1/16? scale model tramcars

A few of the 1/16 scale tramcars Ive made over the years.

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Nice

H

Beautiful work!

Rob

Excellent work.

Lovely to see such detailed models

Thank You

Howard

Lovely work - with beautiful detailing and lining-out.

Very nice model making and fine workmanship all round John - trams certainly make lovely subjects with variety of skills required

Are you familiar with the name 'Ernie Shaw' a Manchester area model engineer ?

He apparently built a model tram with working home made individual electric motors after being challenged (in Model Engineer though I have no idea when) by a well known and prominent model engineer of the time that it couldn't be done.

I was given, by his son Martin whom I worked with, the coil winder he made to wind the armatures I believe - I would be more than happy to pass it on to you should you want a little bit of model tram history.

PM me if you would like it

Tug

Outstanding work John! well done!

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Thanks for the very kind offer Ramon but I use motors as supplied by the Tramway & Light Railway Society so they are compatible with other members models, which helps with smooth control on layouts. Also I’m grateful I dont have to manufacture my own motors! I dont know Ernie but there are a few tram modellers in Manchester who work to the unusual scale of 5/8”. Was his tram a one off?

John, I have no idea but a little tale, perhaps of interest.

Martin Shaw, his son worked in our drawing office but his interest was model railways. When his father passed he inherited a couple of his models - a lovely Allchin and a Merryweather steam fire engine. Martin would loan them out for exhibit at our ME Day at the Forncett museum so they graced my workshop on several occasions

Many years ago a local ME friend said he would like to introduce me to a 'Frank Waterton' who was very keen on I/C engines - I was well into making a Bentley BR2 at that time and Frank had expressed a desire to see the parts.

A visit was arranged and we set off to Woodbridge in Suffolk. From his accent Frank was obviously from 'Northern' parts. At an early stage in the conversation he said to my friend "I really miss my friend Ernie" and began to tell of their ME exploits. By the look on his face he was not too pleased when I asked if he meant an Ernie Shaw. When I explained that I worked with his son his demeanour changed instantly and he got quite excited calling his wife in to explain. Apparently they had lost touch after Ernie had passed.

Frank then asked did I know about the trams that Ernie had made - a very detailed account followed my shake of the head. Apparently, I believe before the war, the subject of making individual motors to power a trams wheels had been raised in ME. Ernie claimed that he felt it could and (I'm sure I have this right) none other than Edgar Westbury said that he didn't think it could. Some correspondence reverberated through the pages of ME I was told and Ernie not only made the motors but they did indeed work.

Obviously when I returned to work the following week I sought Martin out and explained all this. "How come you didn't take an interest in model engineering yourself" I asked - " I always felt my father was too good to follow in his footsteps so I focussed on model railways" was the reply.

The next day Martin came into the machine shop bearing something wrapped in rag. "Would you like these" he said "They belonged to my father". It was indeed the very winding tool he had made for the project. Simple, one could almost say rustic, in approach but the perfection of machining is obvious. I've treasured it ever since but would happily hand it on to someone who had direct interest in it - as said it is a little piece of ME history and may mean something to others. The other item was a boring head to fit the Myford nose piece - again basic to look at but works to perfection

The winder

Some years later Martin, who also had a passion for trams decided to have a go himself Here he is asking me about something on a drawing at a Forncett open day.

Sometime after he retired Martin moved to Blackpool where we continued our correspondence over many years before two years back it suddenly stopped. Well into his eighties by then I can only assume the worst.

I hope that's been of interest - one of a couple of anecdotal tales coined over my years with model making.

Regards - Tug

Edited By Ramon Wilson on 12/01/2022 19:28:33

Lovely trams, I've been looking at building one myself. So I'm gathering some photos and info currently.

Also very interesting the winding machine for the motors. I think it's great someone prooving the impossible can be done with a little thought.

Jon

From my reading, I think Ashley Best did a great service describing how he made his 1:16 trams.

Thanks for the above information and stories, and, Jon - good luck! Post pictures, often people don't get feedback, but lack of feedback doesn't mean lack of interest.

Jon, are you a member of the Tramway & Light Railway Society? They are a great source of info, drawings and parts for all scales but particularly 1/16th scale ( which I think are also available to non-members also). Then there is also Peters Hammond and Howards book on Large Scale Tramway Modelling also available from the TLRS. Do let us know how you get on.

John Beresford, JohnS,

Hi, I've just joined the TLRS, and ordered the book you mention. So I hope to start next month building something if all goes well.

I have seen Ashley bests articles, I agree, there really good and in depth.RI shall post on my progress over the next year.

Regards

Jon

These are lovely models - thanks for showing them. The detailing shows a very real affection for the originals.