Fairground models take a year for Terry to make - and now he's ready to show them off (From Bournemouth Echo)

Fairground models take a year for Terry to make - and now he's ready to show them off

3:00pm Tuesday 5th February 2013 in News By Jim Durkin

IT was a reawakened childhood memory that led to these impressive scratch-built models being created.

Retired Poole engineer Terry O’Neil fashioned every piece of his collection from hand, forming and machining his 1:25 scale models from flat metal and wood.

“When I was a lad these giant lorries and fairground machines made a big impression on me,” said the 65-year-old married granddad. “I just developed this strong urge to imitate them.”

He’s been building and decorating them by hand since 1999, with each complicated piece taking around a year to complete.

But, up until now, only visitors to Mr O’Neil’s Poole home got the chance to sample his handiwork.

The collection includes a Scammell Explorer and a Scammell Constructor lorry, a Showtrac generator lorry, a steam calliope, a mobile cage and a wagon used to transport fairground and circus animals.

Mr O’Neil said: “The Explorer and Constructors started life as artillery tractors for the army, but after the war all the show people bought them up.

“The Explorer has a crane unit on the back that can be hand-operated by a crank. It is all working.

“I have also made a steam calliope, which is a mobile fairground organ with a turntable and figurines. It is functional, it plays music and lights up.”

The detail on his lorries is also impressive, specifically on the engines. They even have working headlights.

Mr O’Neil said: “This friend of mine said I shouldn’t be hiding them away. He suggested I get in touch with the Echo. I wouldn’t be against exhibiting them elsewhere if the right opportunity came up.”