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Sylvian Tennant

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  1. 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    Steam still lingered on until mid 2000 with the final shunting, depot pilots and industrial locomotives were withdrawn.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.
  2. 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.
  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
    I've updated my blog, ready to annoy the world! and here's the jist of what I've been doing this past week... nothing too concentrated but alot of progress.
     
    http://sylviantennantmodelling.wordpress.com/
     
    Well my pugbash is coming along quite nicely.
     
    I last left off at the body work and now she is all black
     
    Here though you can see the main sub-assemblies in this terrible picture I took.
     

     
    Anyway... here's the latest. There a big bits missing which will be painted over eventually when she is touched up. The buffer beams are to be the obligatory red and certain parts with be repainted black.
     

     

     
    Also I've been working on my 16mm tram loco and so far have gotten the chassis painted black and the moving bits primed for painting... you guessed it, red.
     

     

     

     
    I've totally wired it up too using some pretty wires
     
    I've also been fixing my Q1's lubricator as I snagged it about 2 years ago!
     

     

     
    and finally I got this in the post!
     

     
    for my Five79 Joffre kit.. more on that later!
  5. Sylvian Tennant
    As well as modifying my spikey thinhs (as my partner calls them!)
     
    I had a crack at modifying my first locomotive!
     
    Ivatt 4MT which, when finished shall be 43073 a local (Teesside) Clodhopper which has spurred an interesting debate about it's allocation some say it was Thornby I say it was Stockton for three months. Anyway using a modellers worst ally (assuption) I am going to base it on it's 51E allocation prior to it's transfer to the Midland region.
     
    Here's the inital results.
     

     

     

     
    Most of the work was inspired by Geroge Dent's article about a Year ago on Model Rail Mag.
     
    There's still a bit to work on, it want it to have an open filler cap plus there is a fair bit of cleaning up to do (blooming super glue) & possibly some reworking of bits (not too happy with the horizontal spring on the bogie, a wee bit small if you ask be).
     
    I'll crack on with it after I have returned from a weekend visit to my sister's dahn saaaaff
     
    But there's your lot.
     
    Have a good weekend chaps & chapesses
  6. Sylvian Tennant
    So a friend of mine saw my work and though, "By jove that's good" I don't know why though, I always seem to find something I could have done better. Well anyway a brief conversation ensued followed by delivery of the package.
     
    The package turned out to be a second hand Wachy Bachy 87xx Pannier in post war GWR livery. The task was To give it a worked in look ,noot too dirty but must have looked like an engine in use. So I set about ruining his poor model.
     
    Here are the results.
     

     

     

     

     

     

     
    All the work was done using Humbrol paints, metalcote and gloss cote. I've described bits elsewhere in my other blog so I'd be generally going over what I've done before. Only I've given the engine a novie fireman who needs to learn how to use a water crane!
     
    Unfortunatly I didn't take a photograph of the represenation of the inner frame which I had painted red (humbrol 60) and washed with black & leather mixed together.
     
    The fireirons (which you can get for tank engines...and I didn;t use in my wisdom!) are from springside (and provided by the client) and painted the leather and black mix followed by a dabing of almost driend leather from a cotton bud. Wooden bits such as handles and most of the broom are painted revell 87 (I tell a lie I used a revell painted too!) and washed in the said mix. the cab wasn't provided nor was a crew but the client knows best.
     
    If you have any specific questions please don't hestate to ask.
     
    Now back to job searching
  7. Sylvian Tennant
    Unfortuantly time is against me and I beleive I've posted the process of getting these wagons done before, if not, I may do it later. Anway I shall just put up the finished products as the processes and the weathering is pretty much the same as I have stated before.
     

     

     

     

     

     
    Please do ask questions if you would like to know more and also feedback would be greatly appreciated.
     
    Now off to be a poncy actor
  8. Sylvian Tennant
    I thought I should show you what I have been up to recently.
     

     
    Next on the workbench have seen a rake of box vans plus an old Bachmann(mainline) Brake Van which was a good little miodel but very much lacking by todays standard.
     

     

     
    so some under frame details have been added along with lamp brackets and brass handrails.
     

     
    I've also been extending some kit built wagons to add a bit of veriaty to the brood. There are some parkie Palvans as well as a parkie shock wagon andtheir 12t NE van.
     

     

     
    Finally I've had a devle into soldering and whitemetal (terrifying beyond all belief!) and this was the initial outcome until a rather daft mishapo with white primer forced a stress rant and a current rebuild
     

     

     

     
    Please let me know what you think chaps
  10. Sylvian Tennant
    Right so finally, (I hope) my tanker train is ready to roll. I was a bit annoyed with some of the older club members when I first brought my tanker train which at the time was complete. I had spent alot of hard work and time into getting them ready. I will admit to using the same wheels as the kits which was a mistake since they didn't go well with the smp track. But I felt that their critisam wasn't very constructive unlike other memebers whyo were happy to dish out advice. Anyway, b****y rant over. I went away huffed and puffed, felt better, remained with the club and go on with life.
     
    Alot of you are already aware of the brake vans and intended barrier wagons to which I have added some extra weight to aid adherence to track.
     

     
    I still wanted to have my tanker train running at the next exhibition so I wasn't going to consign these tankers to the cripple yard. I puruchased some parkside dundas wagon whells from the york exhibition and have fitted them to the tankers. Also as I am planning to run them as a block rake I have fitted some simple loop and hook coulings to majority of the rake with only two dedicated outer wagon reciving NEW pockets from Chivers to fit some Bachmann tension locks. I re-added some under frame detail which I had removed previously for the old couplings (I wish I had, had the hindsight to relasie the trouble I was going to go through) and painted it all up. I also touched up the paint work too as there was some chips and scratches whilst they were in storage.
     

     
    As you can see the new couplings have closed the gap between the wagons but they do still go around 2nd radius curves.
     

     
    As soon as I can get them on the club layout I'll show you them with the 9F.
  11. Sylvian Tennant
    Just to keep you up dated at this moment in time in regards to my J39 from Bachmann.
     
    I have added doors to the tender as they were there in the drawings I've seen. As you can see I have made one set of doors open, hopefully you'll see as you why later.
     

     
    I have carved the moulded handle off the smoke box door and replaced it with brass wire. This was a little tricky but is it do-able. I have also given the locomotive a steam heating pipe and added the sand pipes too. In all there appears to be little else to do in regards to this model unless someone else can think. I'm also planning to give the model a tarpaulin sheet for wintery seasons.
     

     

     
    I have also added a fall plate for health and safety reason and.
  12. 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.
  13. Sylvian Tennant
    Hello hello hello
     
    I'm sort of back, kind of. I've been quite busy of late with a study that is going mental with stuff, a uni course who over aches my head and a girlfriend who is now a fiancée. Mental.
     
    But I still have time to model which is good.
     
    So here they are, first up is my beloved Q6 which I finished on Friday. Unfortunately the light in the pictures is a bit pants but I wanted to add something a bit different from the usual mucky engines. So, I painted the bottom half of the smoke as a "patch up job" even else is pretty much filth and I've even added the fireman having a tab as he looks out between shovel fulls
     

     

     

     
    ?Next up (and finished the same time) is my slightly battered WD which I now think looks a much more professional looking model that in it's previous guise. Again, I'm slightly bored of completely filthy WD look now so (along with my other WD with it's clean buffer) I want to add a clean or repaired bit ever WD I work on. This time, it was the smoke box which has seemingly went under repair and repaint in comparison to the rest of it. Obviously it was be unrealistic to just lap paint and be done with it so I, washed humbrol 62 & 33 over the smokebox. I then dusted the top of it and steam pipe with Humbrol 27004, 62 and 64 and using a white colouring pencil added stream down the door. Finally some umbral 64 was dribbled at the bottom of the smokebox front.
     

     

     

     
    ?Both engine have couplings with work with your typical mention locks and (hopefully) D&G couplings which our club use for shunting.
     
    Till next time my dear fellows.
     
     
    I hope you like, I like.
  14. Sylvian Tennant

    Peking Duck

    By Sylvian Tennant,

    Just a few further updates on “Colin” my Area 51 Mucky Duck.
     
    She has now painted up and look fairly complete is a little tatty around the edges. The pony truck and coupling was a humbrol 98 & humbrol 33 that was going spare. The rest os humbrol primor (1) and humbrol 33. The buffer steps were humbro 60. I've also given the smoke box door a coat of humbrol Matt cote to protect the transfers when it comes to weathering.
     

     

     
    I’ve (at great frustration) added a smoke box number using HMRS transfer sheet 14 (I believe). Also replacing the withered lining and the knackered “3” on the left hand side of the engine with HMRS transfers. Unfortunatly it looks a little low compared to the 4 but I think once it's weathered it won't be too noticable.
     

     
    You may also note that I’ve been rather crude in applying a shed code. I could have used a transfer if I had wanted to however three points helped me to decide on this choice.

    Does anyone really notice a shed code on 4mm locomotive, 3 foot from it, whilst it’s in motion?
    There a fair bit of debate as to where this engine was based. I say (and am led to believe) that this engine was at Stockton in 1959… other disagree and claim it to be a Thornaby. This really a way to keep everybody happy
    It’s going to be weather (I’m aiming for a heavy job too) so it won’t be too noticeable.

     
    If you don’t like it… tough, it’s my model and that’s all that matters.
  15. Sylvian Tennant
    Right so here I am again, tlaking about the J39.
     
    I decided that in keeping with all of my other modified locos the front coupling hook needed to be replaced with some brass wire, to necessitate this I sawed off the mount and reattached the steam heating pipe to the buffer beam sealing in with cyno-glue.
     

     
     
    I also added some steam injector/ejector pipes to the underside of the footplate as per some refercne photographs I have seen. I find that although I'm not making an absolute scale model of the loco, certain small details such as this can really add some extra depth to the overall outcome and generally differs this model from your basic off the shelf J39.
     

     
    Also after consulting some photos, I added a pipe to the air reserviour tank using some brass wire put into a drilled hole.
     
    I ahve also decided to open the ventialor hatch with a drill bit filling it general away to the slide bars and replacing the original hatch with some plastic strip. The white thing at the batch of the cab roof is the taraulin. This was made with some tissue paper (from shirt packaging) crumpled three times, bundled up and soaked in pva/water and elft to dry on the cab roof. Once dry you will have a nice roughly curve the same as the roof, peel it off and put it aside to be painted. the pva once dry should come off the plastic easily.
     

     
    As you may have seen there is also a smaller piece of tissue paper which (hopefully) will become the firemans coat.
     
    I finally decided to add the air reservoiur tank and the boxes to the tender in perparation for painting.
     

     
    And now, I've taken the model completely apart, cleaned it with white spirit and have put it to one side to awat weathering
     

  16. Sylvian Tennant
    For some reason I started on this last night ...
     
    I think it was a Scratchbuilt J27 which another dickie X04 motor and dated chassis. Like the G5 it may have seen many owners and i think compared to any later offers may be slightly out of scale but overall it looks like a J27 and that's all that really matters to me as I think I can finish up with something that looks good.
     

     
    The chassis is now a Bachmann Jinty which we undergo some visual mods to look like a J27 under frame.
     
    I'v had to cut a fair bit from under the boiler to shoehorn the chassis and take to it and yes, unfortunately the daylight will be limited and I think there may be some shorting issues with the can motor and the metal body but I think they're easy to solve.
     
    The body itself needs a lot of work both from when i received it to further work that needs correcting after I started hacking. Plus a snowy finish from white spray paint I accidentally let off in it's presence. Hopefully with all going well I shall have a BR locomotive with a detailed (and removable cab) that can be put to service on local freight trains.
  17. Sylvian Tennant
    Just a quickie to say I've started cracking on with a couple of new projects. This year will mainly be tank engines as I have none updated so far and since finished the Gresley coaches I may need venture into other projects for the variety. Currently in the works are a G5, which I think is Nucast originally. Built by a member of my old club and handed to me as some sort of sixth hand gift.
     

     
    TBH the original motor was a Triang X04 motor which I think has seen it's best days. So I'm going to open out the chassis and try and a fit a high level gear box with Mashima motor. I also need some new wheels as the original ones were for a live chassis operation - I have been told this this is a simpler operation than the wiper pick-ups but i'm not buying that!
     

    Next up is a Gresley V1/3 (I don't know which!) which is the old Bachmann model - this is just a simple update to compliment the Gresley coaches I've built.
     

     
    Later on there will be a Ivatt 2MT Tank and a Thompson K1 (not a tank engine and somehow I've rejected the idea of the Hornby one and decided to build me own!)
  18. 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
  20. Sylvian Tennant
    Well, I'm going to test out my Ivatt tonight before painting those bits and pieces. I really need some HMRS tranfers to get her initally completed so I can start weatherting!
     
    Anyway whilst you wait for the finish line. Here are some updates.
     
    Firstly. I have been asked to weather a tatty old (and rechassised) 66xx for a friend of mine. In the end I figured a total repaint was necessary. I think I was justified. Now to touch up the paint work get those numbers painted (and a new sets of totems) and crack on with the weathering. (he wants something that's worked hard)
     

     

     

     

     
    Unfortunatly, I have very little experience working with metal and maybe I should have used paint stripper instead of wet/dry paper as I've removed some of the rivet marks (I'm hoping he's still my friend afterwards). The finish product will be up in my commissions section.
     
    There was a few trials and tribulations with this model.
     
    Next up, I've finally painted up my updated bolsters.
     

     
    You can still see the joint line with the bolster superstructures so I may have to sand them down a bit and re-paint them. It's not an exact match but close enough (Games Workshop Fortress Grey & Catachan Green). The brake gear was also painted (Tamiya NATO Black)
  21. Sylvian Tennant
    So finally I have gotten round to finishing (I beleive) the add on work to my Mucky Duck (or Rubber Duck as my partner beleives them to be called!).
     
    In addition to the things I described in my previous blog. I have since lowered the central spring on the pony truck (and not replaced wth coiled copper wire it as I felt it look adequate enough once it had been lowered). Added stop cocks to the heating pipes. I have replaced the flimsy bended rod going to the cab with brass rod and finally opened the filler cap which was a slightly pain in the glory hole. Unfortunatly it sits slightly lower due to my using a junior hack saw! (The sensible little critter Iam!)
     

     

     

     
    Oh and put a coupling on the front hook by drilling a small hole in the hook and carefully prizing away at it with a scalple. It isn't prototypical since Ivatts had their hook bolted on but it will suffice.
     
    Anyway I hope it was prove satifactory amongst you giants of model steam. I can still see greeny yellow super glue on the front heating pipe and the filler cap looks like it's already had a splash of water!
     
    Next up, replace the damaged lining and that "3", add smoke box number, immitate "51E/L" shedcode and weather.
  22. Sylvian Tennant

    Silk Purse?

    By Sylvian Tennant,

    Finally they're here!
     
    Based on an image I've found of a D49 on a local train. Save this time - I have Saltburn's Ivatt 4MT to hand.
     

     
    The weathering was basically rail match roof dirt and frame dirt - with a ratio on favour of the roof dirt. I wanted to try something different from my umbral and I think it's paid off.
     

     

     
    Apart from the end corridor connectors which were MJT - the central ones are scratch built using the MJT ones. built with 20 thous plasticard, black paper, some thread with the weather sheet made of out small square sections of black bin liner.
     
    The only downside is that they are close coupled and do struggle to make it round even 4th radius curves. I may have to return to this issue later.
     
    the inspiration taken from this blog.
     

     
    Finally - and although you can't see them really, i've added passengers as a finishing touch taken from the praiser Seat Fingures set. Most of which were painted to reflect the 1950's save these three which are me, my partner and my dear friend on our way to Whitby Goth Weekend in style
     
    I'm quite pleased with what started out as some Hornby Railroad stock. Any questions - please feel free to ask.
     
     
     

    ed: the 4th radius curve issue has now been sorted
     
    Here some more picture's i've just taken to highlight some of the modifications I've made.
     

     

     

     

  24. 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...
  25. Sylvian Tennant
    Well it's all done now. Totally updated Hornby Railroad 9F. Practically complete. Only a couple of touch ups needed where I've glued things after I've painted.
     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     
     
    Weathering is the same as the Ivatt, including Red frames.
     

     
    As I plan to try and give a bit of individual character to all my locomotive stock. I'm going to try and have the crew doing different things. This time the fireman is enjoying the the wind in his face whilst the driver calls him over. There's a pipe hanging from the firemans side, I reckon a hose, as to why I don't know, but I've seen alot of this happening in photos but not in model form.
     

     
    The tender bulkhead has been given a taillmap ready for light engine use, copper made fire irons in the hole and a sparsely used scratchbuilt brush.
     

     
    Coal as been strategically place around and in the tender to give the work a day nature of this engine.
     

     
    So there it is, what next, well I genuiely don't know! But feedback will be greatly appreciated.
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