| The first picture shows a 1/12th scale model of a Table Top Wool Waggon, made by “Radish” of Brisbane Australia. ‘TTWW1’ AND ‘TTWW2’ shows this model in greater detail.
These huge waggons were the biggest horse drawn vehicles that were regularly used on the bush tracks at the turn of the 19/20th century. The sepia picture shows one of these waggons with 123 bales of Merino wool loaded – a weight of around 12 tons, and pulled by a team of 26 bullocks. Sometimes up to 30 horses were used to pull just one wagon and there would be just one driver controlling each team! They would start out from the large sheep ranches on a journey of about 480 miles, one way only. It could take over three months to reach the seaports of Bowen and Rockhampton.
The last picture shows two of these vehicles, one of them having the load of wool adjusted, which was a regular occurrence on the uneven bush tracks.
“Radish” is a master model maker, and he has included every detail on this superb model. The stitching and transfers on each of the bales of wool are made in 1/12th scale, matching exactly the details of the full size bales! |