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A number of years ago I had a go at producing some code 3 models, this was at a time when you couldn't make your own waterslide transfers, and any livery was made from sticky back plastic or lettraset. One of the first models I produced was of the 1928 Middlesbrough Police Black Maria, a photo of which was hung on the wall in Middlesbrough HQ at the time. Not bad for a first attempt, for the late 80's anyway.

I continued to dabble for a year or so using the Corgi transits and Escort vans as donor vehicles, using automotive stripes to make Police stripes and black letraset to make Force crests, using enamel paints to detail the badges, lights and registration plates etc... These models were put away and forgotten about for a number of years. Then last year a Cleveland Police Sgt, approached me and asked me if I could produce a model of one of their Honda ST1300 Pan European Police Motorcycles, as a retirement present for another Officer.

Well, I just love a challenge, but having collected 1:18 scale motorcycles for a number of years, I wasn't aware of a Honda Pan European either 1100 or 1300 ever been produced by any model manufacturer, that was my first hurdle. After a persistent search of the internet, I found a company in Hong Kong producing a Diecast 1:18 scale Honda Pan European ST1300 in red, gold or silver, Perfect ! or so I thought, but the company failed to respond to any of my e-mails for information on where I could buy one or more of these models. Anyway persistence prevailed and I found one for sale on eBay, bought it and eventually received the model in the post.

I set about carefully taking the model apart, fortunately it was screwed together, so it was fairly easy and all the metal body parts were painted in enamel white paint, the seat was removed and cut in half, disguarding the rear seat, to be replaced by the radio box and rear light cluster. This was my second hurdle, what do I make these out of, I tried modellers clay, no good, too brittle to file and shape, plastic may have been more suitable but I couldn't find anything thick enough, so I ended up using balsa wood, very versatile for cutting, filing and sanding to shape, and once it was painted with the white enamel, was as hard as nails. Once the 3 coats of enamel was hardened off, 2 weeks made sure it was rock hard, I then put the model back together and painted in the detail of the front indicators, handlebars, foot pegs etc..

Then came my third hurdle, the livery, having never done a model with such detail before and realising I couldn't use sticky back plastic for this one, I again turned to the internet and found a very helpful man in Cheshire who could make the livery up for me on waterslide sheets, working from photographs of the original vehicle. So I set to and photographed the bike from every angle and provided him with these and the dimensions of the model. A number of weeks passed and eventually 3 sets of livery turned up in the post, yes three, i had to take into account mistakes in my cutting out. but they were brilliant. I cut each piece out very delicately and with a pair of tweezers applied them to my freshly painted model. This process took a number of long back aching evenings at the dining table. The model was looking good.

My forth hurdle was to work out how to make the ancillary pieces that made a Police Bike different from the production bike, blue lights and ariel. A visit to my local model shop provided the answer in the form of styrene rods and sheets. I made the Blue lights on the wing mirrors with styrene box section, the back rest on the radio box, Ariel and blue light base plate and registration plate were made from styrene sheet, the rear blue light stem was made from a model railway lamp standard with a 1:43 scale blue light stuck to the top and the ariel was made from modelling wire. 3 Months after being challenged to produce this model I presented him with the model, he was over the moon and well impressed. I have since made another 9 of these for all the Cleveland Police motorcycle section Officers and myself of course.

I have since made about 35 different models of Cleveland Police Vehicles, including traffic cars, Panda / district cars and vans both modern and historic, some of which are one offs some have been made in two and threes, for members of Cleveland Police.

All the models are re-produced from photographs of the original vehicles, so that the registrations and roof signs are all correct. I now make my own waterslide transfers, some times not perfect, but they are getting better.

If you require anymore information please do not hesitate in contacting me, maybe there is a model that you would like, of your own car perhaps ?

Just click on the photo at the top left of this introduction or click on the words 'T.O.T Models' to view the whole collection of models.