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Skarloey (T&F)/Behind the Scenes

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This is a behind the scenes subpage for Skarloey (T&F).
 This subpage contains all behind the scenes material relating to said article.

Background Information

Skarloey is a fictional narrow gauge saddle tank locomotive created by the Rev. W. Awdry with help from his brother George Awdry. He is the No. 1 engine on the Skarloey Railway.

Skarloey first appeared in the fourth series episode Granpuff, which first aired in 1994. His last appearance was in the twenty-fourth series episode, Thomas' Animal Friends, which was released in 2021.

Skarloey's portrayal in Thomas & Friends originally stayed faithful to The Railway Series books, being directly adapted from those stories. As the series progressed, however, his character was gradually altered to have a younger personality under the influence of HiT Entertainment. Following the return of the Skarloey Railway engines in the 2012 special Blue Mountain Mystery - after a prolonged absence since the series' switch to full CGI in 2009 - a conscious effort was made to restore Skarloey's classic personality.

Voice

Since his return in 2012, Skarloey has been voiced by Keith Wickham in both the British English and American English dubs of the series. Keith Wickham gives Skarloey a Welsh accent, reflecting his basis' origins.

Behind the Scenes

O gauge model (Small scale)

MainSkarloeyModel1
SkarloeyModelRear1

Skarloey's small model was custom built from brass by model maker, Peter Eves to run on O gauge track to the Gauge 1 Scale Standard during production of the fourth series. It was painted using glossy car body paint and lined with white and gold Letraline pin-striping tape. The number and nameplates were custom printed foil stickers.[1]

Skarloey's wheels were sourced from Slater's Plastikard with the drive wheels being 3'1" Manning Wardle wheels (7837MW) and the trailing wheel being an 8 spoke bogie wheel (7832HR). The secondary crank pin hole on the drive wheels was cut off to avoid collision with the rods during wheel rotation. This modification was done for all narrow gauge steam locomotives except for Sir Handel. These wheels were used on a custom O gauge locomotive chassis fabricated from 0.064in thick brass sheet metal. Most narrow gauge steam locomotive crossheads were sourced from old OO scale Tri-ang models with custom nickel plated brass coupling rods. Skarloey's model had two different crosshead styles on the left vs. the right side of the model. The rods did not fit well at all and the engines ran notoriously bad behind the scenes. The buffers were sourced from Slater's Plastikard as well, with Skarloey using the GWR Collett Parallel (7906) set. Couplers were the etched version of Slater's 3 link wagon couplers (7155). This coupling set has since changed to a more detailed cast hook, but the etched version can still be obtained with a note to Slaters when ordering.

The model had a motor to power it mounted inside the chassis as well as an eye mechanism. There was no room to fit a smoke mechanism or the battery and receiver needed for the R/C eyes. Wires connecting to the battery, servo and receiver were usually hidden off camera or carried in rolling stock behind the engine. The eye mechanism used servos mounted in the cab; the servos were hidden by blacking out the cab doors and windows. Metal rods went from the servos in the cab to a bracket in the smoke box behind the faceplate, one for up and down movement and one for left and right movement. This limited the range of movement of the eyes as well as being cumbersome and jamming often. Although the model did not produce smoke, smoke was released from the set under them. The smoke tended to drift out the funnel to create the illusion as if they did produce smoke for a brief moment.[1]

Nearly all drivers and firemen for the small scale locomotives were cut down the middle and black tacked to the engines' cab because the servos for the eye mechanism would not allow them to stand half in the cabs.[2]

In the fifth series episode Duncan Gets Spooked, the model was reused as Rusty's Ghost Engine. It was only seen when it fell into the swamp below a ravine.

The small scale Skarloey model was predominantly used in the fourth series. It was used in the fifth series for in between shots where it would interact with the gauge 1 scaled characters and sets, such as the Fat Controller, Thomas, Edward and Percy. The small scale model later appeared via stock-footage in the seventh series episode, James and the Queen of Sodor. In the tenth series episode, Thomas and Skarloey's Big Day Out, Skarloey's small scale model was used again for the first time since the fifth series (minus stock-footage). The small scale model was used in the long shots alongside Thomas' gauge 1 model.

Skarloey was modified and refurbished to resemble his large scale model in the tenth series. These changes include:

  • The brass ring around his funnel and his buffers were painted black.
  • His model became significantly weathered.
  • His livery became a dark crimson colour.
  • His cab became opened out instead of blacked-out.
  • A tail lamp was added.

At some point after the tenth series, the whistle on his small-scale model was replaced with a new one more closely resembling the one used on his large scale model.

Reference Sheets

Series 4

Faces

Ten different facial expressions were sculpted for Skarloey's small scale model and used on-screen. The faces were first sculpted in clay and from that resin casts were made using a silicone mould.[1]

Reference Sheets
Usage and Evolution

In the 2004 merchandise referencing promo of Sir Handel, he incorrectly wears Skarloey's laughing face mask. This error was later depicted on Sir Handel's Pocket Fantasy toy.

Present Day

After production of the model series ended in 2008, most of Skarloey's faces (bar his laughing face) were put into storage, with them being listed as "TF01659".

Skarloey's laughing face is now owned by Twitter user ThomasTankMerch. Most of Skarloey's small scale faces are currently still in storage, however they were put on display at the Awdry Extravaganza 2 in July 2022. A prototype face for Skarloey is currently owned by Twitter user SeansModels. It would be exhibited at the first and second Awdry Extravaganza and the History of Thomas Event. Another prototype face for Skarloey was previously owned by Twitter user TomsProps.

Present Day

After production of the model series wrapped in 2008, most of the models and sets would be put into storage, with some being put on display at Drayton Manor Theme Park. All other models would be logged and referenced from 2010 until early 2011 by HiT Entertainment. From this HiT would decide on which models were to enter storage once again, which would be given to crew members and which would be disposed off. Due to the larger models being more frequently used at the time, Skarloey's small scale model would be disposed off by the company in favour of the large scale model, which would stay under HiT and later Mattel's ownership alongside his clean and dented shells.

In August 2020, Skarloey's small scale model, along with his nameboard (which was supplied by Twitter user TomsProps) is now owned and preserved by Twitter and Instagram user ThomasTankMerch.[3]In late 2021, Skarloey's small scale model was put on display at the Edison train show alongside other props from ThomasTankMerch's collection. A spare unused Skarloey nameplate made for the tenth series is also owned by Twitter User Thomas Wooden Railway Models.

O gauge model (Large scale)

MainSkarloeyModel2
SkarloeyModelRear2

For ease of filming and reliability, the fifth series introduced larger-scale versions of the narrow gauge engines and from the sixth-twelfth series, these larger models were used almost exclusively. They were built to a larger scale than the gauge 1 engines and ran on O gauge track. They were close to 16mm scale, but slightly larger.[2]

The model was made from brass. The wheels and chassis were custom machined (CNC). The model was track powered, so pickup contacts were attached to the metal wheels, which ran into the motor to power it. The electricity ran from the track to the wheels/pickup contacts and went into the motor to power him. The model was also fitted with a smoke unit.

During production of the eighth series Skarloey and the other large scale narrow gauge models were all fitted with a new chassis, as the original chassis' became too run down to use. The wheels, pistons and side rods would be reused and a new chassis block and motor would be built, as such a single bolt near the rear wheel on the original chassis would not be present on the new chassis and instead a new bolt would be fitted near the bogie wheel.

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.

A dented saddle tank and cab was built for the tenth series episode, Wharf and Peace, when several logs tumble down a slope, hitting and denting his saddletank.

Two shells of Skarloey were made to this scale: a weathered version and a clean version. The clean version was built for the eleventh series episode Wash Behind Your Buffers by model maker Philip Reeves. The model was only built as a shell; the chassis was recycled from the original model and once filming was complete would be returned to the original.

Most scenes featuring the chassis on Skarloey's weathered model were shot first (alongside shots from The Great Discovery), then the cylinders would be repainted into the same colour as the clean model and shots with the clean model would be filmed. Unlike Rheneas' model, these scenes were not the last to be filmed, as the scene where Duncan meets Skarloey at Sodor Castle in the eleventh series episode, Duncan Does it All was filmed after the original chassis had been paired with the clean shell. As such, Skarloey's cylinders would again be repainted, this time back into a crimson red matching his weathered model and then moderately weathered for this single scene. This is how the cylinders remained in the twelfth series and continue to remain to the present day.

In the fifth series episode, Duncan Gets Spooked, Rusty's Ghost Engine was made using Skarloey's model, painted black. According to Models on TV, an online magazine, the model used was specially modified so that it could only travel a certain distance before a motor swung it off from the bridge. In a following scene, the model was also covered in white powder to represent a ghost.

In the ninth series episode, Tuneful Toots and the twelfth series episode, The Man in the Hills, Skarloey was seen with a lamp. This was powered by a hidden battery pack.

Reference Sheets

Series 8
Series 9

Faces

Thirteen different facial expressions were made for Skarloey's large scale model, although only twelve were on-screen and one of which, an alternate wincing face was left unused. The faces were first sculpted in clay and from that resin casts were made using a silicone mould.[1]

Reference Sheets
Usage and Evolution

Throughout the HiT Entertainment era, Skarloey and Rheneas were often incorrectly seen wearing each other's face-masks. This error was also seen at one point in the seventh series episode, The Old Bridge.

Present Day

Nine of Skarloey's large scale faces were put on display at the Awdry Extravaganza 2 in July 2022. Three more faces (alongside the previous nine faces from the last event) were later put on display at the Awdry Extravaganza 3 in July 2023.

CGI Face

The twelfth series marked the beginning of the show's transition into Computer-Generated Imagery (CGI) and the characters' faces were animated through CGI with the aid of motion capture animation. The physical models' moulded faces were replaced by white targets with triangles to fix a computer-animated face in post-production. Skarloey's resin faces were only used in background shots.[4]

Skarloey's CGI face was mistakenly worn on Rheneas in the twelfth series episode, The Party Surprise.

Model Changes

Skarloey's large scale model underwent many modifications throughout the television series. These include:

  • Series 5:
    • The cab handrails present on his previous model counterpart disappeared on the large scale model and his buffers changed from grey to silver.
    • His whistle became rounded and the sound itself changed pitch.
    • The botton half of his funnel became larger and no longer meshed with the smokebox.
    • His right reverser cover became smaller.
    • His windows became smaller and lowered slightly.
    • His boiler became entirely round instead of arch-shaped.
  • Series 6:
    • His paint was given a matte finish.
    • The brass ring around his funnel was removed and his buffers were painted black.
    • His model was significantly less weathered.
  • Series 9:
    • A tail lamp was added.
    • His whistle sound went back to its original pitch and how it sounded in the fourth series.
    • His livery became a dark crimson colour.
  • Series 12:
    • His pupils became bigger.

Present Day

In July 2022, Skarloey's Large Scale Model, along with some of his faces, were put on display at the Awdry Extravaganza 2 next to a 16mm live steam model of Talyllyn. He was never sent to the Hara Model Railway Museum as the clean model from the eleventh series episode, Wash Behind Your Buffers was allegedly sent there by mistake without the chassis. The clean body is likely at Hara in storage.

Later on at the Awdry Extravaganza 3 in July 2023, the model, alongside its faces and a driver figure, would be displayed. After the event, the model was leased by the Talyllyn Railway from Mattel for display at the Narrow Gauge Railway Museum. The model will likely reside at the museum for a few years before returning back into storage.

A set of spare unused number decals from production of the sixth series for Skarloey's large scale model are also currently owned by Twitter user TomsProps.

Close-up model

FourLittleEngines52

A larger scale model of Skarloey was built in the fourth series. It was required for scenes where he had to interact with the close-up scale figures. It was also used for close-up whistle, funnel and firebox shots and smoke would emit when required.

The cab was made in pieces so it was able to be dismantled and reassembled for use of interior shots. Most of the close-up scale models did not have faces as most of the time the models were not complete, on top of the fact that the faces would often never need to be seen in this scale.

Unlike his O gauge models, Skarloey's front and back cutout windows had glass and brass gold porthole rings.

It appeared in the fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, tenth and twelfth series.

Model Changes

The close-up model underwent a few changes throughout Thomas & Friends. These include:

  • Series 5:
    • Part of Skarloey's cab roof became snapped.
  • Series 6:
    • His cab roof was now repaired.
    • The brass gold porthole rings inside the back of his cab were moved and now face around his front windows.
    • His model was significantly less weathered.
  • Series 9:
    • His livery became a dark crimson colour.
  • Series 12:
    • His cab interior changed from black to dark crimson.

Present Day

After production of the model series ended in 2008, Skarloey's close-up model was put into storage. It was listed as "TF00709".

Skarloey's close-up model is still currently in Mattel's storage unit in Southampton, England. In 2023 the backhead would be put on display at the Awdry Extravaganza 3. The whole model was planned to go according to Sam Wilkinson, however it was in a poor condition so Rusty's was brought along instead.

CGI model

MainSkarloeyCGI
SkarloeyCGIRear

In 2009, the series introduced Computer-Generated Imagery (CGI) as a replacement for the show's long-standing live-action models. Skarloey was recreated from scratch in CGI by Nitrogen Studios in 2010 for production of the 2012 special Blue Mountain Mystery. His model was "hand-sculpted" in Maya, a 3D animation and modelling software.[4]

Photographs of Skarloey's large scale 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.[4]

In addition, Nitrogen Studios went to the Talyllyn Railway and took measurements of Skarloey's basis, Talyllyn, so that his CGI model would resemble Talyllyn as closely as possible.

Model Changes

Skarloey has had modifications throughout the CGI era. These include:

  • Blue Mountain Mystery:
    • His pupils became smaller.
    • He gained a new face.
    • Accurate bufferbeam to his basis.
    • His boiler was painted black instead of red.
    • Handrails across the top of his smokebox and saddle tank like his basis.
    • His cab handrails returned, but now gold instead of red.
    • His cutout windows gained brass frames and contained glass.
    • Sanding gear.
    • Black siderod guards.
    • Extra lining on his cab.
    • Differently designed front sandboxes.
    • Footsteps underneath his cab.
    • He gained a new whistle sound.
    • A number plate on the back of his cab, similar to Talyllyn.
  • Series 22:
    • He gained a headlamp in the same design as Timothy's above his face.
    • He regained the brass ring around his funnel.

Pantone Colours

The following pantone colours were used on Skarloey's CGI model:

  • ■ PMS 200 (dark red)
  • ■ PMS 485 (light red)
  • ■ PMS 873 C (gold)
  • ■ PMS 877 C (silver)

Fonts

The following fonts were used on Skarloey's CGI model:

  • Arial Bold (nameplate; modified "S")
  • URW Transport Medium (number)

Reference Sheets

Voice Actors

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Season 4 narrow gauge explained on ThomasTankMerch's blogspot
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Robert Gauld-Galliers' interview with Sodor Island Fansite
  3. ↑ ThomasTankMerch on Twitter
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Greg Tiernan's interview with Sodor Island Fansite
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