Stanley/Behind the Scenes

Gauge 1 model
Stanley's model was built as a Hudswell Clarke/Kitson No. 5459 "Austin I" hybrid. It was built to approximately 1/32 scale and designed to run on gauge 1 track. Only 5 facial expressions were sculpted for Stanley. The faces were first sculpted in clay, and from that resin casts were made using a silicone mold. The model body was made from brass. While only one body was made, two complete chassis' were constructed from scratch (CNC). The chasses had two motors, both powered by electricity from the track via the pickups on the metal wheels. The main motor powered the wheels, while the second motor (located at the back) powered an inside piston for the smoke mechanism.

The eye mechanism had two servos, one for up and down movement and one for left and right movement. The up/down servo was attached to the body. The left/right servo had a rod attached to the arm, which connected to a bracket. The eye balls were coupled to the bracket, and locked in by the face-plate, so whenever the servos were powered, the eye balls would move however the crew member desired.

Close-up model
close-up shot of Stanley's whistle and cab was required for scenes in where he had to interact with close-up scale figures.

CGI model
In 2009, the series introduced Computer-Generated Imagery (CGI) as a replacement for the show's long-standing live-action models. The following year, Stanley was recreated from scratch in CGI by Nitrogen Studios. His model was "hand-sculpted" in Maya, a 3D animation and modelling software.[2]

Photographs of Stanley's Gauge 1 model were used for referencing. According to Greg Tiernan, every detail of the original television series models for each character is carefully reproduced in the CGI model. The models are subjected to many rounds of review before they are submitted to HiT Entertainment for final input and approval.[2]

Stanley has had modifications throughout the CGI series. These include:


 * Misty Island Rescue:
 * His face reflects back to his model counterpart.
 * His smokebox became shorter in height.
 * Series 15:
 * He regained his original whistle sound.
 * Series 19:
 * He gains front and rear brake pipes.
 * He received permanent head and tail lamps.
 * He gains a lamp-iron.
 * He received front and rear brake-pipe outlets.
 * Series 22:
 * His smokebox is darker.

Voice Actors

 * Matt Wilkinson (UK; Day of the Diesels onwards, excluding the nineteenth series)
 * Ben Small (US; Day of the Diesels - eighteenth series)
 * David Menkin (UK/US; nineteenth series)
 * Rob Rackstraw (US; twentieth series onwards, excluding Pouty James)
 * John Schwab (US; Pouty James only)
 * Hiroshi Tsuchida (Japan; The Great Discovery onwards, excluding The Great Race)
 * Nozomu Sasaki (Japan; The Great Race only)
 * Benjamin Morik (Germany; Day of the Diesels onwards)
 * Stig Krogstad (Norway; Day of the Diesels only)
 * Christoffer Staib (Norway; fifteenth series only)
 * Adrian Perdjon (Poland; Day of the Diesels - fifteenth series)
 * Piotr Warszawski (Poland; eighteenth series onwards)
 * José Luis Rivera (Latin America; Day of the Diesels onwards)
 * Tony Marot (France and French speaking Canada)
 * Mercedes Espinosa (Spain; Day of the Diesels onwards)
 * Anton Savenkov (Russia; Samson at Your Service onwards)
 * Petteri Hynönen (Finland; Day of the Diesels onwards)
 * Haris Grigoropoulos (Greece)