Sedan Chair 50 year old kit from Phoenix Model Developments (1 Viewer)

[whdamon]

What follows are multiple threads of the construction and modifications to a 50 year old pewter kit of a sedan chair, passenger and porters from Phoenix Model Developments.

I have had this kit in my gray army for many many years. What kept me from building it were the absolutely worst figures in my estimation Phoenix ever produced.
Namely the two porters. Terrible sculpts and in mismatched livery. However I recently had found a pair of porters that with a little modification to them and to the chair
I thought just might work. a little historical jive of imagination in putting them in Napoleons visit to Egypt instead of the intended English Regency period became a motivator as well.

photos are of the kit, the horrible porters and the eventual commercial castings from King & Country that replaced the porters. threads on construction follow

 

[whdamon]

Construction has very simple, but took some thought on how to incorporate the passenger, a lady of quality, and yet still be in position to paint the piece. after many trial dry fits, I then painted the lady, but not before figuring out how the new porters were going to manage the carrying poles. The problem was the K&C porters had arms with hands that were much narrower that the sedan chair poles. the solution was to run the poles through the chair cabin vs on the sides of the original design. This of course ment less room for the lady, but after a few adventures with a grinding tool, she didn't seem to mind losing a few pounds. The original poles were then bent to join the new poles and some wire accessories added to the set up for effect. Photos hopefully show the changes

 

[whdamon]

The scale on this kit is 1/32nd with the K&C porters at 1/30th. scale didn't seem visually off and with weight of the pewter chair and passenger actually gave some support against an eventual case of metal fatigue.
next came the painting..............first the lady, then the modification and painting of the porters. I wanted them in the same livery and also added a head ornament. a little magic sculpt putty on the upper vest and added shoes completed the goal

 

[whdamon]

Sedan chair assembled to include a Zulu spear tip from the spares box as a roof ornament , painted chair with gems added now ready to join up with the modified porters.
The set now resides in a Napoleon in Egypt display wandering though the village chaos
Plan is to display the set at the Long Island Miniature Model show this coming November (19th and 20th 2025)

 

[Louis Badolato]

Tremendous job!

 

[paxtoysoldier]

Really well done in every way.

 

[mikemiller1955]

Wow!!! You really crushed that project...excellent finished product...love the sedan and the re-work on the porters...

 

[villagehorse]

What a transformation, great result. Robin.

 

[Obee]

This is great work, and thanks for posting images of its creation.

Good news is that this kit is still in production in the UK and I recently obtained one for a fellow collector who didn't realise that.
He wasn't OK in purchasing on-line, so did it for him, and now I'm awaiting to seeing his completed set.

John