With the loco virtually finished, I've set about making a tender to go with it. This is a Mitchell 3500 gallon one, pretty much made up as per the instructions. Wheels are Ultrascale.
The front two axles are meant to be compensated but the instructions noted that the compensation beam could be omitted if you wanted to have the tender weight bearing on the loco drag beam and increasing adhesion, which I do I think so I'm trying it. If it doesn't work I'll add the compensation back later.
At the moment the tender has been finished, primed and sprayed with satin black from a rattle can. The transfer is from Fox. Be placed the two together and am very pleased how they look. It's my first attempt at a flared GWR tender and whilst not perfect I'm satisfied with my efforts.
I'll give both a really light waft of weathering with airbrush, just enough to take the sheen off.
I've a nice picture of this engine at Wells in Oct 1949 so that will do me.
Crew, buffers and rear couplings to add (they've temporarily gone walk about on the work bench somewhere).
The eagle eyed will notice two toads. Ones a Ratio with MRD handrails and Bill Bedford sprung W irons. The other is a Bachmann body and a Morgan underframe. Both have MJT foot boards. One isn't quite right but tough!
edit.
additional photos added now the weathering's complete