Tom F

Thank you both for such lovely comments. The weathering business has very much become 'a business' in the last few months, to the point I'm wanting to cut down my peripatetic violin teaching work. 4 days driving for over two hours each day for the past 10 years has taken it's toll. I'm enjoying the varied clientele work that is now passing my way, as well as working on my 40+ft 009 layout (I'm also stating a 009 exhibition layout too). Thank you so much for the support, it is greatly appreciated as I take these bigger steps into making 'Tom Foster Weathering' a more full time employment.

This week's commissions involved something a bit bigger than I'm used to. Two Dapol 7mm/O gauge ex GWR tank engines. 64XX 14XX These were both a real joy to work on, and great to get to get the opportunity to go to town on them. Best of all the client is happy.

A little something different. This DJ Models Austerity 0-6-0 for @Sir Hadyn of this parish. Weathered to photos provided by the client. Probably the most vibrant coloured livery on anything I've weathered before!

thanks Graeme I don’t think I’ll drop the teaching completely, but I think working from home and less driving is definitely a step forward. The more I do, the more it helps my confidence.

Thanks John I love the variety that the work brings in. From standard to narrow gauge.

Evening everyone. I was having an email chat with Tony earlier regarding my weathering business. Tony kindly suggested I share some of my recent work in here. I began weathering professionally back in 2019. I am a peripatetic violin teacher in various schools by trade. Originally it was only ever meant to be a top up to income, but increasingly I've been beginning to rely on it more. I've become very frustrated with the teaching, and with 400 miles being clocked up for 32 weeks of the year, I'm looking at a change. I'd like to make the weathering more full time, perhaps moving to twice a week, or potentially three times a week. Anyhow enough of my rambling, here's some examples of my work of late.

The final locomotive of this commission, was this Hornby Gresley A1 4475 Flying Fox. I've always enjoyed weathering apple green locomotives, there is just the wonderful contrast of the slight grubbiness and the glorious colour. At one time as some of you may remember, this was my primary interest, so it's been lovely to revisit these engines of the art deco period once again.

First up of the recent commissions. A Hornby A4, which the client had renumbered to 4467 'WILD SWAN'. I was tasked with weathering to a condition familiar to the A4s in the late 1930s. Sheen on the streamline casing, but the build of oil around panel joins (in particular the cylinder casing).

A sneak peak at the latest two LNER commissions to come off the workbench.

After a fairly rubbish throat infection, and a course of antibiotics, I'm now back on the workbench. The first of several commissions passed through the workbench today. Hornby Model Railways LNER A4 'SILVER LINK'. The was particular interesting to work on, as the client was quite specific on the condition they wanted her depicting in. I also worked from this fairly well know shot of her at Grantham in the mid to late 1930s. More LNER Pacifics to follow...

A rare occasion in the 1930's, when Old Reliable and Old Faithful were utilised together on empties to Ward Fell Slate Quarry.

The last of the recent back of commissions for my client. This Bachmann Class 24. Moving on to something a bit more from the art deco era....

Two very different locomotives to work on recently. North Eastern Electric Auto Railcar. Worked from period photos, where it was fairly clean. Accurascale Deltic, in a bit more of a grubby state, again working from photos supplied by the client.

To be honest, I couldn't quite remember, so I've had a look through the Modelu catalogue for you. These seated ones were used: https://www.modelu3d.co.uk/product-category/finescale-figures/industry/1870-1947-ind/workmen-early-20th-century/ But the gravity train figures maybe useful too. https://www.modelu3d.co.uk/product-category/finescale-figures/industry/1870-1947-ind/gravity-slate-train/ All figures were painted by @Dan Evason of Tunnel Lane Model Railways, highly recommended.

Good morning Gyp The seated figures I use are all Modelu. Yes, I'm sorry how disappointing it is for other RMweb members, however after I last posted on here several months ago, my suspicions were confirmed when I received a message from an RMweb member, who I had banned from my group on suspicion of them taking my photos and posting them elsewhere. They confirmed this but I was basically told I should be grateful that they were sharing my modelling with their fellow Thomas fans, and any problems I had with this were my problem, not theirs! I was very grateful for Andy York's support in this, but it is for that reason I do not plan to share my modelling outside of my facebook group anymore.