Model Trailways 1895 Horse-Drawn Hearse Wagon - 1/12 - by Kevin - Completed July 2021

[Kevin 2,420]

good morning everyone

 

and now for something different

 

BRIEF HISTORY 

 

Originally, the wooden or metal framework over the coffin was called a hearse. It was decorated with numerous spikes to hold burning candles. Sometime in the 17th century, people started using the word to refer to not only the construction above the coffin, but to the vehicle that carried the casket to the grave. Early hearses were hand-drawn. As time went on, families started to choose rural cemeteries instead of traditional church grounds. Caskets had to be transported greater distances. People wanted to go out in style and ordered elaborately decorated coffins in exotic woods. The hearses became fancier and heavier. They needed horsepower, not manpower. The first American horse-drawn hearses date back to the mid nineteenth century. A typical horse-drawn hearse of that period cost about $1,500.

 

KIT FEATURES 

Historically accurate, highly detailed model 

Laser cut basswood parts 

Basswood wheel rims & spokes 

Cast Britannia metal axles & shafts 

Machine turned aluminium wheel hubs 

Photo-etched brass ornamentation 

5 sheets of detailed plans 

48-page illustrated instruction manual Instructions & prototype model by Ken Foran 

MODEL SPECIFICATIONS 

 Length: 13” Height: 8” Width: 5” Scale: 1:12

Edited July 29 by Kevin

[Grunhertz 12,927]

Don't hit a dead end with this one! 

 

 

I'll get me coat 

[Paul Brown 4,481]

3 hours ago, Grunhertz said:

Don't hit a dead end with this one! 

[Walrus 7,384]

4 hours ago, Grunhertz said:

I'll get me coat 

In this weather?  Leave it and come back for it later when no one's looking 😛 

 

Quote

As time went on, families started to choose rural cemeteries instead of traditional church grounds. Caskets had to be transported greater distances.

That may well have been due to the lack of space in churchyards as they filled up, rather than preference.

There used to be a hearse house  between my previous house and the bottom of the Penistone churchyard.  Sadly it burnt down and someone stole the Yorkshire stone flags which was all that remained.  
To access the back door one went through a big archway which gave access for the horses to the stables.
Across the road was where the undertakers was, with word working sheds which are in part still in use with the main shed having been converted into office space. 

You could see grooves worn in the flags (pre-knickage) by the coach wheels that corresponded to tracks in the flags between the unusual twin chapel down in the cemetery about a mile away  
Sadly the council pulled down the chapel as it was deemed unsafe.  

Interesting subject Kevin.  Looking forward to watching it develop.
 

[Kevin 2,420]

good evening everyone

some of you may have seen a recent post wrt to a 1/12 Tudor mansion that the wife found thinking i had thrown it out 10+ years ago

to cut a story short a couple of hours discussions about what to do with it then perused

thoughts of putting in a display case then turned into a diorama idea, which in turn made me look for a royal mail British horse drawn carriage, which i have ordered, however i saw this and it arrived first

this is the box contents, looks quite good value for the money, off Amazon, actually it was 1/2 the price of Cornwall Model Boats and fleabay

 

 

Britannia white metal, will need cleaning up a bit 

 

 

 

 

5 sheets of plans all 1/1 at 1/12 scale

 

[Kevin 2,420]

the floor has push out in which rollers are put in at a later date

all the side panels are laminated by gluing one panel over another, the outer side is rebated to take the windows

 

4 sides and 2 end panel door/windows

 

these inners bars will support the after wheels

me faithful boi, struggling with the warm temperatures

making up the driver position

first full coat of primer, everything will now be sanded, filler if any, then reprimed

[Walrus 7,384]

I wouldn't normally say this, not with the Covid-19 pandemic and all, but I hope you have a really good coffin fit, Kevin! 



Bloomin' eck Kevin, you haven't spared the funeral horses! 
Cracking on really well! 

Edited July 20 by Walrus

[Grunhertz 12,927]

Great and quick work Kevin 

[Kevin 2,420]

8 hours ago, Walrus said:

I wouldn't normally say this, not with the Covid-19 pandemic and all, but I hope you have a really good coffin fit, Kevin! 



Bloomin' eck Kevin, you haven't spared the funeral horses! 
Cracking on really well! 

i just dying to make it

[Kevin 2,420]

1 hour ago, Grunhertz said:

Great and quick work Kevin 

it is actually very well produced. and should look ok when finished,

[skwonk 5,550]

Now this I have to see. 

[Mad Steve 10,324]

Woohoo... Welcome to the Dark Side Kevin

Ahem...

Drop Dead Gorgeous...

Hope the dust when you cleaned up didn't leave you coffin too much...

Think I might pop off now and have a Hearsey Bar... 

Yeah I know, Go away  

 

[Gorby 8,666]

16 minutes ago, Mad Steve said:

Hope the dust when you cleaned up didn't leave you coffin too much.

Oh dear. 

Oh dear oh dear oh dear. 

You might have to rest your brain after that one. 

 

 

 

(Damnit why didn't I think of it first. ) 

[Kevin 2,420]

My dad died when we couldn't remember his blood type. As he died, he kept insisting for us to "be positive," but it's hard without him

[Mad Steve 10,324]

25 minutes ago, Kevin said:

My dad died when we couldn't remember his blood type. As he died, he kept insisting for us to "be positive," but it's hard without him

[Kevin 2,420]

good evening everyone

 

warm here in the UK at present, and we aint used to it, so not much done to the build, the carriage has had a top coat, i will fine sand again and do again

 

the wheels are made up but nothing is glued, so i will strip them down again and do a much better clean up job on them, they can then be filed to shape to get realistic looking spokes

 

 

[Mad Steve 10,324]

Very nice indeed Kevin 

The black finish already looks quite smooth 

[Kevin 2,420]

25 minutes ago, Mad Steve said:

Very nice indeed Kevin 

The black finish already looks quite smooth 

yes and the grove under the windows id the glass rebate

[Grunhertz 12,927]

Dead good that Kevin  

[Kevin 2,420]

good evening everyone

 

build continues

interior

the rollers are 19mm long and wooden dowel is provided for that purpose, but i had some right dia plastic tubing, easier to cut, primed and sprayed with Ford antique gold rattle can paint

 

 

the coffin rails are white metal stations with brass tubing slotted in-between, also in the kit

rear wheel suspension was also made up, nothing of the metal bits has taken long to clean up

 

[Grunhertz 12,927]

Great stuff 

[Mad Steve 10,324]

Nice kevin, very nice 😬

[Kevin 2,420]

thanks everyone

 

[Sprocket 2,673]

amazing progress Kevin, you have exactly the same spring clips they show being used in the plans for my Hook and ladder wagon, your wheels look nice and even, that's the part that really needs total concentration, but you seem to have cracked it right off. Are you spray painting the black finish, it looks great as you have left the wood grain still showing through. you could always use the airfix skeleton in the Coffin,😏 Great work, fascinating to watch.

Dave

[Kevin 2,420]

5 hours ago, Sprocket said:

amazing progress Kevin, you have exactly the same spring clips they show being used in the plans for my Hook and ladder wagon, your wheels look nice and even, that's the part that really needs total concentration, but you seem to have cracked it right off. Are you spray painting the black finish, it looks great as you have left the wood grain still showing through. you could always use the airfix skeleton in the Coffin,😏 Great work, fascinating to watch.

Dave

Thank you 

Intentions are to redo the wheels as the are to chunky i will attempt to make them like yours then they will also go to black

i was surprised just how much was put into the suspension the front end is still being worked on never gave it a thought as to how they were sprung