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Activity in the cattle yard


5&9Models

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Thankfully, in my case at least, lack of blog updates has not meant lack of activity. The past few months has seen slow but steady progress towards completing the cattle yard at Bricklayers Arms c1845 and therefore entering the final straight in terms of completing the first baseboard of this four baseboard exhibition layout.

 

The following pictures are a collection of various cameos and scenes which hopefully go some way to telling the story of a busy (ish) mid 19th century yard in 4mm scale.

 

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The first scene shows a couple of chaps having some difficulty with a new chaff cutter. Chaff, or chopped hay/straw was an essential part of a horses diet. This particular model was Ward & Colbourne's Patent Chaff Cutting Engine, new in 1844. I scratch built it using brass scraps, following a drawing on the cover of Mechanics Magazine August 4th 1844. It's unusual in that it is a guillotine cutter and probably quite dangerous too! I modelled it so that it works. As you turn the handle the tiny crank turns and the blade goes up and down. Utterly pointless I know but fun all the same.

 

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The figures are modified ModelU 3D prints. I've fettled the clothing and hats a bit to take them back to mid-19th century labourers.

 

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Farmer Thompson is pleased to finally arrive at the cattle yard having driven his prize bull all the way from his farm just south of Peckham Rye. He got a good price for it so once it's on its way to Kent he'll reward himself with a pint in the Greyhound before heading back.

 

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The bull started life as a large white metal cow from the Dart Castings range. I cut the udders off, added some 'cahunas' and horns and beefed it up a bit with some judicious soldering before filing to shape.

 

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The characters are more modified ModelU figures.

 

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Of course a cattle yard would not be complete without a cattle wagon. This one is from my own range of kits, an early open South Eastern Railway type. Strictly speaking it's about 5-6 years too modern for the period I'm modelling but it's as near as I can get to an authentic vehicle.

 

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The characters hand-shunting are in fact me. I was lucky enough to be scanned by Alan Buttler from ModelU at the Severn Valley Railway a few weeks ago. He's done a fabulous job tidying up the scans and printing these out, and for once I haven't felt the need to modify them!

 

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It amazes me that even details such as individual fingers are reproduced. The only concern is the the painting does them justice, especially in 4mm scale.

 

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At the end of a busy day, Abraham is exhausted. He's diligently swept and shovelled to keep the cattle docks clean and is ready to go home to tea.

 

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Cattle Yard 02.jpg

 

 

Cattle Yard 03.jpg

Edited by 5&9Models

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  • RMweb Premium

Superb atmosphere, very natural poses for the figures. 

 

I like working the chaff cutter. Making details like that function adds to the realism I think. 

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  • RMweb Gold

Hurrah, always cause for celebration when there's an update on Bricklayers' Arms :locomotive:

 

The cattle yard is superbly rendered, Chris. That chaff cutting machine is a work of art. There's something very Sisyphus about your 4mm scale alter egos. Suitable depictions of the railway modeller!

 

Your post made me sit up straight as I've been studying 1900s cattle markets for my next Farthing layout. A whole world of its own, as Kit says.  You can see how the markets got increasingly organised over the years, some even had trees planted to help shade the livestock. Are your pens intended as holding pens, or also for trading?

 

 

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9 hours ago, Mikkel said:

 

Are your pens intended as holding pens, or also for trading?

 

 

Thanks very much Mikkel. Interesting point about the possible trading. The short answer is I don't know, perhaps there would be some sort of historical record if such a thing did go on. I had intended the pens to be holding pens for both incoming and outgoing stock, although I suspect the latter was fairly uncommon.

 

Bermondsey was the heart of the leather industry in London and, at its peak, the whole country. Therefore the pens would most likely be used for incoming cattle headed for the slaughter houses and tanneries. The pens would hold the stock until it was collected by whoever was responsible for taking it to the knackers yard.

 

They also handled sheep although whether that was mostly incoming or outgoing I don't know. I suspect the former as sheepskins were just as regular a product of the tanneries.

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Some very inspiring modelling and, for once the human figures don't let things down!  These are really convincing poses, although I'm not sure that method of shunting a cattle wagon would be approved nowadays.  The gender re-assignment surgery also looks to have gone very well. :)

 

Mike

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