Thomas and the Magic Railroad (lost test footage of 3.5" character models for British children's TV series; 1995): Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 04:13, 25 September 2023

Britt Allcroft and David Mitton with the test footage models.

Status: Lost

After the difficulties of working on a small scale were made apparent during Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends' fourth season with the narrow gauge engines and Britt Allcroft's movie based on the franchise, Thomas and the Magic Railroad moving further into production, the film crew made the decision to run a test of filming with models on a larger scale as well as testing special effects with putting live-action footage of a person into the Thomas world. Veteran concept artist Bob Gauld-Galliers played the role of Mr. Conductor from the show Shining Time Station. Models of Thomas and Percy were built by modelmaker David Eves. These two models were 3.5" gauge and built to twice the size of the standard engines used for the filming of the show previously, gauge 1.

Results

The crew was left with footage that had a runtime less than a standard episode. It was ultimately decided that it would be too costly to rebuild an entirely new fleet of engines. The crew returned back to the Gauge 1 models for the fifth season of the show and Thomas and the Magic Railroad.^[1]

Remnants

An image featuring Britt Allcroft and director David Mitton posing with the models and set during the filming of the test footage was uploaded by various crew members.^[2] The two engines have unique faces made to match the gauge 1 versions. The platform of Cronk station can be seen in the background.

An image from the test footage would later surface online, featuring Thomas' unfinished 3.5" gauge model placed alongside his standard gauge 1 model.

Two sets of storyboards made by Bob Gauld-Galliers, as well as planning sheets for the special effects would also surface online. These storyboards depict Thomas travelling through the countryside to the station to meet Percy and drop off Mr. Conductor. The sets of storyboards are nearly identical except for the size of Mr. Conductor, with one portraying him as the size of a normal person compared to his surroundings and the other more like his miniature size as seen in Shining Time Station. These storyboards share similarities to the introduction of Thomas in Thomas and the Magic Railroad.

The 3.5" Thomas was used for shots in music videos starting in 1999, and then repurposed for the sixth season as a designated model for episodes featuring the pack, and later the spin-off Jack and the Sodor Construction Company. The 3.5" Percy would also appear in the spinoff. Both models had many alterations from their initial build, including new faces, lamps, and Percy's model being repainted with matte colors. The models would also appear rarely in the eighth through twelfth season of the show and occasionally further altered from the original design. The 3.5" models are now rotating between locations of various displays throughout Japan.

Like many other faces, a resin cast of the 3.5" Thomas face was sent to one or more toy manufacturers for merchandise. This cast was upscaled and appeared on the Thomas Rollercoaster by Anatex dated 1997. This is the same face as the one that appeared in the image with David Mitton and Britt Allcroft. Because the face can be viewed in more detail, it can be confirmed that the same face did not appear in the sixth season and implies some of the faces were reused during the filming of the sixth season.

Both Cronk station and the signal box would appear in the sixth season and the spinoff. A water tower, signal, and other scenery that appeared with the 3.5" models in the sixth season onwards may have also originated from the test footage.

Gallery

Models

Thomas' 3.5" gauge model under construction
Thomas' 3.5" gauge model on display in Japan
Percy's 3.5" gauge model on display in Japan
Thomas Rollercoaster toy by Anatex which utilizes an upscaled cast of the 3.5" Thomas face

Storyboards

"Test Sequence"

"Little Man"

"Big Man"

References

↑ Chris Lloyd interview that mentions why they went back to the Gauge 1 models. Retrieved 19 Oct '20
↑ Britt Allcroft's Facebook post of the models. Retrieved 19 Oct '20

[1] Chris Lloyd interview that mentions why they went back to the Gauge 1 models. Retrieved 19 Oct '20

[2] Britt Allcroft's Facebook post of the models. Retrieved 19 Oct '20

[1]

[2]

@@ Line 5: / Line 5: @@
 |status=<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span>
 }}
-After the difficulties of working on a small scale were made apparent during ''Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends''' fourth season with the narrow gauge engines and Britt Allcroft's movie based on the franchise, ''Thomas and the Magic Railroad'' moving further into production, '''the film crew made the decision to run a test of filming with models on a larger scale'''. Models of Thomas and Percy were built by David Eves, who had also built Stepney and the narrow gauge engines. These two models were 3.5" gauge, and built to twice the size of the standard engines used for filming of the show previously, gauge 1. It is unclear if this test also utilized green screens to add in Mr. Conductor from ''Shining Time Station''.
+After the difficulties of working on a small scale were made apparent during ''Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends''' fourth season with the narrow gauge engines and Britt Allcroft's movie based on the franchise, ''Thomas and the Magic Railroad'' moving further into production, '''the film crew made the decision to run a test of filming with models on a larger scale''' as well as testing special effects with putting live-action footage of a person into the Thomas world. Veteran concept artist Bob Gauld-Galliers played the role of Mr. Conductor from the show ''Shining Time Station''. Models of Thomas and Percy were built by modelmaker David Eves. These two models were 3.5" gauge and built to twice the size of the standard engines used for the filming of the show previously, gauge 1.
 ==Results==
-The crew was left with footage that had a runtime less than a standard episode. It was ultimately decided that it would be too costly to rebuild an entire new fleet of engines. The crew returned back to the Gauge 1 models for the fifth season of the show and ''Thomas and the Magic Railroad''.<ref>[https://www.sodor-island.com/chris-lloyd Chris Lloyd interview that mentions why they went back to the Gauge 1 models.] Retrieved 19 Oct '20</ref>
+The crew was left with footage that had a runtime less than a standard episode. It was ultimately decided that it would be too costly to rebuild an entirely new fleet of engines. The crew returned back to the Gauge 1 models for the fifth season of the show and ''Thomas and the Magic Railroad''.<ref>[https://sodor-island.com/chris-lloyd Chris Lloyd interview that mentions why they went back to the Gauge 1 models.] Retrieved 19 Oct '20</ref>
 ==Remnants==
-In ''The Night Train'' sing-a-long, shots of the 3.5" Thomas' wheels are used. These shots highlight the different design of Thomas' wheels on this model, with different counterweights and rods to closer match the basis. However this may not be from the test footage as it was not uncommon for previous sing-a-longs to use specially shot footage, especially with this being in Night-time lighting. Alternate angles of this shot appeared in ''Come for the Ride'' and ''Five New Engines in the Shed'' sing-a-longs.
+An image featuring Britt Allcroft and director David Mitton posing with the models and set during the filming of the test footage was uploaded by various crew members.<ref>[https://facebook.com/BrittAllcroft/photos/a.302160476485100/302162689818212/?type=3&theater Britt Allcroft's Facebook post of the models.] Retrieved 19 Oct '20</ref> The two engines have unique faces made to match the gauge 1 versions. The platform of Cronk station can be seen in the background.
-An image featuring Britt Allcroft and director David Mitton posing with the models and set during the filming of the test footage was uploaded by various crew members.<ref>[https://www.facebook.com/BrittAllcroft/photos/a.302160476485100/302162689818212/?type=3&theater Britt Allcroft's Facebook post of the models.] Retrieved 19 Oct '20</ref> The two engines have unique faces made to match the gauge 1 versions. The platform of Cronk station can be seen in the background.
+An image from the test footage would later surface online, featuring Thomas' unfinished 3.5" gauge model placed alongside his standard gauge 1 model.
-The 3.5" Thomas was repurposed for the sixth season as a designated model for episodes featuring the pack, and later the spin off ''Jack and the Sodor Construction Company''. The 3.5" Percy would also appear in the spinoff. Both models had many alterations from their initial build, including new faces, new lamps, and Percy's model being repainted to matte colors. The models would also appear rarely in the eight through twelve season of the show and occasionally further being altered from the original design. The 3.5" models are now rotating between locations of various displays throughout Japan.
+Two sets of storyboards made by Bob Gauld-Galliers, as well as planning sheets for the special effects would also surface online. These storyboards depict Thomas travelling through the countryside to the station to meet Percy and drop off Mr. Conductor. The sets of storyboards are nearly identical except for the size of Mr. Conductor, with one portraying him as the size of a normal person compared to his surroundings and the other more like his miniature size as seen in ''Shining Time Station''. These storyboards share similarities to the introduction of Thomas in ''Thomas and the Magic Railroad''.
-Like many other faces, a resin cast of the 3.5" Thomas face was sent to one or more toy manufactures for merchandise. This cast was upscaled and appeared on the ''Thomas Rollercoaster'' by Anatex dated 1997. This is the same face as the one that appeared in the image with David Mitton and Britt Allcroft. Because the face can be viewed in more detail, it can be confirmed that the same face not appear in the sixth season and implies some of faces were reused during the filming of the sixth season.
+The 3.5" Thomas was used for shots in music videos starting in 1999, and then repurposed for the sixth season as a designated model for episodes featuring the pack, and later the spin-off ''Jack and the Sodor Construction Company''. The 3.5" Percy would also appear in the spinoff. Both models had many alterations from their initial build, including new faces, lamps, and Percy's model being repainted with matte colors. The models would also appear rarely in the eighth through twelfth season of the show and occasionally further altered from the original design. The 3.5" models are now rotating between locations of various displays throughout Japan.
-The Cronk station would appear in the sixth season, and the spinoff. A signal box, water tower, and various signals that appeared with the 3.5" models in the sixth season onwards may have also originated from the test footage.
+Like many other faces, a resin cast of the 3.5" Thomas face was sent to one or more toy manufacturers for merchandise. This cast was upscaled and appeared on the ''Thomas Rollercoaster'' by Anatex dated 1997. This is the same face as the one that appeared in the image with David Mitton and Britt Allcroft. Because the face can be viewed in more detail, it can be confirmed that the same face did not appear in the sixth season and implies some of the faces were reused during the filming of the sixth season.
+Both Cronk station and the signal box would appear in the sixth season and the spinoff. A water tower, signal, and other scenery that appeared with the 3.5" models in the sixth season onwards may have also originated from the test footage.
 ==Gallery==
+===Models===
+<gallery mode=packed heights=175px>
+file:ThomasLargeSmall-1.png|Thomas' 3.5" gauge model under construction
+file:35inchThomasModelShinmisato.jpg|Thomas' 3.5" gauge model on display in Japan
+file:35inchPercyModelShinmisato.jpg|Percy's 3.5" gauge model on display in Japan
+file:ThomasRollerCoasterbyAnatex.jpg|Thomas Rollercoaster toy by Anatex which utilizes an upscaled cast of the 3.5" Thomas face
+</gallery>
+===Storyboards===
+===="Test Sequence"====
+<gallery mode=packed heights=175px>
+File:TATMRTestFootageStoryboard-TestSequence1.jpg
+File:TATMRTestFootageStoryboard-TestSequence2.jpg
+File:TATMRTestFootageStoryboard-TestSequence3.jpg
+File:TATMRTestFootageStoryboard-TestSequence4.jpg
+File:TATMRTestFootageStoryboard-TestSequence5.jpg
+</gallery>
+===="Little Man"====
+<gallery mode=packed heights=175px>
+File:TATMRTestFootageStoryboard-LittleMan1.jpg
+File:TATMRTestFootageStoryboard-LittleMan2.jpg
+File:TATMRTestFootageStoryboard-LittleMan3.jpg
+</gallery>
+===="Big Man"====
 <gallery mode=packed heights=175px>
-file:35inchThomasModelShinmisato.jpg
+File:TATMRTestFootageStoryboard-BigMan1.jpg
-file:35inchPercyModelShinmisato.jpg
+File:TATMRTestFootageStoryboard-BigMan2.jpg
-file:ThomasRollerCoasterbyAnatex.jpg
+File:TATMRTestFootageStoryboard-BigMan3.jpg
+File:TATMRTestFootageStoryboard-BigMan4.jpg
 </gallery>
 ==See Also==
 ===Thomas & Friends===
+*[[Thomas & Friends: All Engines Go (partially found test animation of reboot of British children TV series; 2019)]]
+*[[Thomas & Friends: Day of the Diesels (lost original cut of direct-to-DVD film; existence unconfirmed; 2011)]]
 *[[Thomas & Friends "Jack Jumps In" (found Alec Baldwin narration of British children's TV series episode; 2002)]]
-*[[Thomas & Friends: Day of the Diesels (lost original cut of direct-to-DVD film; existence unconfirmed; 2011)]]
+*[[Thomas & Friends "Series 7" (partially found original music of British children's TV series American dub; mid-2000s)]]
-*[[Thomas & Friends "Series 7" (partially found original music of American dub of British children's TV series; mid 2000s)]]
 *[[Thomas & Friends "Series 12" (partially found Pierce Brosnan narrations of British children's animated series; 2008)]]
 ===Thomas the Tank Engine===
-*[[Thomas the Tank Engine "Season 3" (found Michael Angelis narriation of British children's TV series episodes; 1991)]]
+*[[Thomas the Tank Engine (lost pilot episode of unproduced 2D animated adaptation of "The Railway Series" books; 1976)]]
+*[[Thomas the Tank Engine "Down the Mine" (partially found pitch pilot version of British children's TV series episode; 1983)]]
+*[[Thomas the Tank Engine "The Missing Coach" (partially found footage from cancelled British children's TV series episode; 1986)]]
+*[[Thomas the Tank Engine "Season 3" (found original Michael Angelis narrations of British children's TV series episodes; 1991)]]
 *[[Thomas the Tank Engine "Season 4" (found pre-recorded version of British children's TV series episodes; 1994)]]
-*[[Thomas the Tank Engine "Down the Mine" (partially found unaired pitch pilot version of children's TV series; 1983)]]
+*[[Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends (partially lost deleted scenes of British children's TV series; 1984-2021)]]
-*[[Thomas the Tank Engine "The Missing Coach" (partially found footage from unfinished episode of children's TV series; 1986)]]
+===Other===
+*[[The Adventures of Thomas (partially found production material of cancelled "Thomas the Tank Engine" live-action film; early-mid 2010s)]]
+*[[Barry the Rescue Engine (lost production material of cancelled "The Railway Series" book; 1980s)]]
+*[[Jack and the Sodor Construction Company (partially lost episodes and production material of cancelled spin-off series; 2002)]]
+*[[Storytime with Thomas (partially found Fox Family series; 1999-2000)]]
+*[[The Thomas & Friends Institute of Innovation (partially found informational short film; 2013-2014)]]
 *[[Thomas and the Magic Railroad (found deleted scenes of children's fantasy adventure film; 2000)]]
-*[[Thomas the Tank Engine (lost pilot episode of unproduced 2D animated adaptation on "The Railway Series" books; 1976)]]
+*[[Thomas and the U.K. Trip & Thomas Number 1 (found Japanese "Thomas the Tank Engine" crossover TV special and music video; 1991)]]
-===Other===
 *[[Thomas the Tank Engine (found original illustrated edition of book; 1946)]]
-*[[Thomas and the U.K. Trip & Thomas Number 1 (found Japanese "Thomas the Tank Engine" crossover TV special and music video; 1993)]]
+*[[Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends (found build of cancelled NES port of educational game; 1993)]]
-*[[Jack and the Sodor Construction Company (miscellaneous lost media of spinoff series; existence unconfirmed; 2002)]]
+*[[Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends (lost build of cancelled PlayStation educational game; 1999)]]
+*[[The Three Railway Engines (lost live BBC broadcast adaptation of "The Railway Series" books; 1953)]]
 *[[The Three Railway Engines (found original edition of book; 1945)]]
-*[[Barry the Rescue Engine (lost production material on cancelled "The Railway Series" book; 1980s)]]
-*[[The Sad Story of Henry (lost live BBC broadcast adaptation of "The Railway Series" books; 1953)]]
 ==References==
 {{reflist}}
 [[Category:Lost animation]]
 [[Category:Completely lost media]]