Here’s how I remember the TEAs. Dirty and lacking any large graphics or other owners markings. This is a shot of 47 018 near Twyford in 1976 or possibly 1977. Check out that clag! 47 018 was originally D1572, a Crewe built example of the class originally going to the NE region.

Here’s what showed up in the post- a BP liveried example. I choose this version (Bachmann 38-112) because it was grey and had graphics that looked like they could be easily sanded off.

Sanding has begun. I used 600 and then 900 grit sand paper for this operation.

You may think the best hobby putty comes from a hobby shop, but you’d be wrong. The stuff in the photo is intended for auto repair and it is fabulous. In my opinion, it’s better than the green stuff from Squadron Hobby, or anything else I have tried. One tip, I used Flex-I-File sander to sand down the tank seams after two applications of putty. This tool uses a ribbon of sandpaper strung across a bow. It conforms well to the tank profile and makes sanding the tank seam quite easy.

After sanding down the main graphics, I used a liquid mask from the Microscale folks to cover the technical data at the bottom edge of the tank, as well as the number on the end caps, and gave the tank a solid coat of this spray paint. I love the Rust-Oleum primers. They are cheap, cover well, and weather even better…

A very ugly close-up right after the tank was painted and Smiths Instanters added. You can see were the liquid mask has been pulled from the technical data. Never fear, some subbing with 900 grit sandpaper will smooth everything out. If you look closely at the handrail at the end on top of the roof walk, just above the number, you’ll see it’s been secured with small drops of clear epoxy. After breaking one off in handling, I decided to secure the grabs a little better.

A quick comparison shot next to a Bachmann TTA. The arrow points to the nasty seam in the side of the TTA. Believe it or not, the seam on the end of the TEA was worse. You can also see the initial application of an oil based flat black turpentine mix on the tank side of the TEA. This will be sanded down using vertical strokes to soften the edges.

The first of three shots out in the sunshine with that beautiful azure sky poking through the trees is shown. I used CompZ image compression software to get the necessary depth of field on this and all subsequent photos. It’s physically impossible to get this kind of DOF with optics alone. The tank has been airbrushed with grimy black above and track color below. I also used a paint brush to touch things up here and there.

This is the first of three shots in the workshop under my CRI 90 “daylight” florescent bulbs. You can see where I used a cotton bud dipped in turps to clean up the solebar a little to let the red show through. I really should finish ballasting…

The walkways were touched with very dilute black after weathering to highlight the anti skid surface. A very light rubbing with 900 grit sandpaper followed to lighten the walkways. To be honest, I could hit the walkways again with the dirty turps…