Hansom

Upon arriving at the station, the citizens of Bydemill still face a bit of a walk into town. Or they can get a ride – for a price.

Over the weekend, I finished this delightful 7mm model of a Hansom Cab.

This started as a white metal kit from S&D Models. It required a fair bit of fettling to make the parts fit well but otherwise went together without any trouble. I am impressed by the delicacy of the detail, such as the support for the driver’s seat.

I finished the kit by adding driver and horse figures (from the Phoenix range, also sold by S&D and painted by me), plus window glazing cut from glass microscope slide covers, reins made from fine copper armature winding wire, and a scratch-built whip. The cab should be fitted with a pair of brass lanterns. I hope to add those at some point.

I connected the cab and horse after painting and finishing and will probably mount both permanently to a removable section of roadway when I install this vignette next to the station.

It’s not very far from station to town – and at eight pence per mile, few can afford it. But our cabbie looks confident he’ll get a fare…