1/50 scale Fairground scene.

[ZR1cliff]

As ive only just started collecting and building the fairground scenes a few months ago,today i was able to complete my first part of the 1/50 scale fun fair transport after the arrival of the scammel tractor unit this morning.

This set i purchased of ebay one part at a time,i also have another set nearing completion.

[ZR1cliff]

Just purchased another part for a set,this is a "Silcocks of Warrington" dodgem trailer with dodgem load,notice the artwork on the parts.
I need to get me a decent size glass cabinet.

[ZR1cliff]

Here is another set aquired towards the 1/50 scale model working fairground,the dodgem cars will be able to work using a magnet moving randomly by electricity underneath.

[Nevin]

I have to admire your dedication to what seems to be a fairly esoteric subject. Is there a particular reason why you are modelling fairgrounds? Admittedly, I have a strange hankering to model a ski resort though, with working cable cars.

[ZR1cliff]

Nevin said:

I have to admire your dedication to what seems to be a fairly esoteric subject. Is there a particular reason why you are modelling fairgrounds? Admittedly, I have a strange hankering to model a ski resort though, with working cable cars.

Well ive learnt what esoteric means today ,i suppose its like most things and you pick it up in your childhood,the same as with my passion for corvettes,one of the highlights of my summer holiday as a kid was seeing the funfair arrive for a week over at the local park and enjoying the carnival week that followed,all of the kids in the area would mix in and help out in one way or another,,,something that probably wouldnt be allowed these days.
As i got older i would work on the fair in my school holidays.

This particular funfair stood out out as it was Bright Orange and yellow and has lodged in the mind,i suppose part of it as in most modelling is nostalgia,my son is captivated by the die cast models and soon i hope to build a 1/50 working scale funfair in the spare room,cant wait to see his face.

Funfairs to me cover a wide range of aspects such as ,Transport,engineering,art,charachters etc and have an interesting history,some people confuse the owners as travellers ,but couldnt be further than the truth as they are "showman" and in the winter seasons return to their homes,here is a couple of sites for anyone interested,hope i havent rattled on too long.

www.fairground-heritage.org.uk/links.htm

www.funfairworld.co.uk/

There are die cast model makers that specialise in such items,here is one that i have huge respect for his skills,his modelling detail is of a very high standard.

http://search.ebay.co.uk/_W0QQsassZant19800QQhtZ-1

[Nevin]

Hmm, slightly unusual I suppose would have been a better way of putting it.

Good on you though, it sounds like something you are enjoying a lot and it seems that there is a reasonable amount of source material out there too.

I do like your models, they look good.

[ZR1cliff]

Nevin said:

Hmm, slightly unusual I suppose would have been a better way of putting it. Good on you though, it sounds like something you are enjoying a lot and it seems that there is a reasonable amount of source material out there too. I do like your models, they look good.

I suppose that being its such a rare and unusual interest is another aspect of the attraction ,a bit like a painter that has a picture in his mind of a scene and tranfers it to canvas,its amazing as you build a picture how the memory can bring up the smallest detail.

AEC Trucks have always been another interest so the two interests combine well,also i enjoy the research and because this scene is set from the 60's there is limited material to find,although i recently tracked down a video with footage from the 60's,this should help well with my detail,its a bit like building a large puzzle and very relaxing whilst giving a good "Quiet time".

Glad you enjoy the models.

[ZR1cliff]

Added another part to the 1/50 set today,it is a "Frame Trailor" with dodgem covers,this will get the orange and yellow livery treatment.

[R988]

So are you looking to create a single static fairground scene? And what will you do once it's finished?

I like your painting analogy, creating these diorama type sets is almost like a 3D painting in a way.

I remember as a child seeing a large model railway depicting my local area and thinking how fantastic it was

[ZR1cliff]

R988 said:

So are you looking to create a single static fairground scene? And what will you do once it's finished? I like your painting analogy, creating these diorama type sets is almost like a 3D painting in a way. I remember as a child seeing a large model railway depicting my local area and thinking how fantastic it was

What ime looking to create is a fairground scene that will work under its own power,steam to dynamo to electric.
Its going to take years to build and i would like to build for keeps.the fairground setting will date 1960-1969 and will use vehicles and art designs aswell as rides from that period

Using the seperate models i will be able to create their seperate dioramas but will be able to put them together to create a whole scene.

Have you ever thought about recreating the model railway?

I find the whole model scene a way of escaping,when i start a period of model making sometimes i can see how anxious i am(without realising i was)but after a whle its not long before i relax.
I think there is a possibility that as i work on these models from the history of my mind i start to remember the smallest detail and my mind wonders off into a relaxed state.

Here is a model of a dodgem set,with some sort of electrically powered magnet system you will be able to make this work.



And here is a close up of the pay booth,i marvel at the artwork,but i think ime going to have to dig deep to recreate that sort of standard.

[ZR1cliff]

Ive taken a photo from the video to produce a still to work off for detailing 329 RBH




I am making a mock up using plastic transparent sheet and a piece of cut down metal for the roof sign,ime going to build this mark1 model fully then once ive picked fault and worked on improving detail i will make the rear of the truck from white metal using a home build mold.



Here ive given it some undercoats



A few more coats of paints, transfers and lifting jib on the back and this will be the only one of its kind

[ZR1cliff]

Ive started making the rear tool box out of plastic sheet,glue and paint.
First i measure then and cut scribe and bend,then glue




then give it a coat of undercoat,the toolbox slopes down from front to back and was used to carry things like lifting chains,shackles etc


>> Edited by ZR1cliff on Sunday 22 January 23:16

[ZR1cliff]

Here is another still taken from the video,and the scene i want to recreate in 1/50 model form.


The "Frame trailer" turned up today and ive ordered the lifting jib that go's onto the back of the truck,now i am going to start detailing for the scene,ive started to paint the window rubber seal on the passenger side of the truck and have got hold of some scale chain(laid out on back),i will submerge the chain in thinned down black paint to give a used look.

[ZR1cliff]

I spent some of today fitting the lifting jib on 329 RBH,here is how it would of looked,you can see it in one of the old photos.



It was probably one of the earliest examples of a Hydraulic jib being used in the Fairground business and came in very handy for moving heavy peices of equipment like dodgems.

[ZR1cliff]

Here is another aquisition to the 1/50 set,it is a ERF waltzer load truck,this will eventually have the front face of the cab modified to look like the Maudsley cab with AEC front nose and grill.

[ZR1cliff]

Ive been busy building another truck for the Stevens range,here is one ime part the way through building,ive taken a stock blue truck and repainted it orange and yellow and have also started to build the rear frame,the best material to do this i found was an old plastic box that ive cut about and shaped,its had its first coat of paint and now needs smoothing down,once the rest of the frame is built.
The trailor at the rear of the truck is finished all it needs is painting.



Here is a type of truck it is modelled on,a 60's AEC frame truck.

[ZR1cliff]

Ive built most of the frame using plastic and combined with the right glue this cements very well and solid,there are some parts that i need to take off and retrim as ive found when working in milimetres its easy to make mistakes,mistakes that you dont spot until its all fixed together.
So far this is all done with a craft knife ,ruler and right angle and once ime satisfied with the scale of it all then i will lightly sand any rough edges with a dremel before painting,i have just purchased some 1/50 scale add ons such as oil drums to help make the scene real.