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.

cheers ess1uk. It worked pretty well especially running as a block unit. I'm going to try it out on my sulphate train (as there were some running problems at our last exhibition) and parts of my up and coming breakdown train.

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/

Cheers mate, hope you are well. Haven't spoken in a while.

...oh I forget his name. But what I have remembered is I forget to try and not be funny. Then end up not being funny, tragic really. In other news I have been modelling, alot of modelling to be done in preparation of our next long anticipated exhibition at Middlesbrough within the fortnight. So, understably I have been rather busy. First up are some little bits for the layout which included updating this fine beast of a water crane, originally of Hornby decent and now looking more like the type you'd find in North East sheds. also the missing vacuum pipe on the turntable has been replaced by a brass one which is both sturdier and looked alot better. Hopefully the turntable can make it to the exhibition :S! I have also been working on a crew for my latest project so I decided to kill two birds with one stone and repaint the Ivatt 4MT crew as they looked unrealistically bright. This was done mainly (entirely) with Vajello acrylics which are a joy to use . Finally, but by no means least, my latest project; the Thompson B1 "Nyala". Once more a Stockton (Area 51 ) locomotive this recieved a much cleaner finished than her grubby sisters but it wasn't spared a scar or lick of dirt, I shouldn't have though. The technique is largely ones I have done before and this is mentioned in an excellent George Dent article in Model Rail edition 183 which a LT pannier tank. The crew enjoy a nice cupper before the days work is done Please, let me know what you think.

I have been quite busy, so far, I have a couple of trains to get through before the exhibition on may and one in the running is a fitted van train pulled (hopefully) but a B1 61030 "Nyala". I bought a good running split chassis B1 from Tri-Ang Man about 10 months ago with the intention of making this locomotive and have managed to finally get round to it. I even scratch built a new smokebox dart from brass bits (which I am quite proud) as well as new front steps which makes 2nd radius curve a bit hair raising. I also cut out the moulded coal and added a bit of depth to eventually show that the engine will need to pop off to the depot soon. However, not everything went to plan.. for more info on what I did, please do visit my blog. http://sylviantennant.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/a-series-of-unfortunate-events.html Be aware, the content is aimed primarily at adults. Also a big thank you to 34theletterbetweenB&D for supplying the spare wheels as the rear set for this one had decided not to play ball.

I managed to catch them for the last time today. Call me sentimental if you may but it is quite sad to see them go.

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

Merry Christmas folks. Just an update to show my new complete sulphate train. I honestly don't know how accurate it is so I suspect it's not that accurate but reference pictures were a nightmare to find... or non-existent. So I did my best anyway. Nothing is perfectly but for the moment, I'm happy with the outcome. For a more indepth look, along with extra added frustrations on life... please follow the link http://sylviantennant.blogspot.co.uk/

So far the wagons are generally complete, they have now been assembled (with some problems and weathered (which was quite fun!) as they were apparently sheeted, I am using a technique which involves cling film, newspapers and lots of PVA/water and finally the break van for more on these updates please take a look at my blog, http://sylviantennant.blogspot.co.uk/2013/12/wine-women-and-cops.html

Matthew, words evade me.

It's just finishing on Film 4 now. But that's not important... What is is the progress on my Sulphate train. The Brake van is almost complete. Only the glazing and some weathering to do. It's not turned out too bad really... Also, I've come a long way with the sulphate wagons, where the progress so far with them all. The decal have been added and under frame has been painted with the planking highlighted with various shades of grey and grey/brown to represent replacement and weather planks. I'm hoping this tones down when weathered For more information please go to http://sylviantennant.blogspot.co.uk/ WARNING: contains strong language and a fascination of Doctor Who.

Got well into series three and watched the lost tales recently. I seriously regret not watching it when I was younger.

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

What that man said, thank you so much for such a dedicated piece of work.

Hello, I'm back for a little while before disappearing again like an elusive ghost in the night. At the moment I'm working on my sulphate train which will include an ex-LNER brake van bringing up the rear. The brake van is made up of a Dapol kit which is being extensively modified to take up it's representation. So far the chassis is night on complete and just requires the body to complete (well almost, we still need to paint it and number it and weather it). Any so here he it is. I'm hooping to have the full train complete in the very near future but not guarantee can be made on that. Anyway, I have a new blog which details the process a little bit more. Please take a peek... http://sylviantennant.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/a-goods-train-goods-train-goods-train.html Warning, contains strong Language and abrasive humour. Night night folks.

I love the effect you've created there.

....Back into 4mm scale, The Sulphate wagons are almost there. Anyway kind regards chaps!