By chance, this is something I have been working on yesterday and thankfully it's starting to work out well. Most of the rides are now functioning and although the wiring will still need tidying and repairs, it's now working for the first time in over a year.
The origins of the fun fair start with George Jennings, who built it during his retirement. Using Meccano and even Lego items, he built a 1:24 funfair over a period of 20 years. Sadly however, George downsized and needed to sell the collection on.
http://www.scotsman.com/news/carnival-o ... n-1-752995
Thankfully, the funfair was purchased as a collection by Georgina Jeyes* and her family, who moved it to Earls Barton in Northamptonshire.
* -Yes, the same Jeyes family who are linked to Jeyes Fluid.
http://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/news/ ... r-1-887985
Jeyes of Earls Barton, a trove including a pharmacy, coffee shop, gift shop, building society and museum, is where the funfair now resides. When installed, the funfair was fully working and functional but sadly items have failed over time and broken. I was even told that there have been issues with groups of teenagers playing with the models, which has broken parts of them.
I was visiting the dolls house shop a few weeks ago, where I overheard some children asking for the funfair to be turned on. Sadly, the exhbit wasn't functional so they couldn't operate it. Thinking afterwards, I asked if they would like me to come and look at fixing the display up for operation. They were more than happy to let me, so I visited yesterday and started work.
Most of the models just needed connecting up, however some will need minor repairs and alterations to get them functional. I've worked out how to repair most of it and then change a few things. One of which is the sound system of the fair, based around a cassette and small speakers which sound life expired when used. Luckily this should be an easy fix as I've just removed some small speakers from my car which should work brilliantly with the exhibit.
I've got a few pictures of the exhibit here, and more detailed pictures will come as I work on getting everything perfect one by one.
George Jennings Funfair - Jeyes of Earl Barton by 2A- Rail, on Flickr
George Jennings Funfair - Jeyes of Earl Barton by 2A- Rail, on Flickr
George Jennings Funfair - Jeyes of Earl Barton by 2A- Rail, on Flickr
George Jennings Funfair - Jeyes of Earl Barton by 2A- Rail, on Flickr
I will be returning in a few weekends time to work on the display, so expect more updates in the near future.
Johnny
The Fun of The Fair - Restoration & Refurbishment of model funfair
Re: The Fun of The Fair - Restoration & Refurbishment of model funfair
I look forward to seeing more of this, thanks for sharing.
Re: The Fun of The Fair - Restoration & Refurbishment of model funfair
Now that would be a fun hobby job!
And that oval track is calling out for a proper fairground train (with something1:32. 1:35 as a compromise scale?)
Or just get a driver in the tender of an OO loco, for the uncompromised RHDR look.
Chris
And that oval track is calling out for a proper fairground train (with something1:32. 1:35 as a compromise scale?)
Or just get a driver in the tender of an OO loco, for the uncompromised RHDR look.
Chris
"It's his madness that keeps him sane."