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Ratkin & Son horse-drawn wagon


Mikkel

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Here's another contribution to the RMweb "Horse Drawn Weekly" as Dave calls it. My efforts don't even get close to his superb models, but a horse is a horse as they say in Farthing. Today's subject is a wagon from Ratkin & Son, makers of finest jams and marmalades (or so they claim).

 

 

 

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The build was inspired by scenes such as this one, showing the GWR sidings at Henley and Sons cyder works (sic) in Newton Abbot, October 1908. Source: Getty Images. Embedding permitted.

 

 

 

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The wagon is a straightforward build of a Dart Castings kit.

 

 

 

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As usual I modified the parts lightly to allow the front axle to rotate freely, which adds a bit of flexibility when positioning the wagon.

 

 

 

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I don't know whether trade/industry wagons followed the local styles of farm wagons. If so I'm in trouble, as my model isn't a Wiltshire type, where Farthing is located. An excuse could be that it was acquired secondhand from elsewhere, or built to the standard design of a large manufacturer. The example above was built by the Gloucester Wagon & Carriage works (who also made horse drawn vehicles).

 

 

 

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The style of the wagon didn't allow for lettering directly on the sides, so I made a sign. Whilst browsing a discussion of marmalade on CK's Bethesda Sidings thread, I realized that I had used the Danish spelling. It's the little details that reveal who we are, as Poirot would have said!
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Anyway, a new sign was made, and I took the opportunity to modify the name.

 

 

 

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If you're wondering about the point of the name, there's a clue in this photo.

 

 

 

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The rear flap was detailed with interior bracing and chain from Cambrian models.

 

 

 

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An Andrew Stadden figure was added, and some of those nice bulky sacks from Dart Castings.

 

 

 

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The horse is also from Dart Castings. I thought I'd have a lighthearted go at a nosebag, made from ordinary printing paper, rolled and glued. Getting a decent fit and fold was surprisingly tricky.

 

 

 

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As this delightful photo shows, I really ought to add a strap to hold it in place. Source: Wikipedia. Embedding permitted.

 

 

 

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Wagon done. It is manned by D. Woods, formerly of the GWR and His Majesty's Prisons, now happily employed at Ratkin & Son.

 

 

 

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So here we are in one of the mileage sidings at Farthing Old Yard. Obviously there is work going on - but, er, what exactly?

 

 

 

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Ah, an unloading procedure of sorts. The work seems to be all done. The loco crew must be very impatient, as they are already removing the goods wagon. Quite unusual.

 

 

 

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The siding has been cleared and we get a better view. A delivery of low grade oranges has been received, soon to be recycled as Ratkin's Finest Quality Marmalade.

 

Edited by Mikkel

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22 Comments


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Inspirational work once again Mikkel, I have a number of wagons and horses to complete but other priorities in life are keeping me away from the work bench, however seeing this has reminded me I need to make time if I can.

Jim

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Another delightful and compelling update Mikkel

 

Great photos too :good:

 

The nose bag is a nice touch.

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Wonderful, totally believable, and (as usual) beautifully photographed as well.

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More excellent work from the Farthing workshops.

 

I feel there is a story waiting to be told ?

 

As an aside, I found my book on English wagons the other evening and when I return home later this week I will pop back with some descriptions if I may Mikkel.

 

Keep it up !!!

 

G

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Inspirational work once again Mikkel, I have a number of wagons and horses to complete but other priorities in life are keeping me away from the work bench, however seeing this has reminded me I need to make time if I can.

Jim

 

Thanks Jim, your Hemyock layout strikes me as the perfect setting for some equine atmosphere! Horse-drawn wagons are nicely manageable little projects, similar to kit built wagons I suppose.

 

 

Another delightful and compelling update Mikkel

 

Great photos too :good:

 

The nose bag is a nice touch.

 

Thanks Pete, I think the nosebag does require a bit of detailing. But in the first place I was happy just to get one fitted that didn't make the horse look like an alien!

 

 

Wonderful, totally believable, and (as usual) beautifully photographed as well.

 

Thanks Al, glad you like it. The lighting in the layout photos is a bit weird and a far cry from e.g. the soft pleasant lighting on your layouts. I have a bad habit of skimping on fundamental equipment such as lighting and a proper camera, whilst happily spending too much money on not very necessary layout details!

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Top class modelmaking. 

 

Thanks Dave, although it's really just a simple kit build. I wasn't thinking things through either - intuitively, the sacks suggest apples rather than oranges, so I should probably have made it a cider company. I did find a few photos of oranges in sacks though, and I thought that might be how they were delivered for industrial purposes. Especially low grade ones. Not sure though!

 

 

More excellent work from the Farthing workshops. I feel there is a story waiting to be told ? As an aside, I found my book on English wagons the other evening and when I return home later this week I will pop back with some descriptions if I may Mikkel. Keep it up !!! G

 

Thanks Grahame, yes there's always a story to be told :-) The plan is to (i) move house, (ii) add a bit of vegetation and groundcover, (iii) make some stories. Well that's the plan, I'm not saying that's what will happen!

 

Yes please, some wagon info etc would be very welcome! Others would probably be interested too...

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Lovely entry. I really like these horse & cart entries, with some lovey yard pictures and a lot of information. Inspiring me to get started with my own kit. 

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Another delightful model and scene.  Quite inspirational.

I think the addition of the nose-bag is a success but probably needs the addition of a strap around the back of the horses head for that finishing touch.  I'm sorry but I can't for the life of me understand the reason behind the name used, unless "Smith, Jones & Ratkin" are a local firm of solicitors :-)

 

Ian

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Truly awesome. Thank you for sharing.

 

Thanks Matt, as mentioned I really liked the open vans that you and Kevin have done, it's very tempting to do one of those for Farthing too.

 

 

Lovely entry. I really like these horse & cart entries, with some lovey yard pictures and a lot of information. Inspiring me to get started with my own kit. 

 

Glad you like them Job. Whenever I think of Hansom cabs I think of Sherlock Holmes. But he is a bit early for your period perhaps :-)

 

 

Another delightful model and scene.  Quite inspirational.

I think the addition of the nose-bag is a success but probably needs the addition of a strap around the back of the horses head for that finishing touch.  I'm sorry but I can't for the life of me understand the reason behind the name used, unless "Smith, Jones & Ratkin" are a local firm of solicitors :-)

 

Ian

 

Hi Ian, thanks, and yes I agree about the strap for the nose bag. I'm a little ambivalent about such things - also ropes, reins, etc - as they can be distracting to the eye and make the models fragile. But in this case it is decidedly conspicuous by its absence.

 

PS: As for the name, I suppose it's all a bit too cryptic. The company names on my horse-drawn wagons are so far all named after British comedians. I was a big fan of the Smith & Jones show, and I like Rowan Atkinson too :-) All of whom featured in "Not the Nine o'clock News" of course.

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Looks really good, but I fancy your slipper boy has a fruit business on the side?

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Another lovely addition Mikkel! The addition of the chains on the rear door really improves the model and Mr D. Woods certainly looks like a chap not to trifle with:-)

 

I hope the move goes well and the next Farthing update isn't too long in coming!

 

Dave

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Looks really good, but I fancy your slipper boy has a fruit business on the side?

 

 

Thanks Northroader, and yes you are onto something :-)

 

 

Another lovely addition Mikkel! The addition of the chains on the rear door really improves the model and Mr D. Woods certainly looks like a chap not to trifle with:-)

 

I hope the move goes well and the next Farthing update isn't too long in coming!

 

Dave

 

Thanks Dave, one of the jobs I had underestimated with this move was the packing of my models! The layouts themselves are small and were more or less designed for this sort of thing, but all the stock, buildings, fittings, figures etc need careful packing.

 

Will do a last post on the horsedrawn vehicles shortly.

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Now you're spoiling us, Mikkel - two posts in two days.  Splendid modelling, as always, but with the added ingredient of an intriguing situation.  I feel sure that there's more to this than meets the eye.

 

One clue, surely, is the appearance of Detective Benton from Paddington, who seems to be asking questions.  What is in those two bags lying separately on the ground?  Why was the driver so keen to get away quickly?  Our jailbird is up to something....

 

Life in Farthing remains as fascinating as ever :)

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Thankyou Mike, that all sounds intriguing but I can assure you that there is nothing out of the ordinary going on at Farthing. No conspiracy theories required. Everything is perfectly normal, we are in control of the situation. Nothing to see here  :)

 

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Edited by Mikkel
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Haha, it's an old photo that I found in the archives. Not sure what the idea was.

 

I hope things are fine at North Leigh, and that they aren't too upset at all the attention the Broad Gauge is getting!

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I expect that, with 30° temperatures in Finnmark, the Trolls are commuting southwards.  They seem to have no trouble finding seats in trains. 

 

I believe Amy has eloped to Italy (she thought it might be warmer there!) and Blanche is at finishing school, so it's all very quiet at North Leigh.  I must get down to finishing some of my own horse-drawn vehicles - there are enough to cause a serious traffic jam at North Leigh.

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Mikkel,

I have missed this one, hence my comment on the other thread about nosebags.  Lovely little model and scene.  As for spelling Marmalade the Danish way, you noticed but would Mr Ratkin have noticed?

 

Hope the house move goes well.

 

All the best

Chris

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I expect that, with 30° temperatures in Finnmark, the Trolls are commuting southwards.  They seem to have no trouble finding seats in trains. 

 

I believe Amy has eloped to Italy (she thought it might be warmer there!) and Blanche is at finishing school, so it's all very quiet at North Leigh.  I must get down to finishing some of my own horse-drawn vehicles - there are enough to cause a serious traffic jam at North Leigh.

 

Yes that quickly becomes a problem, doesn't it: Too many horse drawn vehicles can look overcrowded on a layout. A bit like busses!

 

Beautiful. Duncan

 

Many thanks Duncan, it's a good kit from Dart Castings.

 

Mikkel,

I have missed this one, hence my comment on the other thread about nosebags.  Lovely little model and scene.  As for spelling Marmalade the Danish way, you noticed but would Mr Ratkin have noticed?

 

Hope the house move goes well.

 

All the best

Chris

 

Thanks Chris, I did consider leaving the spelling wrong and come up with a bit of fiction to explain it. But every time I looked at it I was annoyed!

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