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Sylvian Tennant

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  1. Sylvian Tennant
    So I pretty much kept to my word and finally finished (sort of) a project. The only difference is I haven’t broken it down into stages. Mainly because I don’t really have the time at the moment and I had a bit of a trail of confidence at my local club yesterday.
     
    Anyway here are is the completed product.

     

     

     

    This is the full on train including barrier wagons and brake van. All kit built. The 9F is a Hornby Railroad product which about an hour after this photo was taken tried to fly… which it realised it couldn’t. Still works though. It is soon to be modified into a Doncaster 9F. They are all indiviually numbers using the decal sheets supplied ;-) .
     
    The tankers were built pretty much out of the box. Some of the under frame was modified and weight was added. The basic black and primer were Halfords. The chassis was given a basic overall of my usual underframe treatment later given washes of Tamiya brown and dry brushed with humbrol 62 & 113. The wheels were the same as before too.

     

    The barrel was Tamiya flat brown and NATO black painted on and rubbed off with cotton buds in a downwards motion. This was followed by a wash of NATO black using the same process in selected areas.

     

    Finally the oil stains are humbrol 21 dry(ish) brushed on.

     

    The model’s superstructure was finally assembled afterwards.

     

    I took them to the club which I’ve realised was a bit of a mistake since some of the older crowd remarked on their squarness (I had to rebuild several so they ain’t perfect) and the paint left on the wheel rims complaining that they couldn’t get it off. Also the couplings came under scrutiny as well and the back to backs.
     
    In the end, I doubt they’ll be shown at our next exhibition along with anything Great Western & my friends “Gothed†up 9F… currently feeling it was all a waste of 20 months work... but hey-ho. They were being helpful. But I'll endeavour to get them working.
     
    Finally, I’ve made a start on some 16t minerals.
     
    Here are some of the results.
     

     
    The basics on the underframe have been epxlained before in previous blogs. But the bodies were tret to a light and shabby mix of revell 84 and humbrol 33, and humbrol 33 with humbrol 98 in the doors. Left for 24 hours or more and rubbed away lightly with a cotton bud in thinners. dabs the soaked end on the model and rubbing away with the dry end. Touching up with the same mixes followed by a very light wash of humbrol 33 & 98 along the body to dull them down. The interiors will be examined in a later blog.

     

     

     
    It's been a pleasure folks.
  2. Sylvian Tennant
    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.
     

  3. Sylvian Tennant
    Realising that my poetry was getting on some people's nerves I decided to return to a bit of modelling and here we go!
     
    Well, it’s finally here. My firstly completed model (for myself).
     
    Although I had decided against it, I sort of wish I had taken photos of the overall development. Though I have taken a picture of the disassembled model just to show the sceptics. You can take one of these things apart… although it’s kind of unadvisable!.
     

     
    Anyway,the overall even is really a lot of humbrol 62 & 33 applied with a 2:2 ratio.
     

     

     

     
    The process was really to block paint this on unwashed areas of the locomotive (smokebox, running plate, cab interior & tender top). Followed by a concotion of humbrol 27004, 33 & 62 along the “cleaned” parts which was wiped away with a brush damped in white spirit.
     
    Rust and heat staining was represented by humbrol 113 & 62. Don’t worry about feeling you’ve over done it this was followed by a 2:2 mix of humbrol 33 & 62 which tones it down nicely.
     

     

     
    Wheels and oiled parts of the motion & baring were humbrol 24007, 62 & 33 burnished when dry. The tender coal space was painted revel 84, followed by rust pitting represented by humbrol 113 & 62 followed by a wash of humbrol 33 & 62.
     

     

     
    The rest of the motion was treat to humbrol 10 & 85, along the top of the engine & tender a mix of humbrol 27001 & 62 was pattered on with a cotton bud. Finally some humbrol gloss cote was added to the tender top and drawn down the back of it to give the impression of an overflow and humbrol 21 was dropped into the opening at the filler cap. The cylinders were given a light wash streaking of humbrol 27004 & gloss cote to represent oil & leaks. Humbrol 64 was dry brushed below the smokebox door, and the running plate around it to represent ash. The pistons and valve spindel were tret the same way to show emulsified oil which apparently was quite common.
     
    The crew were modified (butchered bwahaha) Dapol trackside figures, painted with my partner’s WHsmith’s acryilcis, once dry they were given a light wash of tamiya smoke and sealed in with humbrol matt cote.
     
    To give it one final piece of NE character I’ve created a shunters pole from some spare brass (Parkside bolster wagon kits) painted revell 84 with the hook painted humbrol 33 & 98. This was all topped off with some crushed coal (given specially to me from a beloved acquaintance). As you can see I also painted and toned down the cab interior along with my signature red frames.
     

     

     

     

     

     

     
    Please let me know what you think. Please don't hesitate to ask me any questions.
  4. Sylvian Tennant
    Hello again you men and women and cats and dogs and all sort of other people.
     
    You've heard me bang on about it enough time already. I just thought I'd share with you all some quick photos I took tonight on our exhibition layout in progress "Hartburn Junction".
     

     

     

     

     

     
    It is now running and will be at the Middlesbrough Model Railway Exhibition on the 17th & 18th May, we have unfortunately had a few set backs which has hampered total completion of the layout in time for the exhibition however we should be on track to have the layout completed fully in time for our next show at Blythe over the August Bank Holiday.
     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     
     
    Please do stop by to say hello if you are at either exhibition.
     
    For more information please do visit our website http://www.stocktonmrc.co.uk/
  5. Sylvian Tennant
    That's me at this moment in time, using secondhand and left over bits to creating stuff. The only thing that sets me away from the hindrances of Wimbledon Green is that I'm not called Uncle Bulgaria or Orinoco or even an actual Womble.
     
    I have been mixing and matching however and my latest project is something of a complete mongrel.
     

     
    It's a Breakdown Train complete with an old Hornby Dublo crane which has been very heavily modified to represent something just a little less toy like and a combination of Hornby wagons that have went through an array of updates and modifications.
     

     
    The crane itself has had the handles and interior cut out and paint striped as much as I felt physically possble.
     
    The gears and lifting gears were creating from plastic tubing with spare gears bought for between £1 - £2.99 at my local model shop. Also some spare Dapol kit wheels came in handy too. A representation of a coupling beam and breakpipe was added to the buffer beam and other small details were included.
     

     
    The weight distribution bogies were from the later Hornby plastic crane. It was modified with the original couple removed and a new one added underneath the body to bring the couplings closer together. The old axle caps were filed away and oil boxes added as I didn't want any roller bearings.
     

     
    The same goes for the runner which is one of those Hornby Railroad-esque LWB wagons with a scratchbuilt body.
     
    I plan to have four support vehicles including a 12t Van, a gresley tool/packing van, a clerestory riding and mess van and finally a six wheel packing/tool van.
     

     
    The six wheel van was originally a Palethorpes sausage van, I glued the central axle box to the chassis and replaced the original; wheels with a modified Dapol set with with no flanges to ease the negotiating around curves. I've also added some underframe detail too.
     

     

     
    Finally for the moment is the former teak tool/packing van which has had the original underframe detail removed and in the process of replacement into something more prototypical.I've also cut out the door ways and removed the end corridors
     

     
    If you have any questions please don't hesitate to ask. I'd be more than happy to oblige.
  6. Sylvian Tennant

    I'm back!

    By Sylvian Tennant,

    ,Hello there you wonderful people. Before I begin. I've been going it alone with a new and spankingly brilliant* blog.
     
    http://sylviantennantmodelling.wordpress.com/
     
    *I'ts probably not that brilliant.
     
    Please do read it. It's rather irreverent but I'd like to think I've been a life changers
     
    Anyway.
     
    I've been a little busy as well as a little down about things. I've not had a job for nigh on two months now and I'm slightly wound up unable to find a new job and slowly loosing money. But how else do you keep yourself entertained?
     
    PUGBASH!
     

     

     

     
    Yeah so using Dapol's wonderful kit, a Graham Farish 94xx chassis and some plasicard, I've been making a rather arrogant and chunky looking narrow gauge tram locomotive.
     

     

     
    The motor needs some running in and it looks a little rickty with some strangely large rivets (does anyone else thing they're large?)
     
    I'm not happy with the back of the roof but that'll be covered up with some tarpaulin covers.
     

     
    I even made a cradle for it to fit into a Wachy Bachy well wagons
     

     

     
    Looking at the size of it I think it would fit into the Campbelltown and Machnimarish/Lynton Barnstaple railway loading gauge (thank god Peco have released some new wagons). But is a little too big for the Ffestiniog wagons. Hmm, does anyone beg to differ?
     

     
    If the coaches I have bought have proved to be a tad too small, can anyone suggest any alternative wagons (especially balcony type ones) I had been considering converting some street trams.
     
    Anyway, I have a couple of layout ideas.
     
    On top of that, I'm making a slow but sure start in 16mm scale with some things I bought at Elsecar when I actually had a job!
  7. Sylvian Tennant
    I assure you guys that some revenune earning stock will be put up on my blogs soon but in order to just amke sure I'm not going down a deep dark alley of despair I just needed to practise. This time I though that instead of just weather bits ofa knackered wagons, that I'd do several whole wagons to see what the techniques I've learned can achieve.
     
    So here goes...
     

     
    I used some old and by todays standards some crappy Hornby wagons... two steel 21t representatives from those 5+ year old starter sets I got given years ago, a Hornby hunting wagon I bought from Toys R Us around 14 years ago and an Emlyn 7 plank wagon that has given me years of great service from my first ever train sert "The Midland Belle"... out of curiousity did anyone else have that train set?
     
    First off al the Emlyn wagon, the outer planks painted a mixture of humbrol begie, brown, grey enamels to which I can't remember at the moment but feel free to ask for I shall look when I'm back home.
     

     

     

     
    The solebars painted humbrol black (33) & chocolate... I should have just don e it chocolate for it wa sa wooden solebar... but I'm an idiot!
     
    the whole wagons was then given a wash of the same thinned mix and the strapping/iron work a thick covering of it...
     
    the inteterior of Tamiya Deck Tan(XF-55) & Light Grey (XF-20) followed by a wash of the same mix as before.
     
    Some dry brush with humbrol rust (113) and leather (62) around the solebars, buffer beams, W irons and brake gear and a thinned mix of gunmetal metalcote applied to the axel boxes
     
    Secondly the Hunting wagon...
     

     

     

     
    Alot of the same was done as above however some fundemental experimentation was carried out.
     
    the solebars were painted chocolate brown, followed by a wash along the solebars with Tamiya dark brown (XF-10 I think?) either that or revell leather (87) can be used.
     
    The interior was painted with the same basic wooden plank colours as the outside... I don't know about this one, much preffer the effect on the previous wagon.
     
    The ironwork was painted Revell Leather (87) and when dry dabbed with white spirit gently rubbed away with a dry cotton bud.
     
    Next off... some steel work & rusting
     

     

     

     
    I had previous washed this wagon in matt black as a tester and had a crack at some fiber glass attacks... jury's still out with the latter but toning down was well worth it, however maybe next time some humbrol 98/62 or revell 87 might suffice in the mix.
     
    What followed with a dabbing on or a crude mix of thinned revell 87. The mix itself was quite inconsistent which is prefect.
     
    The interior is a mix of humbrol 33,98 & 62... I might increase the mix of 62 & 98 next time.
     
    The unframe was a basic repeat of the first wagon
     
    finally something which I'm very unsure about.... the same as above was carried out however, I used the humbrol 33 & 98 mix
     

     

     

     
    also, the underframe was painted Tamiya XF-10, followed by a wash of humbrol 98 which I was unhappy about and finally washed back over with XF-10...
     
    this was followed up with the obligatory dry brushing of humbrol 113 & 62 and metalcote gunmetal added to the axel boxes.
     
    ... on all the wagons I also painte don with a cocktail stick the white brake handles.
     
    here they are in the middle of my coal rake on the Stockburn layout... to feature very soon (I hope) in the next Hornby magazine!
     

     

     
    Please let me know what you think...
  8. Sylvian Tennant
    I have been a bit quiet lately mainly due to work and girlfriend related activities and I have not been doing much. In all honestly I have been investigating other scales and need a bit of a changed from my general OO stuff. As well as this, my work commitment, my girlfriend and my other interests need some time as well.
     
    So I’ve been looking at what I need to get done 4mm scale wise and what can be left for another time. Namely my passenger stuff and most of my other engines. However I have asked if I can get my 9F and Mucky Duck to run on our layout “Hartburn Junction†at Blythe 2012.
     
    A swell as this I have also offered to trains for them to haul. A coal train made up of Bachmann modified Bachmann models and updated Parkside and Dapol kits and a bolster train again made up of an assortment of Parkside and modified Bachmann models.
     
    Anyway… back on to interesting stuff. I have been busy modifying (and swearing at) a Hornby Railroad 9F.
     
    These things have been well publicised as being a good basis for modifications and updates especially at being (at time if writing) half the price of a Wachy Bachy 9F.
     
    I don’t know the total logic of these updates so I would rather people refrain from “Well why didn’t you just buy a Bachmann 9F and re-number it?â€
     
    The only real answer I can give you is… I like to work for my achievements.
     
    Anyway.
     
    What it looked like before
     

     

     
    Here are the mid-way results.
     

    I added a Golden Arrows BR1F Tender


    Single Chimney (247 developments)…I had lost the original one which started off my dismay
    Steps (Dapol kit)
    Draincocks
    Sandpipes
    Brakes (A bloomin’ nightmare!)
    Lubricators (comet)


    I had to file away at the metal to get them to fit!


    A new smoke box dart (comet)
    Smoke deflector bracing
    Smoke box steps (along with a replacement front)
    Buffer Steps
    Sanded off the mould lines on the firebox & smokebox
    Vacuum pipes
    Less obvious model coupling
    Lamps Irons


    Coupling (Dapol kit)


    Pony Truck springs


    Beefed up the right hand side piping (Dapol simply placed over the original stuff)
    Sandbox caps


    Left hand side piping


    Rear bulkhead with bracing
    Cab hand rails
    Cab doors (they ain’t fitted yet, I plan to secure them after painting the interior)


    The tender uses the ladders from the original tender
    Hand rails
    I have filled the gap at the back of the tender where the ladders go with plasicard filed to fit.


    Screw handles (Dapol kit)
    Water level indicator
    I have also drilled out the fire irons hole

     
    Currently it reminds me of an engine from India or Pakistan or possibly china with the different colours going on!
     
    I have also been busy with filling my coal train with coal… only I forgot to take a picture of the end results!
     

     

     
    Finally I have also been modifying a Hornby LMS based brake van giving it an underframe ballast box and new handrails.
     

     
    Further updates on both of these and some more project soon but please let me know what you think
  9. Sylvian Tennant
    Hello, welcome, good to see you all again. Yes, it has been too long, if not for you, then certainly for me. Well, I have been quite busy as of late, but not really doing slot of train lately.
     
    Firstly, a house move, into cottage, with my girlfriend! and her dog, and possibly new kitten. Secondly, UNIVERSITY! too much to do with so little irresponsibly spent money. But my new modelling room...ahem... I mean study is complete so I have been getting around to a bit of modelling.
     

     
    Arggh thar-she-blows. A railroad 9F converter to a Crosti toilet- I mean boiler with a Dave Alexander kit and Golden Arrow tender. Yes, I know I could have do more, no it's not my model. In fact it was a communions for a friend. He did all of the leg work for the conversion, I only did the weathering and finishing touches.
     

     

     

     

     
    Overall, everything is the same as before, the only major improvement on the weather was the use of artistic pencils for the patches of rust and to highlight the limescale along the boiler sides.
     

     

     

     
    I'm quite happy with her.
     
    and here she is with my 9F
     

     
    now the Q6.... actually, I've stalled with it, momentarily as I require some retaining compound foe the gears and stuff....
     
    but over the Easter you may very well see one of these....
     

     

     
    (I love annoying rivet counters) if you frequent the fictions locomotives threads then you might have seen earlier versions. The plan is to extend the time steam had by about 20 years and in doing so BR carried out a series of modifications under the direction of L.D. Porta and David Wardale. The Geisel ejector I originally had in mind has since been replaced by a Lempor one, the covered cab would have cost too much work to be of much substantial economy and the Gas Producing Combustion System has since been added.
     
    It was either BR Blue steam or LNER electrification with Apple green GG1's flying to York and back
     
    I leave you to ponder over that.
  10. Sylvian Tennant
    Hello chaps
     
    Just a quick update to say that I've finished my first engine shed.
     
    Loosely based on or around Malton for our exhibition Layout "Hartburn Junction
     

     

     

     
    For more information please look at http://sylviantennant.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/goodbye-dear-ladies.html
     
    or
     
    http://www.stocktonmrc.co.uk/
     
    anyway, must be off, work and all sorts tomorrow
  11. Sylvian Tennant
    So, it's done. I have managed to finally create a monster.
     
    I messed with time an history and it brought me to this place.
     
    The dark and brutal world of British mainline steam in the 1980's.
     
    Many have scoffed that it was far fetched, and yes it because frankly steam didn't survive on the mainline after 1968 as a revenue earning arm of BR.
     
    But it's nice to dream.
     
    but anyway. After a major electical issue involving rewriting the driving wheels to the tender to get it working again it is complete.
     

     
     
    I promised a brief story on my world at 988 193 so here it is.
     
     
    It belonged to a batch of loco's built during the war, and spent most of it life in the midland region, that part of it's life I'm not to clear on. but the 1955 white paper smoke emissions called for steam to be eradicated by the end of the century and called for steam locomotives to provide a more efficient turn of economy and emissions. BR contacted L.D. Porter who had been working on modifying Agrentine steam locomotives and he proposed a series of improvements on a select number of locomotives to extend their lives.
     
    R.A. Riddles was successful in pushing for electrification and the pilot scheme diesel locomotives (which were fewer in number than reality) were pooled into the WCML & Southern with steam locomotives from those regions transferring or scrapped outright.
     
    The Western was the next to go with their favoured hydraulics with left the areas of the midland region, Wales, Yorkshire and the north east and Scotland until the 1980's when the Midland regions went fully with electrification and diesels. Wales eventually succumbed and the eastern side of England and Scotland were left until the end of the 80's.
     
    Steam still lingered on until mid 2000 with the final shunting, depot pilots and industrial locomotives were withdrawn.
     
    anyway the 8F in question was converted in 1976 from a 988/0 (an unmodified 8F) to incorporate a Lempor chimney, dual braking, radio equipment, electric lighting& mechanical stoker. A the end of midland steam she transferred from Toton to Thornaby along with a healthy number roof other locomotives from former midland Region sights. Here she worked mainly on Oil trains up to Newcastle and York, occasionally running coal trains up to Drax and also doing turns on steels runs to Redcar.
     
    She ended by as one of the last few surveyors lasting up until 2000 and eventually adopting a Loadhaul and finally an EWS livery before withdrawal and eventual scrapping in 2012.
     
    Anyone, daydream over.
     
    She wasn't done over night but would have been a lot sooner had the electrical issue hadn't occurred. Paining was done completely by hand, that also includes the weathering too.
     

     

     
    Transfers were from Replica Railways, Nairnshire Modelling Supplies and HMRS.
     
    The crew were modified Dapol track workers. The livery itself was Hornby rail colours BR Blue & Yellow, as mentioned, hand giant. the weathering was also done by hand.
     

     

     
    I have enjoyed it and I'm looking to build some more BR blue locos eventually as well as stock and maybe a small layout.
     
    But for now, I am going to stick to something closer to reality.
     
    If you have any questions, please just ask.
  12. Sylvian Tennant
    Hello
     
     
     
    I'm not dead, just slepth... or so they say.
     
    Well, I haven't been too busy model at the moment but I did some some more wagons. This time some pretty private owner wagons.
     

     
    I named this after an artist friend of mine, thinking he was understand.... he seemed more bemused.
     

     
    A lovely stone wagon, the stone was from a balloon ballast from my mums wedding.
     

     

     
    My now completed hooded wagon with tarpaulin made from some layers of kitchen foil.
     

     
    Jemima with now new rake.
     

     
    Jemimas bits and bobs, the 2nd radius curves don't like these bits.
     

     
    That's all folks!
  13. Sylvian Tennant
    Hello, hi, good evening, who are you!
     
    Ah well never mind, you're here now and I suppose I should talk to you.
     
    Well, enough of these commissions and imaginative what if's, something relatively real now, for me.
     
    remember that Dave Alexander Q6 that I was relegating to the side due to my overly pessimistic opinion of doing something completely heinous to cause it to go wrong (of which I'm eternally shackled to) Well somehow it has managed to please the God's enough to work!
     

     

     
    So far I only have the chassis built but that is more or less complete saved some slight tweaks with the weathering which can happen once it's fully assembled. I'm quite pleased with it!
     
    I'm going to put it to one side as another commission has come my way and also I have this to work on.
     

     
    For £75 it's not bad but there's a fair bit of work and possibly a repaint on the way. I'll explain more later unless you would like to read my new blog update (warning contains strong language and opinions)
     
    http://sylviantennant.blogspot.co.uk
  14. Sylvian Tennant
    A taste of things to come guys.
     
    I managed to hand paint the bodes ready for the transfers and gave chassis and uncleaned bits.
     

     

     

     

     
    I haven't yet added the separate parts and wondering if I should it before or after weathering.
     
    I'll give you a speculative history on this individual loco at my next post which should show the finished article.
  15. Sylvian Tennant
    Well last week was for me. Alot of good stuff happened and left me really happy.
     
    A basic highlight of them were, practical completion of my pugbash.
     

     

     
    Painting it up and adding the final details before weathering. I gave the cab some details too such as copper wire for piping.
     

     

     

     
    However, one would like to know as to weather one should give the little blighter some lining. I was thinking LNWR colours as they are the only ones I have available.
     

     

     
    In the larger scales I have been plodding on with my tram loco for 16mm scale, finally finishing the chassis and making a start on the lower body....
     
     
    ... then she arrived!
     

     
    http://sylviantennantmodelling.wordpress.com/2013/03/11/sensory-overload/
  16. Sylvian Tennant
    Yes, I'm back with more of my adventures with wagons and paint to try and acheive an realistic and artistic outcome for me and my hobby!
     
    Also you'll get to see bits of the new layout at my club as well as the last few pics I took with the old one sad times.
     

     

     
    First off, I've some a few more Bachmann vans, and had a crack with some Bauxite. The techniques I've used have been previously explained in previous blogs.
     

     

     

     
    Next up is the bogie bolsters.
     

     
    so far I've simply weathered two, with hopes to modify two more as BR variants. The deckings were a humbrol 187/147 & 64/87 mix respectively. Washed over once or twice with a humbrol 33/98 mix. Dragging the brush along the planking to represent a grainy weathered wood effect. The same mix was used to the body then wiped away and metal work was picked out with humbrol 160... I may need to give the body work another wash to tone down the rust... not too convinced about how I've done it on the sanctions.
     

     

     

     

     
    The chassis was humbrol 33/98 followed by a wash of tamyia XF-10 then dry bushing humbrol 160 to give texture. Finally the oilly bits were humbrol 27004 (gunmetal) burnished when dry.
     
    I've also added some individuality to the wagons through the bolsters as you can see
     

     
    I am working on a coal train, for this I have bought/found some Bachmann 7 plankers.
     

     
    First off was to rub at the bodywork and paint with a fibreglass pen (a real genuine pain in the a***)
     
    then a wash of humbrol 33/98
     
    planking was done using a variation of humbrol begies/browns/greys and whites.
     
    the chassis was tret the same way as before. The metal work was 33/98 (not a wash) followed by 160 which was dabbed and rubbed away
     
    The unpainted wagons was oringially bright red and was apart of the brightly coloured digital train set.... until I got hold of it. the lettering was completely rubbed away and was primered white.
     
    Once this was done transfers were added before a second wash of 33/98. I plan to run these loaded but I have described wagon interior previously.
     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     
    I have unfortunatly rubbed some of the rivet work away! and dont worry if they looks crap before finished... they look great afterwards
     
    Finally the well wagons.
     
    Generally the same as the bolsters but with more empahsis on the humbrol 160 rather than the 33/98 mix.
     
    I picked out the rivet on the base as well, which wa s apain in the hole... they were then lightly wiped along the lengh of the wagon to represent weather beaten rust.
     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     
    Oh and before I go... I've added lamps to my brake van! they were unpainted Spriangside white metal ones, sprayed with halfords white primer (humbrol was way too thinned) the lenses were humbrol 60 with a tiny dab of 33. secured with some UHU and given a light wash of 98/33.
     

     
    Please let me know what you think.
     
    Thank you.
  17. Sylvian Tennant

    J27 #3

    By Sylvian Tennant,

    So far so good, i've managed to pretty much overhaul the locomotive and tender to give a decent representation of a J27.
     

     

     

     
    Unfortunately when I was looking over some images of the engine i was going to represent it turns out the dome was the wrong type. Being that anal I hunted around for another J27 with NER Pattern buffers and dome in the Teesside region...eventually finding 65870 which spend most of it's life in or around Area 51 and have the correct pattern details I needed.
     

     

     
    Following on from this, I just need to add some more obscured loop couplings, make up some three linkers and glazing otherwise she's ready for a repaint. Saying that, I am considering making a slightly bigger balance weight for the centre wheels to help hide the other splashers as the J27 had them only on the centre ones.... maybe I should have done a J26 !
  18. Sylvian Tennant
    The Dapol 20t tank wagons is a simple kit top produce, one I actually would recommend to anyone who was starting out or wanted an add some non-taxing details. However, there were a few slight hiccups when opening most of the kits. Broken parts as you can see here.











    This isn’t a major, if incredibly irritating, problem. So first check all of the parts and prepare to spend the best part of a hour trying to rectify any problems you come across!







    I started with the barrel and this was the first of my modifications. I added a 10 gram weight perched upon a bit of spare sprue inside. The weight it self is self adhesive but I added a coat of liquid poly just as insurance.











    The completed barrel should look something like this and should naturally sit the right way up with the newly added weight.











    If it doesn’t…panic!







    The chassis was again a straight forward build initially. I should have bored the holes for the braking gear on the chassis and brake blocks BEFORE this stage but I left it until later. For ease of the reader I have included it in this part. I used a 1mm drill bit for the hangers and 0.55mm for the brake shoes and safety bars, be careful as the hangers are prone to snap and cause a lot of foul language! I also could have added buffers here too, but I seem to have taken these photos before I did!



























    The major modifications begin after this stage!







    I ended up using Hornby narrow couplings instead of the ones provided. I would suggest that if this is your first kit to use the ones they provide, I learnt a whole spectrum of colourful language whilst trying to super glue them to the chassis and make them work.











    Unfoundedly I didn’t think this through and went I tried the train it kept derailing on the 2nd radius curves. So unless you plan to run your own train on wider, non-train set curves then you may need to select (or keep) different couplings or, like me remove one of the hooks. Since I was planning to keep it as a block train I didn’t really bother me. However, MAKE SURE, the hook align with the loops if you are going down this route!











    If you decide to go down this route and want to add the under frame details as I did you’ll have to GENTLY file away a angle at the back of the coupling.











    As I said, the Dapol kit was great for basic mods because it is itself quite basic. One major difference you will find is the inclusion of a discharge pipe along the underbelly. Check the length with the chassis and gentle indent with the cutters.











    This is followed up by the braking gear. First the tie bars between the break shoes, made from 0.5mm brass wire.











    Then I used the staples to create the safety bracket (things). Bend and cut accordingly using the cutters and pliers.











    Unfortunately I wasn’t too particular as to their positioning, they should be closer to the spine.











    I bit of the inner brackets should be sticking out of the top of the chassis, simply cut this bit off.











    The parts connecting the brakes to the cylinders were created using plastic tubing and microstip. I used the same technique to fit the rod as I did to fit the tube. However now there should be a bore in the hangers to help it sit there. (ignore the file!)











    The connecting bars were measure between the cylinders and rod to judge the distance. Once there were marked out and cut. I cut a slight section out of them.











    I attached them to the cylinders making sure they sat on the rod. Once they had set I then glued them to the rod.











    I left the ladders unmodified because I couldn’t be bothered updating them and they looked alright. I also left out the support brackets too because they look simply but are a blooming nuisance!







    Here is the rake of unpainted wagons











    This was actually taken before I updated the chassis! But next time I will carry the work out in this order!











     
  19. Sylvian Tennant

    J27 #2

    By Sylvian Tennant,

    I'm back on the modelling horse again - ironically, I've moved to Tyneside and this has spurned me to to think about some of the projects I have in mind around this neck of the wood. Where I've moved to is not too far from Tyne Dock which has bumped me 9F project further up the list to convert it to 92064. Also going to ram through with the J27 to get something done before 2017 conks out on us.
     
    So far I've gotten close to the structural completion of the model with a cab scratch built. I'm just building a basic cab with elements purely representational without it being finescale. In addition to that, the way the chassis comes away from the body mean that the cab will have to be removable.
     

     

     
    A lot of the dodgy modelling will disappear once painting and weathering occurs and the crew are added and it's placed in the loco.
     
    The tender bulkhead also needed to to be updated to look the part... theres still some work to get it finished but the main components are effectively there. Again, i'm just adding bit to make the locomotive look a little more complete without falling into finescale representation.
     

     
    More to come soon.
  20. Sylvian Tennant
    My girlfriend has such strange & creative titles titles for my engines.
     
    Anyway, I shall keep this short and sweet as you pretty much know how I weather my engines. Unfortuantly, my pcitures are terrible
     

     
    I have finally finished my WD which was once a limited edition K&WVR 90733 and is now an even more limited edition "51E" 90155.
     
    I have some some slightly different weather technique to this engine to see how they would work (hoping they would anyway!)
     

     
    The first is dry brushing some humbrol rust into the wheel recesses of most the driving wheels. I left one out to add a little bit of diveristy as if the engine has had a recent wheel replacement. The second was dry brushing some humbrol metal cote along the cab side, I think I could have done it to the tender too.
     
    In addition to that you may notice one of the buffers is still a vibrant red compared to the rest of the buffer beam. Again this was intentional as I remember a picture from a Dub-Dee (possibly from about a year ago) showing a dirty buffer beam with a bright red buffer shank which interested me.
     
    Finally I painted up the coupling rods the usual way with humbrol gloss brown and matt black but on the occasional linkage I dry brushed some leather and painted up the joints, slide valves and spome of the link with metal cote. These areas where finished with a smearing of gloss varnoish (making sure it is carefully applied as to not fowl the running gear) to make sure, I oiled the back of the working to free them.
     

     
    Finally the crew and coal. The coal is as per WD usual mostly awful and dusty with the driver looking back to the rear of the loco and the fireman having a craft ciggie between stoking.
     

     
    The ciggie was made from some 5amp fuse wire and painted with acrylics. Unfortunatly the close up shot was great and it looks better from a distance.
     
    Anyway, time to go, christmases to attend and things to not care about.
     
    Toodles
  21. Sylvian Tennant
    But that's not related to the rest my modelling of the ex-LNER brake van which is now looking more brake van and even more ex-LNER.
     

     
    I've also made a crack at painting my sulphate wagon using Railmatch early BR and LNER grey to simulated fading wood on the doors. Hopefully this will show when the wagons are properly weathered.
     

     
    For a more insightful and E.L James hating update, please read my blog. May contain traces of opinion.
     
    http://sylviantennant.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/i-hope-i-dont-die-of-old-age-just-yet.html
  22. Sylvian Tennant
    Okay so after 8 months I've now finally come to the end of the first chapter of 16mm scale modelling. With this, my new brake van.
     

     

     
    It is a modified IP Engineering kit with saftey chains, handrails, foot boards and a furnished interior built from scratch.
     

     
    The van is weighted wth a fishing weight under the chassis and hidden by a box ala LMS style.
     
    The roof is removable to access the interior which include a seating area with table, a stove (built from plastic tube and a seal-able bottle top)
     

     

     
    Bramwell the guard chats to Ted about his new Van he seems happy.
     

     

     
    Now I've finished another chapter of 16mm scale, I'm gonna give it a bit of a rest, save some running and concentrate on some 4mm project I have in mind.
     
    ext up: Sulphate wagons.
  23. Sylvian Tennant
    I love trains and model railways and can genuinely now say I cover all of the main gauges in British railway modelling. How did I achieve this - by being given an O Gauge Y6/J70 tram locomotive. I am genuinely not sure if it's a kit or scratch build or scratch aid kit or what. it was built, and it seems to have been built okay if a little dated. There was some work towards making a chassis for it but I was given a Lima motor bogie which works and will fit on to the body with some work.
     
    Anyway. I have decided to take advantage of restoring this little old lady up to work order. As the tram seems to have a combination of both the Y6 & J70 locos I decided to give it a completely made up designation and give it a fictional railway to run on. I'll reveal all, once it's complete. Anyway, I want to give it a slightly lived in (whether to weather or not) feel some I cut out some of the windows and front doors.
     

     

     
    Of the window frames many broke up due to the soft and thin plastic the body was made up of some I had to make some new ones from 20 thou plastic sheet.
     

     
    The the body was rubbed down to later be replaced, the skirts were extended. The roof edges had some chips which we filled in and some slight modelling imperfections were addressed.
     
    Hopefully the outcome will be a pleasing affair. I'm currently looking into building a Wisbech style coach and wondering what wagons it could haul. Nothing too big as 0 isn't my main gauge but something to run when visiting my friends garden railway.
  24. Sylvian Tennant
    Sorry, I've been really busy at the moment and even now, I'm readying myself for a three night comedy show. I'll blatently plug it too. http://www.facebook....57209164384831/
     
    Anway back on topic.
     
    This was my most recent commission for a friend of mine. It was an unpainted Dapol conflat which he wanted to be a match truck for a class 03 he bought from Bachmann. You know the nice faded blue one. He basically said "Go to town with it" so I did.
     

     
    I added vac pipes and air brake pipes made from guitar strig and brass wire respectively. I also scratchbuilt some chocks which, though inaccurate once I had done my post updatre research!, look okay and give the model a bit more life.
     
    The weathering is pretty much as standard... however the model was primered white and given a coat around the edges of that new humbrol rail colour stuff which worked quite well to be honest This was followed by humbrol black which was hand painted on. I didn't know if anybody would do transfers and I wasn't brave enough anyway and the initial idea of taping the sides didn't go too well so basically the black marks were marked up with pencil and I went straight to it with only those for guidance!.
     

     
    Finally along with the chock I added some spare bits from the loco iron irons pack from springside and some lamps from said manufacturer.
     
    Anway enjoy
  25. Sylvian Tennant
    Luckily I have it was al just bits and pieces that I was messing around with! but I would like to show you the fruits of my labour and also gather some tips and creative criticism. (I don't want, "that looks like a bag of s***e", I want, "That looks like a bag of s***e but here's how you could improve...")
     
    Anyway....
     
    First of all, I began by trying out some wood effect on a knackered old Dapol Brake Van.
     

     

     
    This was done using Tamiya Acrylics
     
    The base colour was Deck Tan, followed by mixing Flesh, Dark Brown & Nato Black.
     
    Followed by a wash of Humbrol 98 & 33
     

     
    Overall, I was really pleased with the Flesh, Deck Tan & Dark Brown mixes but Nato Black greens everything... less of that in the future! Currently I am limited to these Tamiya colours but will be getting more soon.
     
    I did one another one with humbrol 147 & 187 but I forgot to take photos plus the technique is practised elsewhere!
     
    The next one was to do a basic wash of Humbrol 33 of the whole wagon (including chassis), taking into jointed and raised detail. the wash was about 90% thinners & 10% paint.
     

     

     
    This was a full paint up from priming to weathering here. The wagon body was primed with Halford red oxide. I had also sprayed the interior white. That will be a one off I think.
     
    The side with the "patch work planking" was Humbrol 113... I had made a slightly mistake in the painting and weathered it whilst still wet and removed the paint back to the priming so it was reapplied and looked a little more dustier than the first attempt.
     
    The second side was painted with Humbrol 133 and both results I was quite pleased about.
     
    I followed this with a wash of Humbrol 98 & 33 wiped away with a cotton bud, one end in white spirit to get into the corners and the other dry. I DO recommend leaving the paint to dry for a day or two before to this bit!
     
    Finally the metal work was picked out with Revell 84.
     

     

     
    (I know I the planked effect looks pants on it, that will be improved! and the photos make the rust effect look a little bright too!)
     
    The interior was as said before, Humbrol 187 & 147, slapped on in parallel with the wooden planked and left for about an hour to dry before slapping on a thin followed by a slightly thinker mix of Humbrol 98 & 33. This was again worked in along the way of the planking and don't worry about the second coat initially looking too thick. It will thin out as your work along it.
     

     
    For the chassis work I tried different methods I used Tamiya Dark Brown (XF-10) block painted & 98 again blocked on. Unfortunately I forgot to take pictures again! But the attempted with 98 & 33 blocked in I did photograph.
     
    The result was finished by dry brush Tamiya Dark Brown & Revell 84. I also dry brushed Humbrol 53 & humbrol 62 but I think the effect is dire. The axel boxes were treated to a drop of Metacote gun metal.
     

     
    Finally, I gave loco weathering a try.
     
    The cab roof was given three different cotes. The right was Humbrol 33, 98 & 53 ( the middle was the same but with less leather), the left was humbrol 33 & 53.
     
    The loco body was painted in thinned Humbrol Metalcote gunmetal & 62 then rubbed away with a cotton bud in white spirit, then with a dry cotton bud.
     
    The top was dry brushed with the same mixture, then rubbed away with a dry cotton bud when touch dry.
     
    The valences were dry brushed with Humbrol 53 and a 90/10 thinned Humbrol 33 worked into the recesses. Revel 84, Humbrol 62 & 53 were dry brushed around the top of the paneling.
     
    the smoke box door was a Metalcote gunmetal, 62 & 33. Hmm... looks a little too brown for me so may need a little more work.
     

     

     

     
    I went a little into overkill with a cotton bud soaked in white sprit the morning after though!
     

     
    Anyway, please let me know what you think for a first attempt.
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