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Sylvian Tennant

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  1. Sylvian Tennant

    Commission part 2!

    By Sylvian Tennant,

    This my second commissions for a friend. Done for free for two main reasons. Firstly, I initially didn’t ask for a price and secondly…I’m not too happy with the outcome though he is completely fine with it.
     
    It was a bit of an uphill struggle I don’t mind telling you, especially repainting it from scratch.
     
    Any way here’s the outcome.Also please bare in mind that this was an old and cruder model than what I we expect of todays models.
     
    Same techniques as mentioned before.
     

     

     

     

     

     
    He wanted a hard worked locomtive with a bit of heat scaring on the smoke box door, the buffer beans were under painted humbrol 62 & 33 before weathering. Final touch up included light lime scaling & water spillage.
     

     
    Also, something I plan to have as a signiture if the red top on the chassis to imitate the inner frames. As this rather unflattering photo shows.
     

     
    All in all, I was not completely impressed with the end result though I was happy to call it a day as the client was happy with what I've done.
     
    I would ask for any CONSTRUCTIVE critisim though in regards to the work in hand to help me improve for the future.
     
    Thanks guys
  2. Sylvian Tennant
    So after ramming some engines through the updateometer I realised that I haven't done any rolling stock for at least a year! Which is terrible of me. Worse still, apart from the support coaches for my breakdown crane, I have no passenger stock at all.
     
    Well that must change so first things first, I have set about doing a local passenger set to go with my Ivatt's and a V3 I have waiting to be converted.
     
    Now it might have been a simple affair of buying some new and improved Hornby Teaks and in an ideal world I might have. But I'm a poor student and i have a rake of some Railroad Teaks lying about so I thought, sod it, I'll use them instead.
     

     

     

     
    I'm not bothered by the inaccurate length of the coaches - they look enough like Teaks to me. The underframe however is something I would struggle to live with. So I set about with some MJT bits and some parts that had come through to my local shop from another which had closed. On hind sight the white metal battery boxes could have been scratch built to fit in with the support girders. the MJT parts - being accurate - were too long to fit between the frames.
     
    Originally I was going to make the girder frame from plastic card but they proved to be too arduous a task, plus when the original moulding were not too badly damaged and could be reused in part. the only replacement was the centre bit so I swapped for some evergreen 'L' section. the read was pretty much straight forward bar some slight inconstancies but visually nothing to cause too much alarm.
     
    I'm wondering how to couple the middle set of coaches up but I have an idea in mind.... watch this space.
  3. Sylvian Tennant
    Continuing my weathering practise I took the plunge and decided to do my first ever locomotive! And was very please with my first time results… until I cracked open the power lube and this ended in me accidentally coating the loco in this stuff after cleaning up the mess I caused whilst trying to free up the valve gear.
     

     
    The story is I spilt it and afterwards absently maidenly picked up the loco and tender… whoops! What followed was a wipe down with baby wipes that left the loc look rather greasy. Which was nice but unfortunately I removed parts of the weathering. Also it was a rushed job so I could defiantly do better, and this has pretty much destroyed the rusted/greasy effect of the valve gear & coupling rods (plus the lube was a disastrous effect too.)
     

     
    Anyway… after kicking a lot of my room about in frustration after wards here are the results.
     
    The engine was an aold Hornby-tri-ang 9F a friend gave to me, there as some pics of it before the process on my gallery somewhere so you can take a look at the difference!!

     
    These are before the final wash.
     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     


     

     
    The end product before the accident
     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     
    And finally after ward (and this morning after trying to get the sodding camera to work)
     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     
    Please don’t be too harsh… it was my first time and I did cock up
     

     
     
  4. 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
  5. 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
     

  6. Sylvian Tennant

    A poem

    By Sylvian Tennant,

    This made it's debut at a poetry event in Manchester...
     
    The Goth Who Spots Trains
    A heart betwixt by passions
    The fire in the belly
    Tendons of steel
    A melancholy respite from life
    Face painted monochrome
    I sit between the demigods
    Gresley & Murphy
     
    Beneath the cliff side ruins
    Watching alone amongst a reflective crowd
    A distant snake weaves along the valley
    The hiss, a spitting of hot vapour
    It brings me home
    And Stanier’s perfection dances to its tune
     
    An occupied corner
    The dark bask of the gathering
    The peacocks dressed for the eve of hallows
    Flaunting their feathers under ultraviolet rays
    The like minded dismissing common concerns
    Content and intoxicated
     
    Into the throat the beast lunges
    A downing spider
    Glinting silver and oil speckled
    The black monsters, the ferocious spectacle
    It holds the crowd awed
    A mechanical masterpiece
     
    The Victorian gentleman stands patriarchal
    His corset constricted wife at his side
    Her stance sultry, a wistful smile
    Twisted history
    Products of the difference engine
    Posing for sepia photograph with the seething leviathan
    A skew too much, the fools
     
    Standing on the farthest platform
    A second gentleman
    White haired, aged, experienced
    Smiles knowingly
    A smile returned
    He is far from alone
    And damn proud too
     
    Her sad face
    The last of her kind
    Unable to weep for her executed sisters
    The death warrant cast by fickle men
    Loyalty repaid with the lick of a flame
    Beautiful no more
     
    The mutual bond of brothers
    Our interested and lifestyles combined
    Our betwixt hearted
    Our raised eyebrows
    Our smiles
    And under our breaths
     
    “Black Five, how Goth.â€
     

     
  7. 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.
  8. Sylvian Tennant
    Well yet again, I'm busy modelling, amonsgt others things (working and writing) but I've now managed to complete my brake van and van kits, all are currnetly in the process of being weathered now which you shall see the finite product once complete, but whilst you wait... take a look at them "sort of" done!
     
    the brake van if can recall was an old mainline/Bachmann wagon
     

     

     

     

     

     
    Please do tell me what you think so far?
  10. Sylvian Tennant

    Hve I ruined it?

    By Sylvian Tennant,

    Oh dear! I it appears I may have, all of those bright colours... ah well never mind.
     
    TBBH I'm awful at implying risk. But honestly After adding the vibrant rust colours I was a tad worried it may look awful once finished.
     
    Anyway, as you'll find out later it turned out all okay.
     

     
    Firsly was to applied a 50/50 mix of matt black and batt leather to the uncleaned bits of the loco (cab interior, roof, smokes, running plate, chassis, tender tops and coal space etc)
     
    than once dry add the rusting colours.
     
    As anyone who follows these blogs (you poor devuils) may be aware I tend to leave a signature piece of adding red to the chassis top where you'd expect to see the inner workings of the chassi and I have not let you down this time
     

     
    I have also painted the cab interior as this was quite an exposed position.
     

     
    Finally, I've wanted to add a crew but I simply cannot stand just adding a crew simple just coaling the loco and sat there looking into middle distance to I got all Ed Gein on them and butchered some Dapol work men figures.
     

     
    TBC... soon... very soon... almost immeadiately
  11. 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)
  12. 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.
  13. Sylvian Tennant
    Yes, I continue my weathering practise and unleash my horrors upon the modelling world bwahahahahaha *cough cough*... anyway!
     
    Over the past couple of days I have been doming some more practising and experimenting... namely on some of my old Hornby stuff.
     
    The next victim inline was my fav old A4 of the lot "Bittern"
     

     
    The body sides had a mix of metalcote gunmetal, leather & chocolate applied to them then wiped off with a cotton bud. when dry it was them buffed with a dry cotton bud and burnish with a toothbrush.
     
    The loco frames were matt black & leather (I think)
     
    Wheels & oily patches were metal cote, leather, again burnish when dry
     
    the roof & bulkheads (cab interior too) were painted gunmetal (metallic) & matt black
     

     

     

     
    The smokebox door up to the chimney where painted metalcote gunmetal ,metallic gunmetal & matt black adding leather to give a bit of warmth. afterward I burnished it again which really toned down the leather in the mix. I don't see this alot of model A4s which is a real shame.
     

     

     

     

     
    The rear of the tender, I'm told, was left relatively unclean so I only lightly wiped the mix away from here. Again this was polishe dand burnished though.
     

     
    The cab interior was given some nice colours painted on with a toothpick... the colours were brass (pipes) copper (top handles), scarlett (handwheels, regulators) and a wash of metalcote gunmetal.
     

     
    When all of this had dried, I bought a cheap set of pastels (which came witohut a brown...GAH!) and lightly sprayed some matt varnish. I masked off the sides up to the handrails and brushes some of the black grey soot along the top of the loco. again I spray lightly some matt varnish over it. Unfortunatly it's taken on a light greyish colour and the varnish I used was humbrol.. I'm not too taken by it really. I might invest in some weathering powders next time.
     

     
    Finally, some leather was dry brushed around the water filler and the space surrounding... some more practise I think. This was followed by some black chalk along the top of the sides using the same technique as before. Hmm... still not too taken by it really. Afterwards polished the sides of both loc and tender by lightly buff with a cotton bud dipped in a very slight ammount of white spirit.
     

     
    Overall, I think a good first effort but please let me know what you guys think.
     
     
    Next up I have had another crack at the 9F... I basically just washed the same mix as I used it on before. But with some light grey dry brushed to represent water & limescale deposites.
     

     

     

     

     

     
    I shall look forward to being torn apart on my efforts
  14. Sylvian Tennant
    This cast aside mistress
    An anarchic frame marvel
    The Flying Pig
    Galloping along
     
    Her whimsical body abused
    A humble pride neglected
    This Doodlebug
    Scribbled bare
     
    An unwiped grimy face
    Those work blighted nooks
    A Clodhopper
    Collecting stains
     
    The prestige aloof manner
    Swan dreams concede illusions
    An Ugly Duckling
    She remains
     
    You carried yourself silent
    Whilst other held appeal
    My Mucky Duck
    Always adored
  16. Sylvian Tennant
    I have come to a rather interesting decision recently and I have decided to name all my running trains.
     
    Now this will really just apply to engines without any prototypical names (those I have included but shall be named after a particular prototype!). This also names I won’t be doing any nameplates. In all honestly it’s just a bit of harmless humour (I hope) whilst trying to engage my friends, partner and the general public into the hobby without boring them to death with technical speak.
     
    The engines I have chosen name for are:
     
    A1 –Hal ‘o’ the Wynd
     
    A3 –Robert the Devil
     
    Ivatt 4MT "43073" – Colin
     
    Ivatt 4MT "43010"– Igor
     
    Ivatt 4MT "43025"– Eric
     
    Black 5 "45242" – Murphy
     
    Black 5 "currently 44668"– Rory
     
    K3 – Jerome
     
    3F "Jinty" – Jemma
     
    9F – Dennis
    Q1 - Derek
     
    Ivatt 2MT Tank – David
     
     
    Engines currently waiting to be named:
     
    J39 –
     
    Deltic – (Depends on if I give it a name because I wouldn’t have yellow warning panels!)
     
     
    Suggested names I have listed below for the future:
     
    Sylvian (girlfriends suggestion – for a future Black 5 or 4MT 2-6-0)
     
    Siobhan (another future Black 5 or 4MT 2-6-0)
     
    Blixa (another future Black 5 or 4MT 2-6-0)
     
    Sally
     
    Pete
     
    Ranulf
     
     
    The general rules are:
     
    Most names will be acceptance (apart from those deemed unfit i.e Jordon, Kerry, Chelsea, Jodie, Rooney)
     
    Must NOT have swear words in
     
    Engines already named will keep those names
     
    Names of specific Goths/Alts will be the prioritised to the Black 5s, this may extend to anything else black later on!
     
     
    If anybody has any suggestions out there including ideas for the types of engine a name you’d think would suit best please don’t hesistate
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