Mrthdrb

Here is an example of how I use admin sessions on my forms.
I use a protected function to get the adminhtml session

/**
 * Retrieve adminhtml session model object
 *
 * @return Mage_Adminhtml_Model_Session
 */
protected function _getSession()

 return Mage::getSingleton('adminhtml/session');

Then, when I need it, for error messages I call it this way, from inside a controller

 $order = $this->_getOrder();
 if(!(int)$order->getId())
 
 $this->_getSession()->addError('Unable to load test order');
 $this->_redirect('*/*/index');
 return false;
 

That should produce a message like this on the redirect

Here is my process on creating forms in Magento for the admin.
this example is to send emails from our site to test them rather than having to do the action like place an order, or add a comment to a shipment for example.

Step 1, create the module declaration in app/etc/modules
This should be named something like Russell_Emaillog.xml

<?xml version="1.0"?>
<config>
 <modules>
 <Russell_Emaillog>
 <active>true</active>
 <codePool>local</codePool> 
 </Russell_Emaillog>
 </modules>
</config>

Step 2: Create the Namespace folder to contain our code in app/code/local

Russell so it should look like app/code/local/Russell

Step 3: create all the folders needed for this module in app/code/local/Russell

Emaillog
Then inside Emaillog create several folders here is the structure

app/code/local/Russell/Emaillog/Block
app/code/local/Russell/Emaillog/Block/Adminhtml
app/code/local/Russell/Emaillog/Block/Adminhtml/Abstract
app/code/local/Russell/Emaillog/Block/Adminhtml/Entry
app/code/local/Russell/Emaillog/Block/Adminhtml/Entry/Edit
app/code/local/Russell/Emaillog/Block/Adminhtml/Entry/Edit/Tab
app/code/local/Russell/Emaillog/Controller
app/code/local/Russell/Emaillog/Controller/Entry
app/code/local/Russell/Emaillog/controllers
app/code/local/Russell/Emaillog/controllers/Adminhtml
app/code/local/Russell/Emaillog/controllers/Adminhtml/Emaillog
app/code/local/Russell/Emaillog/etc
app/code/local/Russell/Emaillog/Helper
app/code/local/Russell/Emaillog/Model
app/code/local/Russell/Emaillog/Model/Email
app/code/local/Russell/Emaillog/Model/Resource
app/code/local/Russell/Emaillog/Model/Entry
app/code/local/Russell/Emaillog/sql
*** These next two are in app/design/adminhtml/default/default/ ***
app/design/adminhtml/default/default/template/russell/
app/design/adminhtml/default/default/layout/russell/

Step 4: Now that you have all the folders in place you need to put the PHP files in each, I will just put the names of the files for this step so you can create empty php and xml files for now

app/code/local/Russell/Emaillog/Block/Adminhtml/Abstract/Entry/Edit/Tab/General.php
app/code/local/Russell/Emaillog/Block/Adminhtml/Abstract/Entry/Edit/Form.php
app/code/local/Russell/Emaillog/Block/Adminhtml/Abstract/Entry/Edit/Tabs.php
app/code/local/Russell/Emaillog/Block/Adminhtml/Abstract/Entry/Edit.php
app/code/local/Russell/Emaillog/Block/Adminhtml/Abstract/Entry/Grid.php
app/code/local/Russell/Emaillog/Block/Adminhtml/Abstract/Entry.php
app/code/local/Russell/Emaillog/Block/Emailtemplate.php
app/code/local/Russell/Emaillog/Controller/Entry/Abstract.php
app/code/local/Russell/Emaillog/controllers/Adminhtml/Emaillog/EntryController.php
app/code/local/Russell/Emaillog/controllers/Adminhtml/Emaillog/TestemailController.php
app/code/local/Russell/Emaillog/etc/adminhtml.xml
app/code/local/Russell/Emaillog/etc/config.xml
app/code/local/Russell/Emaillog/etc/system.xml
app/code/local/Russell/Emaillog/Helper/Data.php
app/code/local/Russell/Emaillog/Model/Email/Template.php
app/code/local/Russell/Emaillog/Model/Resource/Entry/Collection.php
app/code/local/Russell/Emaillog/Model/Resource/Entry.php
app/code/local/Russell/Emaillog/Model/Entry.php
app/code/local/Russell/Emaillog/sql/russell_emaillog_setup/install-0.0.1.php
app/design/adminhtml/default/default/template/russell/emaillog/view.phtml
app/design/adminhtml/default/default/layout/russell/emaillog.xml

My response was too large to have this all in one Answer, this is part 1

Step 5: Content for all our php and xml pages
app/code/local/Russell/Emaillog/Block/Adminhtml/Abstract/Entry/Edit/Tab
/General.php

/**
 * Class Russell_Emaillog_Block_Adminhtml_Abstract_Entry_Edit_Tab_General
 */
abstract class Russell_Emaillog_Block_Adminhtml_Abstract_Entry_Edit_Tab_General
 extends Mage_Adminhtml_Block_Widget_Form

 /**
 *
 */
 public function __construct() 
 parent::__construct();
 // This will load a new view that has the email with formatting as it was delivered
 // Otherwise you have the standard view of an admin form with form elements
 $this->setTemplate('russell/emaillog/view.phtml');
 

 /**
 * @return array
 */
 protected function _getFormData()
 
 $data = Mage::getSingleton('adminhtml/session')->getFormData();

 if (! $data && Mage::registry('current_entry')->getData()) 
 $data = Mage::registry('current_entry')->getData();
 

 return (array) $data;
 

 /**
 * @return mixed
 */
 public function getEntry()
 
 return Mage::registry('current_entry')->getData();
 

 /**
 * @return mixed
 */
 public function getTemplates()
 
 return Mage::getModel('core/email_template')->getDefaultTemplates();
 

app/code/local/Russell/Emaillog/Block/Adminhtml/Abstract/Entry/Edit/Form.php

/**
 * Class Russell_Emaillog_Block_Adminhtml_Abstract_Entry_Edit_Form
 */
abstract class Russell_Emaillog_Block_Adminhtml_Abstract_Entry_Edit_Form
 extends Mage_Adminhtml_Block_Widget_Form

 /**
 * Prepare the inner form wrapper
 */
 protected function _prepareForm()
 
 $form = new Varien_Data_Form(array(
 'id' => 'edit_form',
 'action' => $this->getUrl('*/*/save',
 array('id' => $this->getRequest()->getParam('id'))),
 'method' => 'post',
 'enctype' => 'multipart/form-data',
 ));
 $form->setUseContainer(true); // <- Render the <form> tag

 $this->setForm($form);

 return parent::_prepareForm();
 

app/code/local/Russell/Emaillog/Block/Adminhtml/Abstract/Entry/Edit/Tabs.php

/**
* Class Russell_Emaillog_Block_Adminhtml_Abstract_Entry_Edit_Tabs
*/
abstract class Russell_Emaillog_Block_Adminhtml_Abstract_Entry_Edit_Tabs
extends Mage_Adminhtml_Block_Widget_Tabs

protected $_generalTabClass;

 /**
 *
 */
 protected function _construct()
 
 parent::_construct();
 $this->setId('switch_tabs');
 $this->setDestElementId('edit_form');
 $this->setTitle($this->__('Entry'));
 

 /**
 * Add tabs content
 *
 * @return Russell_Emaillog_Block_Adminhtml_Entry_Edit_Tabs
 */
 protected function _beforeToHtml()
 
 $this->addTab('general_section', array(
 'label' => $this->__('Review'),
 'title' => $this->__('Review'),
 'content' => $this->getLayout()
 ->createBlock($this->_generalTabClass)
 ->toHtml(),
 ));

 return parent::_beforeToHtml();
 

app/code/local/Russell/Emaillog/Block/Adminhtml/Abstract/Entry/Edit.php

/**
 * Class Russell_Emaillog_Block_Adminhtml_Abstract_Entry_Edit
 */
abstract class Russell_Emaillog_Block_Adminhtml_Abstract_Entry_Edit
 extends Mage_Adminhtml_Block_Widget_Form_Container

 protected $_objectId = 'id';
 protected $_blockGroup = 'russell_emaillog';
 protected $_mode = 'edit';

 abstract protected function _getEntryType();

 /**
 * @return Mage_Core_Block_Abstract
 */
 protected function _prepareLayout()
 
 $this->_removeButton('save');
 $this->_removeButton('reset');
 $this->_updateButton('delete', 'label', $this->__('Delete Email Log Entry'));
 return parent::_prepareLayout();
 

 /**
 * Return the title string to show above the form
 *
 * @return string
 */
 public function getHeaderText()
 
 $model = Mage::registry('current_entry');
 if ($model && $model->getId()) 
 return $this->__('Review %s Email Log Entry # %s',
 $this->_getEntryType(),
 $this->escapeHtml($model->getId())
 );
 else 
 return $this->__('New %s Entry', $this->_getEntryType());
 
 

app/code/local/Russell/Emaillog/Block/Adminhtml/Abstract/Entry/Grid.php

/**
 * Class Russell_Emaillog_Block_Adminhtml_Abstract_Entry_Grid
 */
abstract class Russell_Emaillog_Block_Adminhtml_Abstract_Entry_Grid
 extends Mage_Adminhtml_Block_Widget_Grid

 /**
 * Initialize grid settings
 */
 protected function _construct()
 
 parent::_construct();

 $this->setId('russell_emaillog_list');
 $this->setDefaultSort('entity_id');
 $this->setDefaultDir('DESC');

 /*
 * Override method getGridUrl() in this class to provide URL for ajax
 */
 $this->setUseAjax(true);
 

 /**
 * Return Grid URL for AJAX query
 *
 * @return string
 */
 public function getGridUrl()
 
 return $this->getUrl('*/*/grid', array('_current' => true));
 

 /**
 * Return URL where to send the user when he clicks on a row
 *
 * @return string
 */
 public function getRowUrl($row)
 
 return $this->getUrl('*/*/edit', array('id' => $row->getId()));
 

 /**
 * Prepare grid columns
 *
 * @return Russell_Emaillog_Block_Adminhtml_Abstract_Entry_Grid
 */
 protected function _prepareColumns()
 
 $this->addColumn('entity_id', array(
 'header' => $this->__('ID'),
 'sortable' => true,
 'width' => '60px',
 'index' => 'entity_id'
 ));

 $this->addColumn('recipient_email', array(
 'header' => $this->__('Recipient Email'),
 'index' => 'recipient_email',
 ));

 $this->addColumn('recipient_name', array(
 'header' => $this->__('Recipient Name'),
 'index' => 'recipient_name',
 ));
 $this->addColumn('email_subject', array(
 'header' => $this->__('Email Subject'),
 'index' => 'email_subject',
 ));

 $this->addColumn('template_id', array(
 'header' => $this->__('Email Template'),
 'index' => 'template_id',
 ));

 /*
 $this->addColumn('admin', array(
 'header' => $this->__('Admin'),
 'sortable' => false,
 'getter' => array($this, 'getCustomerNameCallback'),
 'filter_condition_callback' => array($this, 'filterConditionCallback')
 ));
 */
 $this->addColumn('created_at', array(
 'header' => $this->__('Created At'),
 'index' => 'created_at',
 'type' => 'datetime'
 ));

 $this->addColumn('action', array(
 'header' => $this->__('Action'),
 'width' => '100px',
 'type' => 'action',
 'getter' => 'getId',
 'actions' => array(
 array(
 'caption' => $this->__('Review'),
 'url' => array('base' => '*/*/edit'),
 'field' => 'id',
 ),
 array(
 'caption' => $this->__('Delete'),
 'url' => array('base' => '*/*/delete'),
 'field' => 'id',
 ),
 ),
 'filter' => false,
 'sortable' => false,
 ));

 return parent::_prepareColumns();
 

 public function getCustomerNameCallback(Varien_Object $entry)
 
 $name = '';
 if ($entry->getCustomerId()) 
 $name = $entry->getCustomerFirstname() . ' ' . $entry->getCustomerLastname();
 
 return $name;
 

 abstract public function filterConditionCallback(Varien_Data_Collection_Db $collection, Mage_Adminhtml_Block_Widget_Grid_Column $column);

app/code/local/Russell/Emaillog/Block/Adminhtml/Abstract/Entry.php

/**
 * Class Russell_Emaillog_Block_Adminhtml_Abstract_Entry
 */
abstract class Russell_Emaillog_Block_Adminhtml_Abstract_Entry
 extends Mage_Adminhtml_Block_Widget_Grid_Container

 protected $_blockGroup = 'russell_emaillog';

 /**
 *
 */
 protected function _construct()
 
 parent::_construct();

 

app/code/local/Russell/Emaillog/Block/Emailtemplate.php

/**
 * Class Russell_Emaillog_Block_Emailtemplate
 */
class Russell_Emaillog_Block_Emailtemplate extends Mage_Core_Block_Template 

 /**
 * @return mixed
 */
 public function getEmailTemplates()
 
 return Mage::getModel('russell_emaillog/email_template')->getEmailTemplates();
 

app/code/local/Russell/Emaillog/Controller/Entry/Abstract.php

/**
 * Class Russell_Emaillog_Controller_Entry_Abstract
 */
abstract class Russell_Emaillog_Controller_Entry_Abstract extends Mage_Adminhtml_Controller_Action

 abstract protected function getEntityModelClass();

 /*
 * @TODO Using $config = Mage::getConfig()->loadModulesConfiguration('config.xml')->getNode('global/models/core/rewrite/email_template');
 Make sure that another extension is not already rewriting email_template
 */
 /**
 * @return mixed
 */
 protected function _isAllowed()
 
 return Mage::getSingleton('admin/session')
 ->isAllowed('emaillog/russell_entry');
 

 /**
 *
 */
 public function indexAction()
 
 /*
 * Redirect user via 302 http redirect (the browser url changes)
 */
 $this->_redirect('*/*/list');
 

 /**
 *
 */
 public function errorAction()
 
 $this->_getSession()->setFormData(array());

 $this->_title($this->__('Catalog'))->_title($this->__('Entries'));

 $this->loadLayout();

 $this->_setActiveMenu('russell_emaillog');

 $this->renderLayout();

 

 /**
 * Display grid
 */
 public function listAction()
 
 $this->_getSession()->setFormData(array());

 $this->_title($this->__('Catalog'))->_title($this->__('Entries'));

 $this->loadLayout();

 $this->_setActiveMenu('russell_emaillog');

 $this->renderLayout();
 

 /**
 * Grid action for ajax requests
 */
 public function gridAction()
 
 $this->loadLayout(false);
 $this->renderLayout();
 


 /**
 * Create or edit entry
 */
 public function editAction()
 
 $model = Mage::getModel($this->getEntityModelClass());
 Mage::register('current_entry', $model);
 $id = $this->getRequest()->getParam('id');

 try
 
 if ($id) 
 if (!$model->load($id)->getId()) 
 Mage::throwException($this->__('No record with ID "%s" found.', $id));
 
 

 /*
 * Build the emaillog_type title
 */
 if ($model->getId()) 
 $blog_typeTitle = $this->__('Review Entry %d', $model->getId());
 
 else
 
 $blog_typeTitle = $this->__('New Entry');
 
 $this->_title($this->__('Email Log'))->_title($this->__('Entries'))->_title($blog_typeTitle);

 $this->loadLayout();

 $this->_setActiveMenu('russell_emaillogg/russell_entry');

 $this->renderLayout();
 
 catch (Exception $e)
 
 Mage::logException($e);
 $this->_getSession()->addError($e->getMessage());
 $this->_redirect('*/*/list');
 
 


 /*
 * function massDeleteAction
 * Used to delete many at one time
 */
 public function massDeleteAction()
 
 $ids = $this->getRequest()->getParam('ids');
 if(!is_array($ids)) 
 Mage::getSingleton('adminhtml/session')->addError(Mage::helper('adminhtml')->__('Please select Log(s).'));
 else 
 try 
 $model = Mage::getModel($this->getEntityModelClass());
 foreach ($ids as $_id) 
 $model->load($_id)
 ->delete();
 
 Mage::getSingleton('adminhtml/session')->addSuccess(
 Mage::helper('adminhtml')->__('Total of %d record(s) were deleted.', count($ids))
 );
 catch (Exception $e) 
 Mage::getSingleton('adminhtml/session')->addError($e->getMessage());
 
 

 $this->_redirect('*/*/index');

 

 /**
 * Delete entry entity
 */
 public function deleteAction()
 
 $model = Mage::getModel($this->getEntityModelClass());
 $id = $this->getRequest()->getParam('id');

 try
 
 if ($id) 
 if (!$model->load($id)->getId()) 
 Mage::throwException($this->__('No record with ID "%s" found.', $id));
 
 $model->delete();
 $this->_getSession()->addSuccess($this->__('Entry (ID %d) was successfully deleted', $id));
 
 
 catch (Exception $e)
 
 Mage::logException($e);
 $this->_getSession()->addError($e->getMessage());
 

 $this->_redirect('*/*');
 

app/code/local/Russell/Emaillog/controllers/Adminhtml/Emaillog/EntryController.php

/**
 * Class Russell_Emaillog_Adminhtml_Emaillog_EntryController
 */
class Russell_Emaillog_Adminhtml_Emaillog_EntryController
 extends Russell_Emaillog_Controller_Entry_Abstract

 /**
 * @return string
 */
 protected function getEntityModelClass()
 
 return 'russell_emaillog/entry';
 

End of part 2

app/code/local/Russell/Emaillog/controllers/Adminhtml/Emaillog/TestemailController.php

/**
 * Class Russell_Emaillog_Adminhtml_Emaillog_TestemailController
 */
class Russell_Emaillog_Adminhtml_Emaillog_TestemailController
 extends Mage_Adminhtml_Controller_Action


 private $_errors = false;
 private $_testStoreId = 3;
 private $_analyticsStoreId = 4;
 private $_incrementId = 200000911;
 private $_languageCode = 'en-US';
 private $_recipient_email = 'RussellTechnology-Magento@russell.com';
 private $_emailTemplates = array();
 private $_orders = array();

 const ENTITY = 'order';
 const EMAIL_EVENT_NAME_NEW_ORDER = 'new_order';
 const EMAIL_EVENT_NAME_UPDATE_ORDER = 'update_order';

 /**
 * @return mixed
 */
 protected function _isAllowed()
 
 return Mage::getSingleton('admin/session')
 ->isAllowed('emaillog/emaillog_testemail');
 

 /**
 *
 */
 protected function _construct()
 
 $this->_emailTemplates = Mage::getModel('russell_emaillog/email_template')->getEmailTemplates();
 $this->_orders = Mage::getModel('sales/order')->getCollection()
 ->addFieldToFilter('increment_id', array('in'=> array('200000039', '200000040', '200000041', '200000042', '200000043', '200000044', '400000007')))->setPageSize(30)->setCurPage(1);
 parent::_construct();

 

 /**
 *
 */
 public function indexAction()
 
 $this->loadLayout();

 $this->renderLayout();
 

 /**
 * @return $this

End part 3

app/code/local/Russell/Emaillog/etc/adminhtml.xml

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<config>

 <menu>
 <russell_admin_menu translate="title" module="russell_emaillog">
 <title>Russell Configurations</title>
 <sort_order>50</sort_order>
 <children>
 <russell_emaillog_entry translate="title" module="russell_emaillog">
 <title>Email Log Config</title>
 <children>
 <emaillog translate="title" module="russell_emaillog">
 <title>Review Logs Entries</title>
 <action>adminhtml/emaillog_entry</action>
 <sort_order>10</sort_order>
 </emaillog>
 </children>
 <sort_order>250</sort_order>
 </russell_emaillog_entry>
 <russell_qa_options>
 <title>QA Options</title>
 <children>
 <emailsend translate="title" module="russell_emaillog">
 <title>Test Emails</title>
 <action>adminhtml/emaillog_testemail</action>
 <sort_order>10</sort_order>
 </emailsend>
 </children>
 <sort_order>1000</sort_order>
 </russell_qa_options>
 </children>
 </russell_admin_menu>
 </menu>
 <!-- Add ACL Settings under System > Permissions > Roles -->
 <acl>
 <resources>
 <admin>
 <children>
 <russell_admin_menu>
 <children>
 <russell_emaillog_entry translate="title" module="russell_emaillog">
 <title>Manage Email Log Entries Section</title>
 <sort_order>250</sort_order>
 </russell_emaillog_entry>
 <russell_qa_options>
 <title>QA Options</title>
 <sort_order>260</sort_order>
 </russell_qa_options>
 </children>
 </russell_admin_menu>
 </children>
 </admin>
 </resources>
 </acl>
</config>

app/code/local/Russell/Emaillog/etc/config.xml

<?xml version="1.0"?>
<config>
 <modules>
 <Russell_Emaillog>
 <version>0.0.1</version>
 </Russell_Emaillog>
 </modules>
 <global>
 <blocks>
 <russell_emaillog>
 <class>Russell_Emaillog_Block</class>
 </russell_emaillog>
 </blocks>
 <models>
 <core>
 <rewrite>
 <email_template>Russell_Emaillog_Model_Email_Template</email_template>
 </rewrite>
 </core>
 <russell_emaillog>
 <class>Russell_Emaillog_Model</class>
 <resourceModel>russell_emaillog_resource</resourceModel>
 </russell_emaillog>
 <russell_emaillog_resource>
 <class>Russell_Emaillog_Model_Resource</class>
 <entities>
 <entry><table>russell_emaillog</table></entry>
 </entities>
 </russell_emaillog_resource>
 </models>
 <helpers>
 <russell_emaillog>
 <class>Russell_Emaillog_Helper</class>
 </russell_emaillog>
 </helpers>
 <resources>
 <russell_emaillog_setup>
 <setup>
 <module>Russell_Emaillog</module>
 </setup>
 </russell_emaillog_setup>
 </resources>

 </global>
 <admin>
 <routers>
 <adminhtml>
 <args>
 <modules>
 <russell_emaillog before="Mage_Adminhtml">Russell_Emaillog_Adminhtml</russell_emaillog>
 </modules>
 </args>
 </adminhtml>
 </routers>
 </admin>
 <!-- Admin Menu area -->
 <adminhtml>
 <layout>
 <updates>
 <russell_emaillog>
 <file>russell/emaillog.xml</file>
 </russell_emaillog>
 </updates>
 </layout>
 </adminhtml>
</config>

app/code/local/Russell/Emaillog/etc/system.xml




Russell
99999




Email Override and Log
200
1
0
0
russellconfig


Email Override and Log General Configuration
text
0
1
1
1


Log Emails
select
adminhtml/system_config_source_yesno
Do you want to log all emails that are being sent?

 <sort_order>90</sort_order>
 <show_in_default>1</show_in_default>
 <show_in_website>0</show_in_website>
 <show_in_store>0</show_in_store>
 </log_emails>
 <suppress_emails translate="label comment">
 <label>Suppress All Emails</label>
 <frontend_type>select</frontend_type>
 <source_model>adminhtml/system_config_source_yesno</source_model>
 <comment>Do you want to suppress all emails from being sent?</comment>
 <sort_order>90</sort_order>
 <show_in_default>1</show_in_default>
 <show_in_website>0</show_in_website>
 <show_in_store>0</show_in_store>
 </suppress_emails>
 <override_all_emails translate="label comment">
 <label>Over-Ride Emails</label>
 <frontend_type>select</frontend_type>
 <source_model>adminhtml/system_config_source_yesno</source_model>
 <comment>Do You want to override the default functionality and send the emails to a designated email address, instead of its intended recipient? This is helpful if your testing your site and you do not want to accidentally spam your customers</comment>
 <sort_order>100</sort_order>
 <show_in_default>1</show_in_default>
 <show_in_website>0</show_in_website>
 <show_in_store>0</show_in_store>
 </override_all_emails>
 <override_email_address translate="label">
 <label>Over-Ride recipient Email address</label>
 <frontend_type>text</frontend_type>
 <validate>validate-email</validate>
 <comment>If left empty, the default General Contact email will be used</comment>
 <sort_order>120</sort_order>
 <show_in_default>1</show_in_default>
 <show_in_website>0</show_in_website>
 <show_in_store>0</show_in_store>
 </override_email_address>
 <override_name translate="label">
 <label>Over-Ride recipient Name</label>
 <frontend_type>text</frontend_type>
 <comment>If left empty, a generic string similar to 'Russell Email Suppressed' will be used</comment>
 <sort_order>120</sort_order>
 <show_in_default>1</show_in_default>
 <show_in_website>0</show_in_website>
 <show_in_store>0</show_in_store>
 </override_name>
 </fields>
 </general>
 </groups>
 </russell_emaillog>
 </sections>
</config>

app/code/local/Russell/Emaillog/Helper/Data.php

/**
 * Class Russell_Emaillog_Helper_Data
 */
class Russell_Emaillog_Helper_Data extends Mage_Core_Helper_Abstract

app/code/local/Russell/Emaillog/Model/Email/Template.php

/**
 * Class Russell_Emaillog_Model_Email_Template
 */
class Russell_Emaillog_Model_Email_Template extends Mage_Core_Model_Email_Template
null $storeId
 * @return Mage_Core_Model_Email_Template
 */
 public function sendTransactional($templateId, $sender, $email, $name, $vars=array(), $storeId=null)
 
 /*
 * I am pretty sure we don't need this here, its probably enough in send()
 *
 * if(Mage::getStoreConfig('russell_config/general/override_all_emails'))
 
 $email = trim(Mage::getStoreConfig('russell_config/general/override_email_address'));
 if(strlen($email) == 0)
 
 $email = Mage::getStoreConfig('trans_email/ident_general/email');
 
 
 else
 
 $email = Mage::getStoreConfig('trans_email/ident_general/email');
 

 if(Mage::getStoreConfig('russell_config/general/override_name'))
 
 $name = Mage::getStoreConfig('russell_config/general/override_name');
 if(strlen($name) == 0)
 
 $name = $this->_name;
 
 
 else
 
 $name = $this->_name;
 
 */

 $this->setSentSuccess(false);
 if (($storeId === null) && $this->getDesignConfig()->getStore()) 
 $storeId = $this->getDesignConfig()->getStore();
 

 if (is_numeric($templateId)) 
 $this->load($templateId);
 else 
 $localeCode = Mage::getStoreConfig('general/locale/code', $storeId);
 $this->loadDefault($templateId, $localeCode);
 

 if (!$this->getId()) 
 throw Mage::exception('Mage_Core', Mage::helper('core')->__('Invalid transactional email code: ' . $templateId));
 

 if (!is_array($sender)) 
 $this->setSenderName(Mage::getStoreConfig('trans_email/ident_' . $sender . '/name', $storeId));
 $this->setSenderEmail(Mage::getStoreConfig('trans_email/ident_' . $sender . '/email', $storeId));
 else 
 $this->setSenderName($sender['name']);
 $this->setSenderEmail($sender['email']);
 

 if (!isset($vars['store'])) 
 $vars['store'] = Mage::app()->getStore($storeId);
 

 $this->setSentSuccess($this->send($email, $name, $vars));
 return $this;
 

 /**
 * @return array
 */
 public function getEmailTemplates()
 
 /**
 'sq_access_code_generation_complete/template' => 'SQ Access Code Generation Complete',

 *
 *
 *
 *
 *
 *
 *
 * Templates we do NOT use so are not included here are listed below:
 * 'sales_email/order/guest_template' => 'Guest Order',
 *
 *
 * Do not worry about the order, we are sorting it before we send it off
 */
 $templates = array(
 'customer/password/remind_email_template' => 'Password New',
 'customer/password/forgot_email_template' => 'Password Forgot',
 'customer/create_account/email_template' => 'Account New',
 'sales_email/shipment/template' => 'Shipment New',
 'sales_email/shipment_comment/template' => 'Shipment Update',
 'sales_email/creditmemo_comment/template' => 'Creditmemo Update',
 'sales_email/creditmemo/template' => 'Credit Memo New',

 'russell_invoice_new/template' => 'Russell Invoice New',

 'create_order_exception/template' => 'Create Order Exception',

 'sales_email/order/template' => 'Order',

 );
 // try to sort things naturally ASC
 natsort($templates);
 // return our sorted list
 return $templates;
 

app/code/local/Russell/Emaillog/Model/Resource/Entry/Collection.php

/**
 * Class Russell_Emaillog_Model_Resource_Entry_Collection
 */
class Russell_Emaillog_Model_Resource_Entry_Collection extends Mage_Core_Model_Resource_Db_Collection_Abstract

 /**
 *
 */
 protected function _construct()
 
 $this->_init('russell_emaillog/entry');
 

app/code/local/Russell/Emaillog/Model/Resource/Entry.php
/**
* Class Russell_Emaillog_Model_Resource_Entry
*/
class Russell_Emaillog_Model_Resource_Entry extends Mage_Core_Model_Resource_Db_Abstract

/**
*
*/
protected function _construct()

$this->_init('russell_emaillog/entry', 'entity_id');

app/code/local/Russell/Emaillog/Model/Entry.php

/**
 * Class Russell_Emaillog_Model_Entry
 */
class Russell_Emaillog_Model_Entry extends Mage_Core_Model_Abstract

 protected $_eventPrefix = 'russell_entry';
 protected $_eventObject = 'entry';

 /**
 *
 */
 protected function _construct()
 
 $this->_init('russell_emaillog/entry');
 

app/code/local/Russell/Emaillog/sql/russell_emaillog_setup/install-0.0.1.php
/* @var $installer Mage_Core_Model_Resource_Setup */
$installer = $this;

$installer->startSetup();

$tableName = $installer->getTable('russell_emaillog/entry');
$table = $installer->getConnection()->newTable($tableName)
 ->addColumn('entity_id', Varien_Db_Ddl_Table::TYPE_INTEGER, null, array(
 'identity' => true,
 'nullable' => false,
 'primary' => true,
 ), 'Entity Id')
 ->addColumn('sender_email', Varien_Db_Ddl_Table::TYPE_TEXT, 255, array(
 'nullable' => true,
 'default' => '',
 ), 'Sender Email')
 ->addColumn('sender_name', Varien_Db_Ddl_Table::TYPE_TEXT, 255, array(
 'nullable' => true,
 'default' => '',
 ), 'Sender Name')
 ->addColumn('recipient_email', Varien_Db_Ddl_Table::TYPE_TEXT, 255, array(
 'nullable' => true,
 'default' => '',
 ), 'Recipient Email')
 ->addColumn('recipient_name', Varien_Db_Ddl_Table::TYPE_TEXT, 255, array(
 'nullable' => true,
 'default' => '',
 ), 'Recipient Name')
 ->addColumn('template_email_subject', Varien_Db_Ddl_Table::TYPE_TEXT, 255, array(
 'nullable' => true,
 'default' => '',
 ), 'Email Template Subject')
 ->addColumn('template_email_body', Varien_Db_Ddl_Table::TYPE_TEXT, '1k', array(
 'nullable' => false,
 ), 'Email Template Body')
 ->addColumn('email_subject', Varien_Db_Ddl_Table::TYPE_TEXT, 255, array(
 'nullable' => true,
 'default' => '',
 ), 'Actual Email Subject')
 ->addColumn('email_body', Varien_Db_Ddl_Table::TYPE_TEXT, '1k', array(
 'nullable' => false,
 ), 'Actual Email Body')
 ->addColumn('store_id', Varien_Db_Ddl_Table::TYPE_SMALLINT, null, array(
 'unsigned' => true,
 'nullable' => false,
 'default' => '0',
 ), 'Store Id')
 ->addColumn('template_id', Varien_Db_Ddl_Table::TYPE_TEXT, 255, array(
 'nullable' => true,
 'default' => '',
 ), 'Template Id')
 ->addColumn('created_at', Varien_Db_Ddl_Table::TYPE_TIMESTAMP, null, array(
 'nullable' => false,
 'default' => Varien_Db_Ddl_Table::TIMESTAMP_INIT,
 'comment' => 'Created At',
 ), 'Created At')
 ->addIndex($this->getIdxName($tableName, array('sender_email', 'store_id')),
 array('sender_email', 'store_id'))
 ->addForeignKey($this->getFkName($tableName, 'store_id', 'core/store', 'store_id'),
 'store_id', $this->getTable('core/store'), 'store_id',
 Varien_Db_Ddl_Table::ACTION_CASCADE, Varien_Db_Ddl_Table::ACTION_CASCADE)
 ->setComment('Email Log Table');

$installer->getConnection()->createTable($table); 
$installer->endSetup();

End of part 5

I had the exact same problem.
My module was apparently based on this article as well:
http://markshust.com/2012/07/05/creating-magento-adminhtml-grids-simplified

In the Controller, look at the end of the function editAction()

$this->_initAction()
 ->_addBreadcrumb(...)
 ->_addContent(...)
 ->renderLayout();

I changed it into that to make it work:

//$this->_initAction()
$this->_addBreadcrumb(...)
 ->_addContent(...)
 ->renderLayout();

I can't explain why. I didn't find any side effect so far.

Problem is in editAction, there should be three function called as given below order:

public function editAction() 
 $this->loadLayout();
 $this->getLayout();
 $this->renderLayout();

If getLayout() is not called then addError messages are not collected.