T12

	1:20.3 Scale T12 4-6-0
	Whilst EDM models specialise in 1/4" scale models we have our own 45mm gauge railway and have modified and weathered the loco's that run on this. As result of doing and showing our own loco's we have been commissioned to details and weather a Berlyn Locomotive Works T12 4-6-0. The brief is to take this gorgeous exhibition quality model and make it look like it did in the last years of its life The engine and tender took about three months to paint made up of two months plucking up the courage and about a month actually doing the job.
	The engine and tender were done separately as they took up so much of the work bench. Surprisingly given the supposed quality of the model [and cost] both the engine and tender needed a fair bit of mechanical work doing to get them to run smoothly and reliably. For example the sound cam wipers weren't in contact with the cam and when moved they fell off.
	To start with we were handicapped by the need to preserve the lettering as we didn't have any replacements so it was masked whilst the rest of the loco was sprayed with tarnished black as a base coat. Steam leaks etc were sprayed on using a cream paint through a tear drop shaped mask. Other details were also picked out. The engine was then given several washes with Rustall rust wash and then the black wash. At this stage the weathering was done too bright and would be toned down at the last stage. The tender had a blank shape for the coal made out of plasticard and was then covered with crushed coal and glued with dilute PVA glue.
	The cab curtains were made from tissue paper glued to an L shaped wire frame. It was then flooded with dilute cream paint and scrunched in to the desired shape and left to dry. Once dry the wire L was glued to the loco.
	Finally, when the engine and tender were complete a separate items they were brought together for the final weathering. This consisted of several light sprayings with a very dilute dirty black mix. This serves to tone down the previously too bright weathering and by doing the engine and tender any differences in their weathering disappear and they look as one. With the main weathering complete some additional highlights were added with chalks where it wasn't wanted toned down. This included the ash on the front footplate and the coal dust across the cab roof. The final job was to very lightly spray the engine with several very light coats of a matt varnish. My favourite one is Dullcote as this seems to dull the colours of the chalks the least. At the end of a job like this the hardest part is often giving the engine back to the client!