Mikkel

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.

Thank you Dave, and welcome back. I was thinking of your "Horse drawn weekly" phrase while building this one, there's material for several issues across RMweb by now 🙂

Thank you Dana. Good point about the lower footboards, I hadn't thought about that.

Your C19 in brown with the lake coaches sounds good, this is exactly the kind of mixed picture that I would also like to have a go at. It sounds almost prototypical that you have run out of paint 🙂

6 hours ago, ullypug said:

Excellent modelling Mikkel.

It took a slightly dark tone there for a minute, a properly Scandinavian melancholy with shades of Edgar Allen Poe…

It's the lack of light that makes us gloomy. Come to think of it, you're not much better off! 😄

10 hours ago, C126 said:

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

 

 

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!

9 hours ago, jwealleans said:

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:

 

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!

9 hours ago, magmouse said:

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.

 

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:

21 hours ago, richbrummitt said:

Bravo.
 

I note that the etched padlocks do not come with either etched keys or etched bolt-croppers. 

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. 

12 hours ago, gwr517 said:

Another wonderful addition to Farthing.

Douglas Firth.

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. 

11 hours ago, Johann Marsbar said:

   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.

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

22 hours ago, BWsTrains said:

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

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.

22 hours ago, Dave John said:

Excellent modelmaking as ever Mikkel. I am impressed with the way the printed paper overlays look and the horses are gorgeous. 

 

I use 5A fuse wire to make reins. Probably just described as 35 swg tinned copper wire these days.

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.

21 hours ago, Bluemonkey presents.... said:

Outstanding Mikkel. This is a real monster but only in size as the livery and modelling are exceptional. Some ingenious use I'd software, I applaud you Sir. 

Unfortunately I don't have a solution for your dilemma as everything I can think of would be a little rigid and attached to either horse or carriage and still pose a potential storage problem.

Great modelling though.

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!

11 hours ago, Neal Ball said:

Excellent work @Mikkel thanks as ever for sharing. A Pantechnican sounds like a good idea for Henley-on-Thames, but I fear I have enough projects on the go at the moment 😎

 

Thanks as ever. 

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!

11 hours ago, mullie said:

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

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. 

11 hours ago, MikeOxon said:

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

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 🙂

23 hours ago, ChrisN said:

Mikkel,

Wonderful.  Step by step build and background information.  No one believes us modellers when we explain the trials of having to please the little people, (and animals).  I have never seen a yellow horse but I did see a program where they dug up a blond mammoth.  

 

I had seen the John Day figures before and umm'd and ahh'd about them.  The GEM figures look interesting, but look a little thin.  I probably should not get any more figures as I have a 'lot' to paint.

A blond mammoth. Of course! Mr Bailey will be very pleased 😄. 

Thanks Chris. I admire Daryle for keeping these whitemetal ranges on the market, and even upgrading them a bit if I understand correctly. They are of course of a certain age, and the GEM kits weren't always to exacting standards in my experience. But I find them pleasant to build.

I have some of the cows, which are very good I think.

23 hours ago, Middlepeak said:

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

Many thanks, Geraint. These little projects are just trifles of course, but we might as well have fun making them.

Mrs X is not the first ghost from my childhood to have been locked away in a model. There was also The Weasel. I can recommend this as a highly efficient form of therapy. Just don't do it in real life! 

23 hours ago, Dana Ashdown said:

A remarkably attractive van! And amazingly, I'm one of the first to see it.

 

I do like the idea of the printed sides. I used paper sides to backdate two old Wrenn(?) R1 tank engines to SE&CR livery (one engine being returned to an R Class), and they look quite good. I can't take any credit for the artwork, though, as that was produced by one of the other talented RM members.

Thanks Dana. I think the printed sides work particularly well if there is a natural "frame" around them to conceal the edges, as here where the van is paneled. 

And I like how you can experiement easily. E.g. I had planned red lettering but I felt it looked like a circus van (my choice of "Bailey" didn't help!), so I went for black letters.

12 hours ago, longchap said:

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

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 🙂

11 hours ago, gwrrob said:

Lovely inspiring work as usual Mikkel. I wonder if the pantechnicon was ever transported by rail as it would make a great wagon load.

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

Hadn't noticed the white lamps before, a slightly impractical choice by the company.

The photo of the full layout seems to demonstrate something that has become apparent to me in a couple of historical photos recently, namely that if the angle and lighting is right, cameras can make things go away. Such as one of the center layout legs.

Good luck with the show.

I have seen other 3D prints where complex edges, e.g. with ironwork, caused trouble. But what do I know.

I predict a future deluge of horseboxes on pregrouping layouts as we are many who like them, and with 3D printing it is possible and quick. Which raises the question: Just how diverse can your "racing day special" be, and what should the proportional representation be? E.g. what was the D299 of horseboxes in Edwardian times?

Perhaps not the prettiest of designs, but it's a green shunter and that will win me over anytime.

In fact, I'm seeing a lot of green here - right down to the name of our benefactor Mr. P.B. Greenhouse. Tim, I feel certain that this is your subsconsciousness telling you to take the clock back to GWR days 🙂

Aha, potential for an outdoor extension! Strawberry patch included, of course.

This is fascinating, Mike. Especially how it allows you to view things from different angles. J.C. Bourne's renditions are very atmospheric, but they are a fixed view after all.

How close can you zoom in, e.g. is it possible to stand beneath the canopies and look out at the track?

Congratulations. These are great views, especially those looking along the track with the train shed in the distance. Well worth it all.

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 the trestles and supporting rails were erected in the dining room, fitting with about half an inch to spare. Yes I did check when I bought the house but don’t tell anyone!

That made me smile. So the dining room matched the layout with half an inch to spare? That's a bit of luck!

Good luck with the snagging list, sounds like you're well on your way already.

Good result, Al. If the altered footplate drop made her look more pugnacious - thanks for that new word - the chunkier cylinders make her look more punchy. In other words, not someone to mess with! 🙂

I'm taking notes for mine. So, footplate drop, new cylinders - and ideally a new chimney I suppose.

Hi Neal, good to see progress on these. The interior paint job looks very good.

Just as an aside, if you are already aware then ignore this:  Because you are adding photos to an existing old post, few people will get to see the new stuff. We don't get any updates and it will not appear on the main RMweb blog page. That's why I for example keep missing it. I only caught this because you posted about it in your thread. The normal approach is to create a new blog post every time there has been some progress. But you may already know and choose to do it like this of course, in which case never mind 🙂

I tend to take a live and let live approach to this, but it does seem like a time for reflection in the hobby, i.e. where are we going and how.

So far my principle is that I buy RTR stock if it fits directly in my plans, but I can see the slippery slope: Some of the new stuff creates opportunities I hadn't considered before, which could easily lead to a situation where the product is driving my modelling rather than the other way around. Queen Adelaide's coach being a possible case in point! 🙂

Thank you for more info on the telescopic pick-up tool Ian, I see they also come with LEDs.

Yes the Hornby early stock is a bit costly, though I am so enamoured by Queen Adelaide's Saloon that I think I'm going to get one just for decorative purposes.

Thanks for the tip on the magnetic pick-up tool, Ian, I didn't know such things were available ready-made. I suppose it is too big for 3-links, but it might be handy for other things around the workbench.

With all your creative work to model the early railways, it must be a bit odd for you to see all these new  models coming on to the market from Hornby? Or tempting? I know that Tinories is H0 scale but some of the Hornby items do look very attractive.

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a couple of bargain- bin finds now given new life, which I very much enjoy

A very worthy pursuit. I have sometimes thought that it would be interesting to build an entire layout only with cheap bargain finds. Maybe evn with an upper limit to the price per item. 

Also, I must visit the dentist more often. And train my wife better. It clearly pays off 🙂

8 hours ago, Siberian Snooper said:

Mikkel,

 

Do one side in one livery and the other in the other livery, on the grounds that you only see one side at a time. I model the mid 20's, most of my coaching stock has the Lake livery on one side and post '22 livery on the other, I just need the time to finish them.

 

PS. The 2021s suffered a set back when I dropped the saddle tank yesterday.

Thanks Phil, the idea of two different liveries on one coach would certainly solve some dilemmas. But for my part I am a little reluctant about it. Something to do with the intregity of the coach - a silly romantic idea probably!

Sorry to hear about the 2021 taking a fall, that's bad news. I hope you can salvage it. Fingers crossed.

3 hours ago, Camperdown said:

Nicely done.  Some people have found a problem with lead reacting to pva glues, although perhaps Liquid Gravity is not lead?  Plasticene is a good alternative to glue, if there is a problem.

Thanks Camperdown. The good thing about the Liquid Gravity is that it's not lead, so the possible interacting with PVAs isn't a problem. Not that I have yet had the courage to try it in an enclosed space! Thanks for the tip about Plasticene, will keep that in mind.

Thanks Matt! It would be great to see you build these, they have a few quirks but are quite satisfying kits. They sometimes  pop up on ebay, though usually at bizarre prices I'm afraid. Maybe Slater's can provide some info on when they are due back out.