HiT Entertainment/Storage Unit

Storage Unit

In 2008, after the Model Series of Thomas & Friends ended, all of the props, faces, production materials and sets from the Model Series which were not put on display at Drayton Manor Theme Park or Nitrogen Studios, were moved to a storage unit, which was a set of containers in Southampton, England, for the props to be stored. In 2018 some of the assets were moved to a new unit in the West Midlands of England. Some of the assets are currently being loaned out to several locations, including Drayton Manor, The Hara Model Railway Museum and the Talyllyn Railway for their Awdry Extravaganza events.

Inventory

TF00067- Peter Sam's close-up model
TF00107- Narrow Gauge Coaches and Pump Trolley (large scale)
TF00154- Diesel's disgusted face (formerly)
TF00155- Gordon's faces no. 1, 2, 3a 10, 11 and 15
TF00159- James' faces no. 1, 2, 6, 8 and 12
TF00160- Henry's faces no. 1, 3, 4, 7 and 14
TF00161- Henry's faces no. 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15 and 16
TF00172- Toad's faces no, 1, 3, 4, 5 and 6 (formerly)
TF00174- Oliver's faces no. 1, 2, 4, 6 and 7 (formerly)
TF00179- The Horrid Lorries' faces (formerly)
TF00184- Duncan's faces no. 1, 2, 5, 6 and 7 (large scale)
TF00192- Stepney's faces no. 3, 4, 6, 7 and 8 (formerly)
TF00253- Close-up scale Banksman figure (formerly)
TF00607- "Girl on slide" (formerly)
TF00608- "Girl for swing" and one of Sir Topham Hatt's Assistants' heads (formerly)
TF00613- Close-up scale girl on donkey figure (formerly)
TF00643- Spare unfinished Molly bodyshell, Billy's spare chassis and Duncan's small scale model (formerly)
TF00709- Skarloey's close-up model
TF00710- Duncan's close-up model
TF00711- Sir Handel's close-up model
TF00712- Duke's close-up model
TF00743- Fergus' close-up buffers
TF01007- Rheneas Viaduct (large scale)
TF01619- "Bertie no. 1-6"
TF01651- Rusty's faces (small scale)
TF01652- Duke's faces and Smudger's cross face
TF01652A- Duncan's faces (small scale)
TF01653- Peter Sam's Faces (small scale)
TF01655- Sir Handel's faces (small scale)
TF01657- Rheneas' faces (small scale)
TF01659- Skarloey's faces (small scale)
TF01660- The Slate Trucks' faces (small scale) (group 1)
TF01661- The Slate Trucks' faces (small scale) (group 2)

Gallery

Model Reference Photos

From 2010 until early 2011, all the props used in the Television Series would be taken out of storage and logged individually to make asset management easier, however due to some of the models being too large to place beside a backdrop, some photos were taken directly beside the storage unit where the props were housed. These photos additionally contained asset codes to help identify the props better, with each item being marked "TF" (standing for "Thomas Friends") followed by a number, although some like the small scale narrow gauge engine faces did not feature this and were instead marked with the name of the character and SS (standing for small scale) with the asset code being added in the file name when uploaded to HiT Entertainment's database. Following these photos being taken most of these assets would be returned to storage and over the years, some would be thrown away to free up space, or due to old age, including Duke's close-up model.^[4]

Reference Tags And Bags

Some models after being disposed of still feature there original storage reference tags and bags from there time in storage. In 2021 for the Halloween Clearwater Event, Bertie's storage reference bag with the asset number on it was used to transport Thomas' wharf scale faces. The storage reference tags for a few of the close-up models have also been spotted at the Awdry Extravaganza Events.

References

[1] The Sodor Racetrack along with various other buildings in 2015

[2] Thomas's wharf scale model in 2015

[3] The Carousel from Make Someone Happy in 2015

[4] TomsProps on Twitter

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