Donald and Douglas/Behind the Scenes

Audrey's models
 File:TheReverend'smodelofDonald.jpg File:AwdryDonaldModel.jpg File:AwdryDonaldModel2016.jpeg

Gauge 1 Models
Donald and Douglas we're built to approximately 1/32 scale and designed to run on gauge 1 track. A lot of facial expressions were sculpted for Donald and Douglas. The faces were first sculpted in clay, and from that resin casts were made using a silicone mold, some of Thomas' face masks were used as a reference. 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 Models
Only close-up shots of Donald was required for scenes 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. In 2015, Donald and Douglas we're recreated from scratch in CGI by Arc Productions. Their model was "hand-sculpted" in Maya, a 3D animation and modelling software.[2]

Photographs of Donald and Douglas' 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]