The Tale of a Brewers Dray (1 Viewer)

[johnnybach]

Apologies for the repetative nature of these pics - but what I would like you to see is the development of these figures and pieces. Below is the final top-coat applied to the horses and the face-plate and seat of the dray. The final coat of Tamiya Acrylic Clear X-22 has now been applied by brush. As I finished the second horse - the first was touch dry - so you need to work quickly. Compare with the earlier pics - and I think you can see how the depth of finish has progressed and improved.

I have done it a few times now - and it still slightly takes my breath away each time. They even FEEL nicer to the touch - and if anything, look even better in real life. Just working on the two figures, barrels - and some chains to apply - and I will be finished. johnnybach

 

[johnnybach]

Almost there now. Latest pics below show horses finished and connected to the dray by chains. As the wheels rotate - I can pull along the dray by moving the horses. Just some work to do on some barrels - and the bases of the two draymen Albert (on the back unloading some essentials) and Bert, who is feeding Dobbin - Charlie will be next!

Closer view of horses.

Closer view of Albert and some barrels

Long view from the front. Note that I have to put a second coat of varnish on both draymen and the barrels - then the project will be finished. The barrels are loose, by the way - to maximise play value. My Brains Brewery Dray, will doubtless pop up again - from time to time - when deliveries are being made to places in the background of new projects. Hope you like it - it was great fun to make - and every time I look at it - or play with it - I will remember the Grandad that I never actually met - as he died of wounds received in WW1 - before I was born.

Hope you like it - 'cos I do.

Johnnybach

 

[GICOP]

Almost there now. Latest pics below show horses finished and connected to the dray by chains. As the wheels rotate - I can pull along the dray by moving the horses. Just some work to do on some barrels - and the bases of the two draymen Albert (on the back unloading some essentials) and Bert, who is feeding Dobbin - Charlie will be next!

Closer view of horses.

Closer view of Albert and some barrels

Long view from the front. Note that I have to put a second coat of varnish on both draymen and the barrels - then the project will be finished. The barrels are loose, by the way - to maximise play value. My Brains Brewery Dray, will doubtless pop up again - from time to time - when deliveries are being made to places in the background of new projects. Hope you like it - it was great fun to make - and every time I look at it - or play with it - I will remember the Grandad that I never actually met - as he died of wounds received in WW1 - before I was born.

Hope you like it - 'cos I do.

Johnnybach

SUPERB Johnnybach {bravo}}:salute:::salute:::salute::

Cheers

Martyn

 

[aujj65]

Johnny,

Makes me thirsty just looking at this! ^&grin

Two thumbs up.........{bravo}}

Jeff

 

[theBaron]

Me, too, Jeff! Well done, John! I love your finish, and it's a great set, and a great tribute to your gaffer!

Now all you need is a pub as a backdrop

Prost!
Brad

A question related to the subject of the piece--what would be a typical or traditional drinking vessel? For example, a stoneware mug (pint-size or quart, perhaps), pewter or tin, or pint glasses (like a fine gentleman). Is there a local preference?

 

[johnnybach]

Hey all - So glad you like them! Martyn - thanks for getting me here

Jeff - me too - incongruous perhaps - but I'm sipping a nice glass of Bordeaux as I type ( Well - when in Rome.............)

Brad - Pots and glasses. Well - I have never seen the stoneware vessel on offer in the UK. I do have one though - as when I did a bit of time in Deutschland - half a life-time ago - I became quite fond of some sherbert - that way!

In South Wales - most (me included) preferred a straight plain glass (pint - of course). Second best - we called a Tulip - again plain glass. Least preferred was " A Handle" - the dreaded big dimpled mug-glass with a handle. Surprising how many of those got dropped (when empty of course). Beloved by the Pub Landlord - as they often refused to break!

As to tankards - well they are best melted down to make the next project - in my opinion. They do provide a good vessel when you are on the move though - so several sqaddies had one somewhere - but for me - if I couldn't get a pint any other way - well - straight out of the bottle was just about okay - which seems to have turned into the modern way of knocking one off. Pity that - 'cos they don't realise how much better a beer is - once you let the head develop in a nice glass'

Prost - Cheers - Slange - or in my language "Hiachad da" - Good Health! to all of you - my friends. johnnybach

 

[thebritfarmer]

You have made a great job of this set as usual jb.

 

[johnnybach]

Hi Scott - and thank you for those kind words. As you may know, I only got into this area by "a happy accident" - after unsucessfully trying to buy a Trophy model of a Hancocks Brewery Dray that I admired - and was tipped off about one on e-bay by a Forum member (thanks Martyn).

A veritable series of Forum members have helped me with yet another round of my "education" since joining the Forum - as well as the Brewery, which supplied me with some pictures of what their drays looked like in the past - which was VERY much appreciated. Good Lord, a short while ago I was searching for the button to turn a computer on!

I very much enjoyed making up this particular model from ATS -(adapted only slightly from the original) - to represent my favourite beverage - and delivery method of old. Enthused by this, experience, I eventually intend to have a go at the one I really wanted by Trophy - again by adapting another of these ATS models - to look similar to the Trophy one - which is again a local brewery to Cardiff, (Hancocks) - now defunct, which Brains actually bought out in a merger deal some 50 years or so ago. The link is still strong, however, between these two names - as Brains now occupies the brewery site that once belonged to Hancocks. This is the Trophy model which started the whole thing off.

Hancocks is the brewery that my Grandfather worked for, before and after WW1 - as a drayman, so nice to know that I will have examples of Drays from brewers still on the site where my Grandad went to work. The new model will have to wait its turn though - as I have my usual waiting list of projects to get on with in the meantime.

Just pleased that most seem to like this one as much as I do. johnnybach.

 

[johnnybach]

Brad - regarding your idea about a pub for my Dray to deliver to - I think that you and I must be on the same wave-length regarding many things. (Must be your Welsh ancestry!).

Have you been having a peek at Alexander's Toy Soldiers (ATS) web-site perchance?

If not - you might be surprised to learn that there IS a pub - on offer - see below.
Now - that would be a thought! Maybe sometime in the future - when I get a couple of dozen other projects nagging away inside my head out of the way.

Of course I may have to rename it as "The Red Dragon" - 'cos it's currently "The Rose" -

No way Hosé! Would look quite nice with some lights on inside...Hmmmmmmm.^&grin johnnybach

 

[trooper]

ATS's pub comes complete with lights.Johnny. There is even a scantily clad lady available to look out of the upstairs window (eyeing up Grandpa perhaps!) Trooper

 

[johnnybach]

Don't know whether "La Commandante would allow the busty lass ogling Grampa as he chucks the barrels off the dray - but the lights would really brighten things up!

Quite a few ideas come to mind from the ATS online catalogue - including two lads having a fight - what better than her eyeing up Grmpa - whilst two lads fight over her eh? Sounds very "Saturday Night out in Cardiff c.1900" does that! I think that I will be re-visiting ATS again before long!

Anyway - last two pics attached show the final results of adding that second coat of varnish to the figures and the barrels. By the way La Commandante offered me the mat at the back of the dray for the barrels to roll onto - from her "patchwork stash". Made me an offer I couldn't refuse - see!" I just love that finish!^&grin johnnybach

 

[theBaron]

Brad - regarding your idea about a pub for my Dray to deliver to - I think that you and I must be on the same wave-length regarding many things. (Must be your Welsh ancestry!).

Have you been having a peek at Alexander's Toy Soldiers (ATS) web-site perchance?

If not - you might be surprised to learn that there IS a pub - on offer - see below.
Now - that would be a thought! Maybe sometime in the future - when I get a couple of dozen other projects nagging away inside my head out of the way.

Of course I may have to rename it as "The Red Dragon" - 'cos it's currently "The Rose" -

No way Hosé! Would look quite nice with some lights on inside...Hmmmmmmm.^&grin johnnybach

Very much so, John! That piece is on my long-term wish list, though, i plan on modifiying it into a posh Berlin bar, maybe "Cafe Hohenzollern", circa 1900, a la "The Life and Times of Colonel Blimp" I also pictured a more rural pub, like the piece that I think Britain's has now (or is it another manufacturer?).

Regarding the Cymry, our Jameses are supposed to have come from around Brecon, but that's long since been lost to our family memory. Someday, I mean to track down that branch and see where it leads.

Prost!
Brad

 

[johnnybach]

No Brad bach, - that pub is the perfect one for the one that I have in mind that was just around the corner from where the old brewery used to be ( re-developed now - sad to say). Brains was a town centre brewer - with lots of pubs very like that in the centre of town - and perfect for horse-drawn delivery - even when lorries were taking over.

As to Brecon - I know it well - also the beacons where we used to help out with the selection of SAS men occasionally, by providing radio comms at check-points up in the hills. (Count 'em in and out for safety reasons). If you ever get there- be sure to look in on The Military Museum ( used to be the South Wales Borderers Museum - but may have changed names now - because of all the amalgamations which have taken place). Fascinating place - the medal room had 11 VC's on display - last time I looked.

Cymru am Bwyth, Brawd. (Wales Forever - Brother) johnnybach^&grin