Circus Wagons

**Sakrison** · #1 03-16-2012, 04:10 PM

In my college days and beyond, I scratch-built several flat car loads of early 20th-century circus wagons in 1/48th scale. Built from plans, they are made mostly of basswood or pine, with details of paper, wire, and metal, and plastic wheels. Thirty-five years later, they hold up to scrutiny pretty well.

I still have a binder full of plans, some plain and "sunburst" wheel sets, and a set of plastic Percherons for a 40-horse hitch. One of these days....

--David

**Vermin_King** · #2 03-16-2012, 04:14 PM

Those are delightful. You've got to show us more of them

**eatcrow2** · #3 03-16-2012, 04:42 PM

Now those are really cool!!!. Thanks for showing them..

Zathros · #4 03-16-2012, 05:03 PM

"Hold up well" is an understatement, they look great!!

**whulsey** · #5 03-17-2012, 12:37 AM

Those are great. Years ago in Southern California I was acquainted with several guys that belonged to the Circus Modelers Club. They did some really nice work and yours would fit right in.

**Tim Crowe** · #6 03-17-2012, 01:35 AM

Very nice models from a bygone age.

They look like they have just been made.

Thank you for sharing

Tim

**ringmaster** · #7 03-17-2012, 09:05 AM

Ya' really need to build that Schlitz band wagon.

**Vermin_King** · #8 03-17-2012, 12:59 PM

I think Goetz had a bandwagon, also. I wonder how many of the breweries did.

I'm still hoping to see more of this collection.

**Paperwarrior** · #9 03-17-2012, 02:52 PM

David,

Those are wonderful wagon models. ...and what a great subject to model. thank you for sharing these with us.

Jeff

**Sakrison** · #10 03-17-2012, 11:06 PM

Thank you all for your compliments!

Here are some more of my wagons, all 1/48 scale, all scratch-built. The original Cookhouse Wagon #4 has four huge kettles in the front, heated by the steam boiler in the back. I never got around to carving and installing the kettles. I think I just figured out an easy way to do that with paper.

The rest of my wagons need some repair before I show them. This thread just might get me motivated.

It occurs to me, too, that working in paper opens up a whole new set of techniques and possibilities for building these models, using a combination of wood, plastic and paper. As long as I can still get the wheels, the rest is just fancy boxes.

These models have been sitting on a shelf in my office for 20 years. I see them every day but I haven't really looked at them in a long while. I'll have to give that some thought.

--David