Below you can view more photos of Cherry Hill’s incredible scale models. Click on images to enlarge. Photos are courtesy of David Carpenter, Norman Mays, Cherry Hill, and the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.
1931 Wallis & Steevens “Simplicity” Single-Cylinder Road Roller
This model road roller was built at 1/16 scale between 1975-1979. The dimensions are: 9-3/8” x 4” x 6-1/4”, and weighing 6.4 kg. This road roller won the Championship Cup and Bradbury Winter Trophy in 1980. It also won The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award for 1981.
1936 Wallis & Steevens “Advance” Two-Cylinder Road Roller
Another road roller built at 1/16 scale between 1975-1979. The model weighs 11 kg., and its dimensions are: 12-1/2” x 5-1/4” x 7-5/16”. This model won the Championship Cup and Bradbury Winter Trophy in 1980.
1934 Savage Fairground Engines
This scale model consists of a stationary boiler with two steam engines. The Centre engine was for running fairground equipment, while a No. 4 organ engine powered an organ. This model was built at 1/10 scale. Cherry began building this in 1968, but wouldn’t come back to finish it until 1982-1984 (approximately 2,500 hours). It weighs 7.3 kg., and has the following dimensions: 8-3/8” x 5-1/4” x 8-1/2”. The model was awarded a gold medal in 1985.
1881 Rouleau Compresseur à Vapeur Steam Roller
This scale steam roller, modeled after an original made by E. Gellerat & Cie of Paris, was built at 1/16 scale. Cherry worked on this model from 1986-1991, and finished it in 1995 (approximately 6,600 hours). It weighs 16 lbs., and the dimensions are: 14-1/4” x 6-1/8” x 9-3/8”. This model was awarded a gold medal, and the Bradbury Winter Memorial Trophy in 1996. It also won The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award for 1999.
Andrew Barclay’s Traction Engine and Boring Engine (1862-1863)
This model traction engine was also built at 1/16 scale between 1988-1994 (approximately 9,000 hours). Each engine weighs 10 lbs., and the project consists of over 4,000 parts. The dimensions are: 29” x 14” x 13-1/8”. This model was awarded a gold medal, and the Bradbury Winter Memorial Trophy in 1998. It also won The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award for 1999.
1857 Blackburn Agricultural Engine
Another unique 1/16 scale model from Cherry—this one featuring an unusual “engine within a wheel” design. The model was built from 1996-2003, and finished in 2005 (approximately 6,500 hours). It weighs 15.4 kg., and consists of over 5,200 components. This model won a gold medal, and the Bradbury Winter Memorial Trophy in 2005. The engine also won The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award for 2007.
Unpainted 1857 Blackburn Agricultural Engine
The Blackburn agricultural engine is shown here prior to painting for comparison. Cherry’s models are test run and videotaped in action before paint is applied. Disassembly and painting can then add another year or more before the model is finished.
1857 Blackburn Agricultural Engine
Another look at the finished Blackburn engine.
1863 Blackburn Agricultural Engine
Cherry built this second version of a Blackburn engine with improvements from the first. This model was still built at 1/16 scale, and was finished in 2010 after approximately 7,500 hours over the course of 9 years. It weighs 15.4 kg. The miniature was awarded a gold medal, and the Bradbury Winter Memorial Trophy in 2010. It won The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award for 2011.
1862 James Taylor “Steam Elephant” Traction Engine
This scale traction engine was built between 1978-1983 at a scale of 1/16. It weighs 14.5 kg., and has the following dimensions: 13-1/4” x 7-1/8” x 9-3/4”. This model was awarded a gold medal and the Aveling Barford Cup in 1984.
Nathaniel Grew Ice Locomotive
Another unusual subject for Cherry, this was a steam powered locomotive with spiked wheels and ice sled runners. It was designed to move heavy items across frozen lakes near Moscow, Russia. Cherry was still working on this 1/16 scale model at the time of this writing.