Peter Insole
Western Thunderer
The other day, while I was still grappling with the engine regulator, (and it has to be said; being rather intense about it and not taking much notice of anything or anyone else) my son (Glenn gp. of this parish) came to visit. This was in a slightly unusual fashion, as he only had a brief amount of time available to speak to his mum, so he remained seated in his car, along with the two children. At some point in their conversation, little Mr. T (aged 4) declared the need of a wee. He was ordered to be quick about it, and was taken out of the car and then brought through our house by his grandma!
The moment he came through the front door, (which leads straight from outside into the parlour - where incidentally I have my drawing board/workbench, he declared: "Grandad?!........" in a sort of combined greeting and questioning tone. As he was being hustled through the room, (a mere twelve feet or so!) he proceeded to try and convey as much information as he possibly could about what he had presumably been recently thinking about!
The vital, but burbled message rapidly faded out of earshot!
Now I am afraid to admit that being somewhat deaf, and surprised at the same time, I was only able to gather that it had something or other to with "the train"?!
Even worse; I still didn't manage to grasp it, when shortly after having done the deed and on his way back, the boy continued with the hasty verbiage! Just as he went out through the front door, he turned, and wagging a finger at me, clearly insisted:
"It must be pretend coal grandad, or you'll get all dirty!"
When they had departed, I sheepishly asked my wife what the lad had been on about?
"I don't know... he was was talking to you, so I wasn't really listening" she said!
Even though the dear lad is of such tender age, he is already showing artistic inclinations - so I decided to send a request message, via his daddy, for a "drawing" to explain the detail points. Not long thereafter, I was presented with this:
Ah hah! A coal wagon - or even more than one - to ride on! Hence the well loaded, but necessarily pretend contents!
Such a wonderful imagination surely deserves practical fulfilment?
I have no idea what he has previously seen and based his thoughts upon, but an extensive search has provided a plausible - and entirely practical candidate:
Here is an example of the slightly later, iron framed version...
(Both the above images are copyright and published elsewhere, but included here for illustrative purposes only)
Although it is not entirely clear whether young Mr. T wanted bogies, or that he has attempted a degree of perspective in his drawing, with the horizontal line depicting an axle between the wheels, but the early festiniog, four and five planked "mineral" wagons, with five timber stanchions per side, would hopefully be ideal?
Even the coal load for a seat might not be such an issue:
During a conversation with my sister, she suggested using some of this incredible fabric. (below) It could be further quilted with random shapes, and stitched over a foam cushion?!
Well worth a try anyway?!
Materials - including two new sets of wheels - have been gathered...
and the ply has been sawn to size! A nice lightweight five mil for the sides and ends, with some sturdier 9 mil for the floors.
I feel it would be wise to build a pair, not just as an extravagant gesture, but with a slight fear that the chap might be tempted to become a bit possessive about "his" wagon - especially at family gatherings..?!
Why do I get the odd feeling that I could be falling into a bottomless pit - if indeed I'm not already in it?
Pete.
The moment he came through the front door, (which leads straight from outside into the parlour - where incidentally I have my drawing board/workbench, he declared: "Grandad?!........" in a sort of combined greeting and questioning tone. As he was being hustled through the room, (a mere twelve feet or so!) he proceeded to try and convey as much information as he possibly could about what he had presumably been recently thinking about!
The vital, but burbled message rapidly faded out of earshot!
Now I am afraid to admit that being somewhat deaf, and surprised at the same time, I was only able to gather that it had something or other to with "the train"?!
Even worse; I still didn't manage to grasp it, when shortly after having done the deed and on his way back, the boy continued with the hasty verbiage! Just as he went out through the front door, he turned, and wagging a finger at me, clearly insisted:
"It must be pretend coal grandad, or you'll get all dirty!"
When they had departed, I sheepishly asked my wife what the lad had been on about?
"I don't know... he was was talking to you, so I wasn't really listening" she said!
Even though the dear lad is of such tender age, he is already showing artistic inclinations - so I decided to send a request message, via his daddy, for a "drawing" to explain the detail points. Not long thereafter, I was presented with this:
Ah hah! A coal wagon - or even more than one - to ride on! Hence the well loaded, but necessarily pretend contents!
Such a wonderful imagination surely deserves practical fulfilment?
I have no idea what he has previously seen and based his thoughts upon, but an extensive search has provided a plausible - and entirely practical candidate:
Here is an example of the slightly later, iron framed version...
(Both the above images are copyright and published elsewhere, but included here for illustrative purposes only)
Although it is not entirely clear whether young Mr. T wanted bogies, or that he has attempted a degree of perspective in his drawing, with the horizontal line depicting an axle between the wheels, but the early festiniog, four and five planked "mineral" wagons, with five timber stanchions per side, would hopefully be ideal?
Even the coal load for a seat might not be such an issue:
During a conversation with my sister, she suggested using some of this incredible fabric. (below) It could be further quilted with random shapes, and stitched over a foam cushion?!
Well worth a try anyway?!
Materials - including two new sets of wheels - have been gathered...
and the ply has been sawn to size! A nice lightweight five mil for the sides and ends, with some sturdier 9 mil for the floors.
I feel it would be wise to build a pair, not just as an extravagant gesture, but with a slight fear that the chap might be tempted to become a bit possessive about "his" wagon - especially at family gatherings..?!
Why do I get the odd feeling that I could be falling into a bottomless pit - if indeed I'm not already in it?
Pete.
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