hotel circus (wagon plans, pictures, comments)

a new act on the Mighty K circus

2012-01-20T16:10:00.000-06:00

the rings are 6 inch PCV pipe cut at 3/16 inch thing and then used a colored pipe cleaner to decorate the out side of the ring

New decorama the shovel races

2012-01-01T16:32:00.000-06:00

this is in honor of all those who partcapted in the shovel races at the Great Circus Parade

evening of entertainment for all the partcipants

New items are being added to the CR circus site check them out

2011-12-28T16:17:00.000-06:00

http://www.crcircus.com/CRProducts.html

wagpm under gear LA Sketch 36F

2011-12-11T12:19:00.000-06:00

pictures Luckey Allen files wagon undergear 6

2011-12-11T12:17:00.000-06:00

The following pictures are of various undergear most are from the wagons at CWM

they were taken by Warren Drew and come out of his files you might notice they different styles of wagon tounges that were on the wagons also Enjoy

pictures Luckey Allen files wagon undergear 5

2011-12-11T12:10:00.000-06:00

pictures Luckey Allen files wagon undergear 4

2011-12-11T12:03:00.000-06:00

2011-12-11T11:57:00.000-06:00

pictures Luckey Allen files wagon undergear 2

2011-12-11T11:48:00.000-06:00

pictures Wagon Under gear from the Lucky Allen files

2011-12-11T11:41:00.000-06:00

a new supplier

2011-12-10T08:18:00.000-06:00

I found this site with a few new products that any scratch builder might be interested in
5th wheels and table jacks

http://www.crcircus.com/CRProducts.html

Road boxes and tables

2011-12-05T10:25:00.001-06:00

these sketchs for a request I have had about the transportation of my show

I have built three that give me 36 feet of table space that can be used in

four foot increments I can fit 3 of these in full size van or could fit 4 in a 10 ft trailer

The first box was built about 30 years ago and they only repare was putting the stronger

base under it the first one had 2x4 all around now there are 2x6 on each end and the

2x4 on the sides they were built to go thru a standard commercial door so your outside demention

should not exceed that and I allow a 1/2 inch for added clearance

a added note the tables are about 4 ft high so a bit high for little kids but it adds a bit

more security from little hands

I have also hinged the top of the boxes for easier loading and unloading and use a wooden

brace to hold the top open in the load in or load out operations

another wagon under gear sketch

2011-12-05T10:00:00.001-06:00

double tree attachment to wagon

2011-12-05T09:58:00.002-06:00

wagon breaks

2011-12-05T09:55:00.000-06:00

More Info on undergear 2 from the LA sketch files

2011-12-05T09:52:00.000-06:00

Under gear notes from the LA sketch files

2011-12-05T09:46:00.000-06:00

More Info on undergear from the LA sketch files

2011-12-05T09:44:00.000-06:00

Do not touch sign

2011-12-05T09:41:00.000-06:00

these can be printed out full size or post card size

drop wagon information

2011-12-05T09:37:00.000-06:00

wagpm under gear

2011-12-05T09:32:00.002-06:00

New blog site for Circus Model Builders INC

2011-09-21T22:18:00.000-05:00

http://circusmodels.org/

our 5 ring display with the RBBB style seat wagons

2011-09-05T10:06:00.000-05:00

this is a 5 ring display using the Ringling seat wagons

we did a train show in Menomine Wis over the weekend here is a couple of pictures of our displays

folding chairs

2011-06-28T16:23:00.001-05:00

there were three pins that were used to hold it together and to fold one at the front of the seat one at the legs of the chair and one about a 1/4 of the way back from the seat the piece on the side is how they cut all the pieces from one piece of wood and the numbers correspond to the parts

Have fun think it would have to be redrawn to scale but think the pattern is great

What a week end

2011-06-23T16:18:00.000-05:00

the show is over but there will be plenty of memories of the show at Baraboo this past weekend
we had 32 displays   and 13 examples of work of members that have passed on
tours of the libary and the train barn    and plenty of jack potting
and it was decided we will try to do it again next year about the same time
thanks for all those who came and made it a great event

new face book site

2011-05-24T20:40:00.000-05:00

found a new Blog for circus Modeling and a great place to post some of your pictures http://www.facebook.com/pages/Circus-Model-Builders/184660588247098

LA 01 Suppement 14-1

2011-04-16T08:24:00.000-05:00

LA 01 supplements these are notes from the LA collection

2011-04-15T10:42:00.002-05:00

LA 01 Supplement Lewis Diesel

2011-04-15T10:37:00.002-05:00

LA01 supplements Lewis Diesel

2011-04-15T10:35:00.002-05:00

LA 01 pictures

2011-04-15T10:32:00.002-05:00

Louis Diesel INfo 1

2011-04-15T10:30:00.002-05:00

LA 01 Te,mplate for seat wagon box

2011-04-15T10:16:00.000-05:00

I have used card stock to make the boxes in HO and 1/4 inch cutting on the solid lines folding on the dotted lines the tabs on the bottom can be used to close the back end of the wagon or make doors

I also leave another tab on the right side that glues to the tab on the left side

then line the out side with wood channel

LA o1 Seat wagons supplement 7

2011-04-15T10:10:00.002-05:00

LA 01 Supplements 5 &6

2011-04-15T10:07:00.000-05:00

LA 01 Supplement

2011-04-15T09:56:00.000-05:00

La 01 RBBB seat wagon

2011-04-15T09:49:00.000-05:00

LA 87A RBBB cookhouse power #2

2011-03-20T18:30:00.002-05:00

LA #87 RBBB power supply #2

2011-03-20T18:23:00.000-05:00

also check out plan #87A

LA #86 RBBB cookhouse supply #1

2011-03-20T18:20:00.000-05:00

LA #85 RBBB Concessions Wagpm #60

2011-02-23T13:04:00.000-06:00

LA # 84 RBBB "new" Commissary Wagpm #14

2011-02-23T13:00:00.002-06:00

LA 83 RBBB Trunk wagon #55

2011-02-23T12:57:00.000-06:00

donikers 4 of 4

2011-02-08T20:34:00.001-06:00

the first plan is out of the Lucky Allen book the rest were in his notes I guess it depended on who measued the wagon as to the lengh as they do differ a bit so take your choice as the sketches for the inside of the wagons but some information is always better than none in my estimation

Donikers 3 of 4

2011-02-08T20:31:00.002-06:00

Donilers 2 of 4

2011-02-08T20:30:00.002-06:00

LA #1 RBBB donikers 1 of 4

2011-02-08T20:27:00.000-06:00

LA 82 RBBB Cat Dollie # D1

2011-01-27T10:15:00.000-06:00

LA 81 RBBB Power Controll #105

2011-01-27T10:13:00.000-06:00

LA 80 RBBB Range wagon #7

2011-01-27T10:10:00.000-06:00

LA 79 RBBB Range Wagon (Cookhouse) #3

2011-01-12T15:49:00.001-06:00

LA 78 RBBB Stake driver #108

2011-01-12T15:47:00.000-06:00

LA 77 RBBB Trunk wagon #141

2011-01-12T15:45:00.000-06:00

this is one of the converted Radar Surplus wagons

LA #76 RBBB sideshow Banner wagon 120

2011-01-12T15:41:00.000-06:00

LA 75 RBBB Trunk wagon #65

2010-12-28T10:19:00.001-06:00

LA 74 RBBB Wardrobe #64

2010-12-28T10:17:00.001-06:00

LA 73 Clown Tricycle

2010-12-28T10:15:00.000-06:00

LA 72 RBBB Ringstock #11

2010-12-28T10:14:00.001-06:00

LA 71 RBBB stake and chain #38

2010-12-28T10:12:00.001-06:00

LA 70 RBBB Stake and Chain # 37

2010-12-10T14:53:00.001-06:00

LA 69 RBBB Stake and Chain #36

2010-12-10T14:48:00.003-06:00

LA 68 RBBB Dish washer Dining DEpt #5

2010-12-10T14:47:00.001-06:00

LA 67 RBBB Dining Dept Supplie and Office

2010-12-10T14:46:00.001-06:00

LA 66 RBBB Refigeration wagon # 4 Dining Dept

2010-12-10T14:44:00.003-06:00

Just a note to new viewers

2010-11-28T21:45:00.000-06:00

Don't forget to check the bottom of the page for "Older Posts"

LA 65 RBBB Elephant trappings # 12

2010-11-24T09:52:00.001-06:00

LA 64 RBBB Female Wardrobe wagon # 134

2010-11-23T19:42:00.001-06:00

LA 63 RBBB Commisarry and Timekeeper #104

2010-11-23T19:40:00.001-06:00

LA 62 RBBB Male Wardrobe Wagone # 125

2010-11-23T19:38:00.001-06:00

LA 61 RBBB "Silver" Ticket wagon # 124

2010-11-23T19:37:00.001-06:00

LA wagon notes 2

2010-11-07T14:04:00.002-06:00

FOOTBOARDS ON CIRCUS WAGONS

Most of the older shows except RBBB had a single footboard in the cent of the wagon. In this case the brake was usually operated by a hand wheel at the left side of the seat. Nearly all RBBB wagons had center mounted foot brakes with what amounted to two separate but shorted footboards one on each side of the brake rod, resulting in a greater total length.

As with most things “Circus” there is no absolute answer to any Question…. Hardly! I would say tha the dimension of the fooboard from front to back would be about 1’ 4” [;is abpit a 6” up turn on the front end. The width varied considerably and was dependent to sone extent to the spacing of the body stakes on the front end of the wagon. A widgh of 2’ 6” tp 3’ would be about right. The foot rest would be 18” below the seat or wagon roof if there is no seat . The ladder rungs or foot steps should be spaced about 15 “ apart and there should be equally space between the footboard and the wagon bottom . On a wagon 6’ high this would place the bottom one 11” above the wagon bottom and the top one 11” bellow the footboard.

THE LENGTH OF WAGON POLES ( OR TONGUES)

The generally were 12 or 13 ft long although occasionally the might be found to be 14 feet. This length includes about 1 ½ feet of length that fits into the ple seat at the front end of the fifth wheel on the wagon. Thus they will project beyond the whiffle trees only about 10 ½ or 11 ½ feet.

FOLDING TONGUES (RBBB DUAL WHEEL WAGONS)

These tongue instead of fitting into a slot on the front of the fifth wheel as did the old style tongues, attached to the fifth wheel. The were attached to a pinion so that they could fold up lat against the front of the wagon when loaded on the flat cars. In fact they were rarely if ever detached from the wagon. The tongue flaired out to a wide “Y” shape about one foot six inches from where it attached toteh wagon and about two feet wide at the point. RBBB used a similar type on their newest wagons back in the 1950’s

LA wagon notes 1

2010-11-07T14:02:00.002-06:00

Modeling Notes from the “Lucky Allen” Collection

PROCEDURE FOR NUMBERING CIRCUS WAGONS

It is more or less correct that there was no “ rhyme or reason” to the numbering of circus wagons, it is correct in the sense that there was no uniformity of numbering between shows. However, each show had its system and close observation will give you some idea of the significance of the numbers. Most shows numbered their wagons by Departments. Usually all the cages would be numbered in sequence,, quite frequently in the 20’s and 30’s. similarly, the seat wagons, those carrying the jacks, stringers, chairs, bibles, and planks would be numbered in sequence, frequently in the 80’s and 90’s the big top canvas and pole wagons would also be in the same number or tens group, and so it gos. Other groups or departments with two or more wagons for which this system would be used would be the side show, and Midway, dressing top, trunks and wardrobe, performers properties and rigging, baggage stock , dinning dept. Incidentally while not too many wagons were numbered below 10, the dinning dept quite frequently had the lowest numbers and on some showers were numbered in the single digits. “Number 1 Band wagon” did not refer to its number but rather to its position in the parade. It was the first bandwagon in the parade and usually the largest. If it served a double purpose by carrying baggage also, as most did its number would correspond to the department it belonged to as described above. So long as a wagon remained on the same show its number would usually stay the same. However , as wagons moved from show to show as they frequently did their numbers were quite likely to change to fit them into the new show’s system. Since Band and Tab wagons did move form show to show with more frequency then baggage wagons their numbers over the years might vary considerably

CONSTRUCTION OF RBBB WAGON ROOFS

All wagon roofs except for a rare exception are arched. This was done by running beams from side to side on 14” or 15” centers. For a 6’ wide wagon the arch was about 3” above the sides at the center and on a 8’ wide wagon it was about 4” Some shows but not all built them with a underside arch also, All RBBB wagons being so built, these beams were notched at each end and fitted inside and on the top of the sides of the wagon. The bema at the center if not arched underside would be about 5” or 6” deep respectively. The beams were covered with planking running lengthwise of the wagon.

The planking was then covered with heavy canvas and painted with regular water proof deck paint.

LA 60 RBBB "Whie" Ticket wagon # 122

2010-11-06T23:06:00.003-05:00

LA 59 RBBB "Yellow" Ticket Wagon #121

2010-11-06T23:05:00.003-05:00

LA 58 RBBB "Red" Ticket Wagon # 123

2010-11-06T23:03:00.003-05:00

LA 57 RBBB train light plant #130

2010-11-06T23:02:00.003-05:00

interesting note on the number of this wagon it was the time they shot for loading the last wagon on the train the wagon being the train light plant

LA 56 Gilly wagon

2010-11-06T22:58:00.003-05:00

LA 54 Clow ideas for Specs

2010-10-23T15:55:00.003-05:00

LA 53 Clown Fire dept pumper and ladder

2010-10-23T15:54:00.003-05:00

LA 55 RBBB Plank wagon

2010-10-23T15:51:00.002-05:00

LA 52 Clown fire dept truck

2010-10-23T15:49:00.001-05:00

LA 51 RBBB Liberty Band wagon

2010-10-23T15:38:00.001-05:00

RBBB concession stand

2010-09-23T13:03:00.000-05:00

this was built for a friend of ours that worked the concessions on the RBBB gold unit

new act globe of death

2010-09-23T12:59:00.000-05:00

this was built in HO used a tennis ball wraped in seran wrap and then glued screen sections to make the ball

making a top and bottom sphear

LA 50 RBBB Large Panel Truck #244 used for Supplies

2010-09-23T12:54:00.001-05:00

LA 49 Ice Truck (Ford) usd for the big top air conditoning units

2010-09-23T12:53:00.001-05:00

LA 48 RBBB Lion and Gladiator Bandwagon

2010-09-23T12:50:00.001-05:00

LA 47 RBBB Blacksmith Dept Welder & Supplies Truck # 241

2010-09-23T12:49:00.001-05:00

LA 46 RBBB General repair wagon # 9

2010-09-23T12:48:00.003-05:00

LA 45 RBBB Popcorn Wagon #49

2010-09-03T17:18:00.001-05:00

this wagon uas usly parked behind the sideshow front near the menagerie

LA 44 RBBB Lights and Equipment # 114

2010-09-03T17:16:00.001-05:00

LA 43 Big top Generator #112

2010-09-03T17:15:00.001-05:00

LA 42 RBBB Big Top Generator #111

2010-08-01T14:07:00.004-05:00

LA 41 RBBB Big Top Generator #111

2010-08-01T14:06:00.001-05:00

LA 40 RBBB Midway Generator #109

2010-08-01T14:05:00.003-05:00

another new act wheel of death

2010-07-30T19:17:00.001-05:00

new acts

2010-07-30T19:15:00.000-05:00

LA39 RBBB Dining Dept Supply #8

2010-07-12T08:19:00.004-05:00

LA 38 RBBB Band stand #29

2010-07-12T08:17:00.003-05:00

LA 37 RBBB Rino Cage #82

2010-06-04T12:00:00.003-05:00