Hector/Behind the Scenes

Behind the Scenes

This is a behind the scenes subpage for Hector. This subpage contains all behind the scenes material relating to said article.

Background information

Television Series

Hector is a fictional standard gauge coal hopper created by Simon Spencer.

In 2007, Hector made his debut in the eleventh series episode, Hector the Horrid! He last appeared in the twelfth series episode, James Works it Out.

Hector has not been seen in the series since 2008.

Hector is based on an ICI Hopper Wagon. These wagons were used to haul limestone traffic from the quarries at Tunstead, near Buxton in the Derbyshire Peak District, to the ICI processing works at Northwich, and were an early example of "block trains" in Britain. 152 of these wagons were built in three batches over a 17 year period and they were in service until 1997. Six examples of this type of wagon are preserved, one by the National Railway Museum.

Behind the Scenes

Gauge 1 model

Two models of Hector were scratch-built from resin to run on gauge 1 track. One was used for the main role and the second used for the stunt scenes without the eye mechanism, this was done due to the eye mech being surrounded by a large hollow space in the hopper, it would be easy for the eye mech to fall out or slide back during filming of certain scenes. Both were built to a 1:32 scale.

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.

Hector's model is measured 411 mm in length, 83.21 mm in width and 130.70 in height from calipers.

Primary model

Secondary model

Reference Sheets

Series 11

Faces

Four different facial expressions were sculpted for Hector and used on-screen. The faces were first sculpted in clay and from that resin casts were made using a silicone mould.

Reference Sheets

Usage and Evolution

CGI Face

The twelfth series marked the beginning of the show's transition into 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. Hector's resin faces were only used in background shots.

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 till 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 to be disposed off. Due to only having one functional gauge 1 scale model made, Hector's model with the eye mechanism, would stay under HiT and later Mattel's ownership whereas the second/stunt model would be given away as a gift.

The primary model with the eye mechanism currently resides in Mattel's storage unit in Southampton England.

Hector's second model, alongside his happy face, was formerly owned by Simon Spencer (the writer of his introductory episode). Simon was given the model as a gift when he left the TV series in 2009. During the Thomas The Tank Engine event at the Midlands Art Centre, Simon would bring Hector's model and briefly display him on TomsProps' Lower Tidmouth Layout.

In October 2024, Hector's second model would be sold to the Prop Store by Simon and listed for auction. On the 14th of November 2024, Hector sold for £13,750 to a private buyer.

Present Day Ruler Reference Photos

Voice Actors

Hideyuki Kanaya (Japan)
Christian Stark (Germany; twelfth series only)
Zbigniew Konopka (Poland; twelfth series only)