Circus time

Thinking about my next project to add to the interest of Tramway Demiel I thought about modelling a travelling circus. Lots of 'googling' hasnt come up with much apart from Antonio Farconi, the father of French circus. Most of the circuses were in permanent buildings eg; Cirque d'olympique, cirque d'hiver, all based in Paris. USA and UK had loads of travelling circuses (which all travelled by train) but i cant find anything for France. Perhaps some of our French members may know something, or have an old book perhaps. ANYTHING. Thanks in anticipation.

Mikey

Silly question i guess, but have you tried our friends at Delcampe?

Silly question Clive? Not at all. I didnt give them a thought! now i've looked there's 205 pictures!! thanks

Mikey

Pinder (which was originally English) travelled a lot in France, plus too Fratellini from Dijon is a well known travelling circus. Last time I saw them they paraded the most awful looking albino python.

Thanks for that Carl. Albino python? Don't think I will model that!
I know some of these things I do have nothing to do with trains but I feel they add character and interest to the line, particularly as its set in 1910. Anyway, a small tent, a couple of elephants, some more horses, a couple of clowns (steady Clive), and perhaps an outdoor motorised trapeze act will be a bit of a challenge!

mikey

I did a search on Delcampe for cirque Pinder and there were about 2 pages of postcards, only a few of which look like they were of that era. But there was a nice clown picture!! Searching for cirque Fratellini also yielded some nice clown face portraits - was almost like looking in a mirror!

I'm not sure of my ground here as its not politically correct these days, but like the dancing bear it existed in 1910. Looking through the postcards I have been fascinated by the 'cirque de curiosites'. The bearded lady, the smallest man, the fattest woman, the conjoined twins, etc. It would be easy to model these (especially using figures from other scales!).

what do you think? Acceptable or taboo?

mikey

Whatever you take in your tea I want some. Don't you ever stop ??

Maybe too much caffeine in my coffee Patrick! I'm retired , got a nice house, swimming pool, bit of land, no mortgage, wife and both daughters living with us (and their families) I do whats necessary around the house and then do my modelling. mind you when you are tucked up in bed i am out working at entertaining English holidaymakers at this time of year, so I;ve got to do something to occupy my mind!!

mikey

Not sure i havent bitten off more than i can chew with this circus idea. For a Schleich horse to run in a circle the ring would have to be at least 40cms wide which would make a tent about a metre diameter plus all the ancillary things. also i had no idea how big the hobby of building model circuses was ( especially in the USA). I dont feel that i could do an accurate enough representation. HOWEVER there were several small travelling shows in 1910 France specialising in clowns or curiosities or acrobats, so maybe it would be better to scale things down a bit!

Mikey

finally decided to model a 'cirque de curiosites'. It will be a diorama with a small open-fronted tent with a stage, and on that stage will be..well wait and see. Lets just say that my figure modelling skills will not have to be all that realistic!!

Mikey