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  1. Thank you very much, Nick. That Archer's photo is indeed quite a sight! BTW, Paddington have been in touch, asking why on earth there has been no mention of the company's own Pantechnicons. Here is an 1894 specimen. Tempting subject for a scratchbuild.
    10 points
  2. Nice work Mike, I had thoughts of doing a similar thing but it would have been a distraction for me. It is useful that the drawings survive, as you know I have used Fusion to draw up High Wycombe in the broad gauge although I drew the entire site up in 4mm scale. Doing the basics of buildings takes time but adding all small details and textures takes ages. One of the original building at Paddington as seen in the illustrations matches the goods shed at Taplow so I think they are contemporary and are the same. David
    10 points
  3. This is Steve Flanders's Broad Gauge Intermediate Station based on the circa 1850s proposed plans for Cheltenham Station. The NRCA were the source of the plans, but they were such a mixed up old lot of different amended versions it was difficult for Steve to tell what the GWR had actually intended for Cheltenham. Sorry for the none too clear image, but the station model is so darn big it was difficult to take a decent snap of it. It does give the idea though that a model of Paddington could be possible. I couldn't help noticing though that some of the drawings the NRCA had of the original station were more holes than drawing so it could be a wee bit of a challenge. Turned the shadows off so you can see better.
    10 points
  4. This is a later shot of the same vehicle, taken in 1920. Smaller wheels with thicker spokes have been fitted, and the sides are now straight. There are a couple of drawings in Janet Russell's "Great Western Horsepower". She implies that the GWR made different types of these, but it is also possible that the drawings show the same van in different configurations. The best drawing says 8 ft high (and a bit, not quite legible). Tony Atkins GWR Goods cartage Vol 1 also has one of the drawings, although quite small.
    9 points
  5. Some interesting info above, thanks gents. I was a bit confused to see this photo, as I thought the original furniture store at the Pantechnicon was long gone by this time. But apparently there was a Pantechnicon Ltd company that traded right up to the 1970s. Source: Getty Images, embedding permitted.
    9 points
  6. If you want a Union view on horses per vehicle - from one of my wife's ancestors. I find the presence of angels around carmen an interesting touch.
    9 points
  7. Many thanks, also for that link - an enlightening read. I did not know about the Victorian colour explosion, it has made me see the pregrouping liveries in a new light. The "Decadent young woman" is superb, and I notice her yellow book! Ah, very nice. Jonathan I think the Shirescenes version is your best bet if you are looking for one to go in a train (although it is currently sold out). The Gem/John Day kit is so tall that I think it might be out of loading gauge, even with the roof boards folded down. So I clearly need another lower one if I am to fulfill the company's promises! Thank you Nick, some very useful info there. The HMRS images sound like gold, very tempting! Here are some shots with different numbers of horses, it seems to have varied with the needs an capacity:
    9 points
  8. I notice the sign-writing does say 'London Bath and Bristol by Rail', so I think a Road Van Truck is called for. It looks a very striking model, Mikkel. I expect Bailey & Sons were in competition with Knee Brothers of Bristol, who were already in the business, back in Broad Gauge days. I suspect you have been economical with the truth about your negotiations with UNBRIDLED - I'm sure I heard comments about 4 horses for a fully loaded wagon. A couple of chain horses should do the job: Mike
    9 points
  9. Indeed it does and I've done very little detailing so far. The good thing though is that once the basics are in place, one can go on adding details as much as one feels like. I have a lot to lean still about rendering and your results are inspirational 😃 Very close indeed if you wish! I haven't done very much detailing yet but here's a view from the Arrivals platform with 'Vulcan'. It's great fun moving around to seek new angles 🙂 Eventually, the carriage shed and other building should be in the background. As I said to David, I've a long way to go in learning the possibilities with this software. Another potential application is to use it for planning the layout/diorama that I hope to build 'one day' Mike
    9 points
  10. The goods shed at Paddington with a photo of the goods shed at Taplow, with the Dutch hip roof I think both buildings are contemporary with each other, or are they they same building relocated?
    7 points
  11. Williams & Griffin in Colchester had this preserved example which they used for special events back in the early 1980's.... What happened to it after that isn't clear, but I've never seen it anywhere since that time.
    7 points
  12. I am adding cloudflare to my website - this is a service that will hopefully root out unwanted bots and increase security. It will take time and I'm not sure that I will be able to get the website up and running this month but things are happening behind the scenes.
    6 points
  13. I have switched to using inkjet-printable vinyl, as it is much thinner than paper so the edges are much less of a problem. Regarding fonts, I find 'Garamond' is useful for 'period' lettering. Mike
    6 points
  14. Ha ha, thanks Rich. Nope, I've thrown them away! What does stand out in the close-ups is that the padlock shackles don't pass through anything. Must do that better next time. Many thanks Douglas. It seems that there are 11 horsedrawn vehicles at Farthing now, from GWR and local traders. More than is needed really, but I do enjoy building them. Interesting, I wonder if it the same as this one, from the same company, which seems to have been in the National Brewery Museum at one point: Williams and Griffin horse-drawn Pantechnicon by Steve Knight, on Flickr
    6 points
  15. Thanks Rob. That was the original plan, but this particular model is pretty big so I decided that it would be a bit overpowering. It will be used on the streets of Farthing instead. Mike has modelled an early example of a Pantechnicon on a GWR wagon here: Here's an example from the competition that was discussed somewhere on here earlier: Caption: 9th October 1918: A lorry trailer belonging to James Schoolbred and Co of Tottenham Court Road, London is carried on a goods wagon at Nine Elms goods yard and rail depot. Source: Getty Images
    6 points
  16. This gives much weight to the theory that it's not so much the story, but the way that you tell it that counts. I've never really been that interested in horse drawn pantechnecons, but I was captivated by the whole thing. Talk of equine trade unions and of course the sad fate of Mrs X - clearly very personal feelings expressed there. And of course some excellent modelling, which we come to expect from you Mikkel. Congratulations! Geraint
    6 points
  17. Unwaxed dental floss springed to mind in respect of the reins, as it can be further split and coloured. I've yet to try it, but will be experimenting after a raid on the bathroom, as my delivery box cart also requires steering equipment. Thank you for another great blog entry Mikkel. Best, Bill
    6 points
  18. That's some damned impressive modeling! Not only most usefully illustrated, but also written in such a way as entertains as well as informs. Looking forward to the next instalment very much indeed.
    6 points
  19. It looks as if the upper body panels are stepped out above the wheels. This one looks as if it’s designed with rail transport in mind? Presumably those are securing chains hanging down, there are no placard boards above the roof to take down, and the front pole for the horse harness pushes back under the vehicle, rather than detaches. Suppose it’s painted chocolate? Pity the sign writing front or back doesn’t show.
    5 points
  20. Great photo. Interesting that the wheels are outside the body, without wheel arches. Presumably the body is narrower than the other types we have seen. Nick
    5 points
  21. I have been looking for whomever made these and now find I have two sources thanks to this thread, There was a nice rail transported example on Penlan which I photographed some years ago:
    5 points
  22. Thanks for the tip Bill. I hadn't heard of the dental floss solution before. What I've found is that most thin materials are soft and bendy and therefore require careful arrangement. The results can be excellent as seen e.g. on Shaun's layout: https://www.rmweb.co.uk/forums/topic/11359-grim-up-north-goathland-queensbury-bradford/?do=findComment&comment=5425473 - and Kevin's: https://www.rmweb.co.uk/forums/topic/120848-little-muddle/?do=findComment&comment=5449522 But my table-top layouts are set up and taken down on a daily basis, so fiddling with their otherwise brilliant solutions every time I get a layout out would give me a nervous breakdown 🙂
    5 points
  23. Lovely inspiring work as usual Mikkel. I wonder if the pantechnicon was ever transported by rail as it would make a great wagon load.
    5 points
  24. I'm very pleased you like my investigations into the earliest days of the GWR, Annie. I can see that a lot of early Broad Gauge modelling has been done for the Trainz simulator and perhaps someone will follow up my findings to make a virtual working layout of Paddington. It could be a great project.
    5 points
  25. Photos showing pantechnicons loaded on wagons don’t seem to be all that common. The ones I have seen show them loaded on agricultural implement wagons, rather than well wagons (crocodiles, hydras and loriets, in GWR-speak). So, for example, the photo here: And the glorious picture at the top of this page: http://phils-pba-hstry.com/archer-cowley--co/archer-cowley--co-photo/archer-cowley--co-history/acco-containers-on-railway.html As well of course as the LSWR example you posted, Mikkel. I suspect most 4-wheel well wagons would be too short for a Pantechnicon, and you can’t end-load onto a Crocodile or similar. Nick.
    4 points
  26. I have one of those in the kit stash, with a Scorpio diagram G8 GWR implement truck to carry it. Your experience is a useful reminder to check the loading gauge clearances carefully. Nick.
    4 points
  27. I did a Duncan Models pantechicon in 0 scale, and used it as a load on a LBSC machinery wagon, which is how it would go by rail. The wagon had a flat deck, not a well, and the pantechnicon was a tight fit inside the wagon. The poster boards above the roof have to be removed, the drivers seat folded down, and the pole at the front removed. If it is loaded dead central on the wagon, I found it is just within load gauge limits, nothing to spare.
    4 points
  28. Out of period but for inspiration 🙂 I have noted "Ascot" with this photo (no date).
    4 points
  29. Excellent modelling as usual Mikkel and good to see “Horse drawn weekly” is still going strong🙂 Best wishes Dave
    4 points
  30. I was looking at the horses. The one on the top does not seem very large, the second set I am not sure they are shires as they have no feathering on the legs, and I wondered if the last three were Suffolk Punches, as it is an Ipswich firm. I googled Suffolk Punch and in the images this one turned up, so three Suffolk Punches. I did start wondering about traction engine pulling one at Traeth Mawr, but I have seen no photographs of them there, so if I wish to add to the chaos of Station Road it will have to be horse drawn, although I too have quite enough horse drawn vehicles.
    4 points
  31. One thing I noticed was how narrow the wheel rims were on all the wagons in the photographs. A sign of the improvement in roads since the earlier (1844) Knee's Pantechnicon that I modelled, on which the felloes of its wheels were recorded as being 9" wide.
    4 points
  32. Entombing people is nothing compared with the dark deeds in this post 😮
    4 points
  33. Mikkel, It is a shame about the Suffolk Punch being so large. The prototype grows no larger than 16 hands, I was quite disappointed when I got one as I have always wanted a Suffolk Punch as they are supposed to be smaller and chunkier than Shires. I probably have all of those and they are lovely castings. I have the donkey as well, and that seems a little large, but he had most likely just grown big and strong pulling the milk cart.
    4 points
  34. I notice that one of the photos on that website link shows a traction engine. Perhaps you should spare the horses and add one of these on the streets of Farthing
    4 points
  35. Very lovely work, as always, Mikkel, and a delightful continuation of your 'narrative' approach to modelling. I am looking forward to seeing what stories and characters we may encounter when Bailey's pantechnicon arrives in the good yard at Farthing. For anyone considering loading a pantechnicon on a wagon, as in Penlan's example posted by @jwealleans, it is worth noting that the roof boards were either removable or in some cases hinged to fold down. This reduced to height, to keep within the loading gauge. The HMRS website has their archive of images with quite a few examples of pantechnicons, which are useful for liveries. Also, pantechnicons feature in this discussion on the closely-related topic of 'lift vans' (early containers intended mainly for furniture): Regarding the number of horses, in the pictures I have found, two seems standard. I haven't found any pictures showing four, and given the main use of pantechnicons was the transport of furniture and household effects, I suspect the load would never be that great. I write this in the hope that someone will prove me wrong, and so expand the body of available evidence! Nick.
    4 points
  36. Wonderful work as always @Mikkel . Yellow was seen as 'decadent' from the 1870's onwards, I think stemming from the 'yellow-back' books. https://artuk.org/discover/stories/colour-in-the-victorian-era-a-new-chromatic-age
    4 points
  37. Hi Colin, you are lucky in having one of the Dart Castings kits, they are sold out at the moment. I think they represent the more typical, lower style. @Worsdell forever has built a nice example, the photos are gone from his thread but there's a nice video showing it here: Regarding the font, it is Bookman Old Style. I must emphasize that I do not know much about fonts, so beware. I tried to check and it seems that this font is OK for my Edwardian period, but am not 100% sure. Let me know if you need some hints on spacing and resizing in Word, it is a bit clunky and the options are distributed over three different menus. Many thanks Dave. Maybe I should give the fuse wire another go. If I could somehow harden it so that it doesn't bend when constantly dismantled... The horses from Dart Castings are very good, as you will know. I used my homespun size-chart for their figures (below, note that the 1:87 label has been moved to another horse in their range since I made this, but doesn't really matter). I considered Suffolk Punches, which can be seen pulling large Pantechnicons in photos. But, like trees, the figures are so big that they look out of scale, even if they aren't. The Shire horses have been modelled a little smaller, so I chose those. Many thanks Matt. Yes, you have nailed the problem with the reins. I have lived happily without them for quite a while now, but you know how these things can suddenly become an issue when you start thinking about it again!
    4 points
  38. Hi Neal, thanks - and yes it looks like you have more than enough on your plate at the moment, seems like your fleet is doubling in a very short time. Reminds me that I must get back to my coaches. These little "quickie" projects can be real time-stealers! Many thanks Martyn. Perhaps some of the road vehicles will be right for your period. There's a nice selection of railway owned lorries and delivery vehicles. Good old whitemetal. Hi Mike, yes, some removal firms clearly used the railways to their advantage. My lettering on that point was inspired by the example seen on this website: https://www.avwoodworks.co.uk/imagery_content/horse_drawn_wagons.html Historical photos show variants with a single horse, two horses and four. All depending on the van and load size I assume. This one being quite large should perhaps ideally have had four, as you suggest. But luckily UNBRIDLED didn't press that point futher 🙂
    4 points
  39. Bravo. I note that the etched padlocks do not come with either etched keys or etched bolt-croppers.
    4 points
  40. With a Pantechnicon from Dart Castings waiting in the "to be built" wings for UH, this is inspirational and most timely. On your OK I'll draw heavily on these ideas for my own; which are your preferred fonts for the wagon sides etc.? Colin
    4 points
  41. So, the funeral went well enough, all things considered. I did some research (which was just as well. I found I had conflated him with another uncle regarding his military service, for one thing). I was offered the suggestion that if I used the general terms outlined above, without the specifics then most likely, few if any would understand; depressingly, this proved to be true. - one of his grandchildren thanked me for emphasising his devout views and strength of conviction, remarking that as a humanist they had no such pillar of faith... to which I could only reply "no, I don't suppose you do". - the American son-in-law came up trumps with a small, but very elegant crossed-staff arrangement of Old Glory and the Union Flag (from his VFW branch, I find he was a Viet Nam veteran who married the daughter in his 50s) and a USB drive carrying a recording of his grandchildren's class singing "Battle Hymn of the Republic" which I included in the proceedings. Americans respect veterans. Another of life's pitfalls negotiated...
    4 points
  42. Great modelling Mikkel, truly inspiring. I've looked at the John Day ranges before but never been quite sure about them, perhaps time for another look. Martyn
    4 points
  43. Excellent work Mike. An investigative industrial archaeology project with a great result.
    4 points
  44. After almost 10 years the DX Goods is nearing completion: This has been hard to build in P4. I found that when I fitted the rear steps the cranks fouled on these so off they came and back on slightly further apart. I think this was due to my having changed the valance for 1mm brass angle. That was also due to clearance issues. The kit was missing the blower valve but LRM supplied one. I also slimmed down the wheels and wondering now whether the balance weights on the wheels might foul on the rods. Still got to fit the cab details.
    4 points
  45. Tying this in to two paintings, one a modern one of Queen Victoria arriving in 1842, with plenty of activity; and one from the NRM, a contemporary? painting of the scene, one detail which might show how things were done is the smoke box doors opened, presumably to help the fire cool down and reduce boiler pressure?
    4 points
  46. 'Plan' is not a word that applies to much of my modelling. At present, I'm thinking about the Engine House and Carriage shed to the West of Bishop's Road. I haven't given any thoughts yet to the Goods Depot to the East but probably will 'one day'. I am looking at the earliest period c.1840 and am not yet sure what facilities were there at the beginning.
    4 points
  47. It was a bit close. i had to open the window to get the spigot and socket of the support rails together
    4 points
  48. It's just the same in the case of Paddington. Some plans were for designs that never materialised, while others show alterations that were made quite early on. For example the arrangements on the Arrivals side were already changing by 1842. It was a steep learning curve for those working on the prototype as well as those trying to model it 🙂 For those who haven't see this sort of thing, here's an example of what one has to work with: Mike
    4 points
  49. If you move your drawings forward 95 years you could as I'm always looking for materials/ info for my own Paddington project. 😊 I've included a pic of my luddite pencil plans lol.. these are 148th scale and looking from Lords Hill bridge to Praed st. I've since extended this back to Great Western Road but had to cut it into many peices as it became unmanageable lol. CAD etc wasn't an option for me but what your achieving would be invaluable to anyone building the BG period.
    4 points
  50. Another wonderful research project Mike. Once again you've pulled together what remains in the way of fragments of information and pieced it together into an excellent article.
    4 points
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