Hello All
Im sure youve all had a flight of fancy that took you away from your original modelling goal. It would be reassuring if you could confirm that though.

As you may be aware, Ive been building a Bedford QLR. Its been going quite well but I decided it needed a dispatch rider standing outside the vehicle, talking to one of the figures inside. This is a good thing because Ive been working on a set of DRs for my figure range and so this looked like the impetus to complete the task.

I got out my bits and pieces for figure modelling and then started to look through my reference. It is unclear where After the Battles books on the Blitx would have helped finding pictures of DRs in Normandy but, as I leafed through, a picture of a British policeman caught my eye.

After a bit of kneading and carving, I had an approximation of the figure. Having done a policeman in a tin hat, another one in a proper bobbys helmet, complete with trench coat seemed a good idea. Then another one directing traffic. I like to do sets of five, so to complete the set, a couple of ARP Wardens were quickly whittled.

At this point, it was clear that a distance had been put between me and the original plan. Unable to resolve that distance, the next thing to do seemed to be to make a scene for the figures to inhabit once they had been cast. Here is the result. Note that there is no QLR, no police figures, no ARPs. It does, on the other hand, show some of my poster sets in use so it wasnt a complete waste of time



The two standing figures are from a Preiser kit of 1920s Aircraft Passengers. I've switched the woman's head and added a gas mask case. The man has had his suit altered a little including the provision of turn-ups on his trousers. Also added are an attache case and a gas mask case. The third figure is a cab driver, of which more later.


The shops are from a Wills set of Stations Forecourt shops. They are built pretty much per the instructions, then clear plastic sheet was used to create windows and tiny strips of masking tape was used to recreate anti-shattering tape. The etched shop sign comes from a Scale Link set. The telephone kiosk is another Wills set. The base is made of loft insulation foam board, the pavement, low wall and fence from plastic card suitably carved.


The Austin taxi is a die-cast model by Oxford. I disassembled it to paint the interior better, install a driver and replace the steering wheel with one of my etched brass items. The driver was a little more involved. I used one of the figures from my British MT Drivers, removing uniform details, carving him so that he sat at the right height in the cab, then adding a coat and scarf. He was finished with a head with a cloth cap from the same Preiser set mentioned above. It all became a bit sad when I realized I was giving the driver back-story as I painted his scarf light yellow and imagined that it was probably a present from his wife. I need to get out more. The tyres were painted grey and the vehicle generally dirtied and toned down to make it more in keeping with its environment. This was mainly done with oil washes and dry brushing.



The colour tones are based on the dark burnt brick prevelent in London in the first half of the last century and the shades chosen to match. The posters are from my two British Homefront poster sets -http://www.dantaylormodelworks.com/posters-34-c.asp - whilst other signs were made up in Corel Draw.

I will finish the QLR soon, I promise. Unless....

All the best
Dan

Hi Dan,

What a wonderful scene and it is so useful for displaying any allied vehicle from 1939 - 45, I can see a line of American half-tracks with some GI's trying to get the attention of the 'broad'. Lots of fun to be had making scenes and little vignettes with this sort of backdrop. I am inspired to do something like this myself, the possibilities are endless and not just a typically British town scene comes to mind, a country pub and outbuildings, Wills do a British pillbox, do you do any Home Guard figues? Wonderful stuff and thanks for the tangential inspiration.

All the best,

Paul

Hello Paul
Thanks for your comments. There is an excellent cartoon by Fougasse showing the rear of a GMC with loads of GIs leaning out the back clearly trying to attract the attention of some young ladies. The punchline is the sign on the back of the truck saying "No hand siganals". That would make a good vignette just as you suggest.

Usefully, it is an area where we can use railway modelling accessories without them looking too twee - Hornby and others do pubs and all manner of other useful buildings which need only a little adaptation to make them look a little more 'wartime'.

My programme of releases for next year is intended to include three or four British pillbox types and I'm looking to extend the parade-ground range of figures with a set or two in full marching order which might suit the Home Guard theme. I'll keep ML informed as ever.

All the best

Dan

www.dantaylormodelworks.com

the brick colour is spot on, reminds me of the Archer under London Bridge.

Cheers Elliott

Thanks Elliott. You don't want to spend too much time loitering under London Bridge, think of your reputation!

All the best
Dan

Looking forward to seeing more.

I've got the same Oxford taxi and a matching fire-engine for a not entirely dissimilar project.

FWIW & All the best
Andy S.

Hell Andy,
Glad to hear you like the model. As I develop the homefront range next year, the intention is that there will be a set of fire crew putting out a fire and another of firecres/ARP rescueing someone from a bombed-out house. Hopefully these may be of use.

Thanks for your post.

Dan
www.dantaylormodelworks.com

At present I'm teaming them up with the MMS 1/76 Wartime Firemen, ARP Wardens and Bobbies, all of whom are in fairly static poses.

The thing that I'm looking forward to least is rebuilding the ladder on the fire-engine, but the nasty clear plastic part just won't do at all!

FWIW & All the best
Andy S.

Hi Dan your scene is marvelous! I love it! I'm thinking of doign something similar but with a UXB in the road. I work in a model railway shop so I use a lot of railway products as they are wonderful! How's the QLR coming along? Will we see it again soon? I will watch out for your figures I look forward to the ARP and Warden's will your DR also become available?

All the best.

Jaymes

Hello Jaymes
Good to hear you like it.

The QLR is doing fine barring distractions (like random London streets). Windows have been added in the last few days and the chassis, cab and lower body are one. Another layer of grime has been added and, as soon as the remaining parts are added, the markings, then weathering can be completed. A base is nearing completion, and a couple of exterior figures (including the DR) will soon be sent to the casters for reproduction.

Spread across my desk are eleven sets of heads, each with a variety of headgear from tin helmets to Tam O'Shanters; a set and a half of Carrier occupants; a set of Police/ARP; plus partial sets of glider troops, DRs, British AFV crew, more British Infantry, and even some SA stormtroopers and civilians for a German street scene. All will hopefully be available in September. In the mean time, I'm just about to get a back order of the Airborne troops back into stock so will be spending the end of the week shipping out back orders.

The days just fly by!

Thanks for the comments,

Dan

www.dantaylormodelworks.com

Really beautiful piece you've put together there, Dan.

Are you going to Euromilitaire again this year? If so, I'll certainly drop by again.

Any chance of a Panther G to complete your "set"?

Hello Fred,
Good to hear from you and thanks for the praise.

I'm afraid I can't make Euro this year due to family commitments. Are you only across for that weekend?

I have two Panther Gs on the go, an early/mid and a late. I believe the plan is to do a straight early as well using the ausf A turret.

All the best
Dan

Hi Dan

I do like your taxi dio; however.....

I know that nowadays we have pink black taxis, blue black taxis, etc (though I have yet to see a yellow black taxi); but my memories, which stretch back nearly as far as the ancient taxi in your dio, was that they really were all black, that long ago. Do you have evidence for a blue and black black taxi, however nice it looks?

Sorry to hear you will not be at Euro this year, but we shall doubtless meet again some time.

Chris

Hi Chris
You are absolutely right that the standard colour from the fifties to the eighties was black. However in the 30s and 40s there were a number of different liveries which were selected by different company fleets. If you have a look at this site:http://www.lvta.co.uk/history.htm there is a reference to this. Anecdotally, a veteran of my former regiment (the City of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters) as they were during the war) was a taxi driver when war broke out and his company had taxis with a Brunwick Green livery. I wouldn't choose a colour on a whim - not with Mr Starmer roaming the site...

Sorry to skip Euro. There are not enough of me to go round!

All the best
Dan