrush either. I think they'll be good for alot of things but I do still prefer hand painting. What type of varnish do you normally use? I have a bit of a minor mishap with the lining which I managed to sort of repair with the use of humbrol primer, a cocktail stick and humbrol satin varnish. I find the enamel varnish very hardy to weathering once dry (definitely give them day or two). I also use Johnsons cotton buds as I think lesser branded type tend to be very abrasive and can do alot of damage to paint finishes.

Awh no He's be sorely miss, top chap and was always looking out for his customers. RIP

Yeah, I like my engines used too. I was second guessing for a while because they did get very tatty these ladies but I'm happy with the outcome now. That wasn't too difficult. Geroge Dent (Modelling hero of mine) did a couple of articles on the method. I did all the block painting of humbrol 62 and 33 (tender tops, bulkhead, coal space etc) then I used humbrol 27004, 113, & 29 and a base colour (in this case humbrol 33) as a heavy wash over the whole tender. Before it dried I wiped most of it away with a cotton bud lightly soaked in white spirit. If you want the area cleaner I'd give it another go. Once that had dried I used a dry cotton bud to buff the sides, getting as close as I dared to the rivet detail. I really highlights the rivet lines quite well. Oh retired awh... I have about 5 years worth of modelling project which I suspect will take 10 at least!

Well done chaps. Best of British and all that. Lovely looking layout.

Teesside - 1957

So I finished work a few weeks ago and thank god for that! Despite having another 8 hours a day free, I seem to have less time for modelling with other stuff taking prioirty. E.G preparing for University and the likes. However I did manage to get this little darling sorted. The whole process was just over a week (it would have been less had stuff like friends and life not been a pain in the hoop and wanted my precious time). But I am quite pleased with the outcome. She is 43050, the first Mucky Duck built in Darlington I believe and was based at Haverton Hill for a few months which is not too far from me. I didn't want her to be completely filthy like my other one but, being an Ivatt 4MT, not exactly clean, or that presentable. Modifying methods were the same as 43073 explained in a previous blog and weather is as my usual standards. One addition to this, however, is the use of WHSmith artist pencils I found in the loft. Specifically browns, oranges and whites used to add the rust texture to the smokebox and areas around the tender top and tender bulkhead. They were scribbled or dashed on, then dabbed at with a damp cotton bud. The outcome was quite pleasing. I'm now finding it harder to find different poses for the crew but I won't let creativity stop me She is pulling (as I have generally assigned her to these duty, being from Haverton Hill shed) the rake of Sulphate wagons I detailed in another earlier blog. I'm having some trouble with these on our exhibition layout as I am led to believe that the track is laid not entirely straight and points are handmade and had what I'd consider bigger gaps in the common crossings and point blades which are not entirely flush with the rails. But most of the ready to run stuff seems to work so I guess I'm out voted . I have noticed as well the Parkside bogies can sometimes be a bit crude and may have become slightly un-square when the wheels have been added but they seem to run pretty well on the fiddle yard where peco track is installed. Oh the trails and tribulations.

^ agreed!

I shall miss you immensely on here. It's been wonderful to see such talent grace our screen. Fare well

cheers for letting me know. I was wondering what was going on the with the allocations section.

I'm very much looking forward to seeing the outcome of this

I wouldn't seeing the midland misfit or the LNWR wheels mishap about but yes, The Marchioness is a beast and a half.

There are sme pretty hapless looking beasts there. Though I don't mind the WD's they're quite nice and the Q1 Austerity engine I just finish painting up a modified "Black" 5 to go with the 8F. Unfortunately the corporate sectors of the 70's weren't a sentimental bunch but by the mid eighties some opinions had changed. All modified locos would carry mechanical stokers, even the tank engines (with that mechanical pusher the austerities had) and GPCS. Some locos where even treated to Kylpor and Lempor ejectors. But the ones here's have Giels attached until further notice.

I'm totally there Flying Pig (perhaps apart form the red ). Can anyone point to some pictures of GPCS as to what they looked like in real life? Love the BR blue Baltic btw This chaps here has done a fine job too http://simonlmoore.deviantart.com/art/BR-Standard-Class-10F-434139538

The original drawing was found on a net rummage ages ago so I don't claim full responsibility on that, but the adds and livery were by my good self cheers anyway

Not necessarily imaginary in the truest sense of the word. Another modeller on here is making an BR Blue 9F. Oddly enough I was thinking up a layout along a similar theme and I have mocked up a possible 8F which I hope to be building sometime soon. I've added some "mod-cons" such as westy-house pumps and air tanks, headlights, a giesl ejector, mini-snowploughs, modified cab and tender to be enclosed and roller bearings etc etc. I've done two post TOP liveries inc a mid 80's full yellow cab which I prefer tbh.

I like it

Well I did really... But I managed to surpass even my own expectations and got my breakdown train finished! and here's the results. About three generations of Hornby Railways are combined in this one train... plus a Bachmann J39. All of the train (save the 12t van) have been heavily modified in some way or another. I'm currently waiting to see it;s first proper useage at Railex NE at Blyth. If you're around, please don't hesitate to say hi.

Cheers guys, it just struck me the other day that all the rolling stock is about 4 different generations of Hornby! It's going to be weathered black. With the wooden coaches peeling at the edges. I was hoping to have it done before Blythe expo but I don't think it's happen

cheers man