Big River Models
Brand
John Halcrow founded Big River Models in 1994 with a background in drafting and tool making and later styling models for luxury motor cruisers.
He had already enjoyed a lifelong interest in modelling, including ships, aircraft, trains, slot car bodies and of course road vehicles and so looking for a new direction with more challenges, creating hand-built model cars seemed like a good idea.
Subject ID: 82948
MoreJohn Halcrow founded Big River Models in 1994 with a background in drafting and tool making and later styling models for luxury motor cruisers.
He had already enjoyed a lifelong interest in modelling, including ships, aircraft, trains, slot car bodies and of course road vehicles and so looking for a new direction with more challenges, creating hand-built model cars seemed like a good idea.
At the time, Somerville Models’ quality was the benchmark to achieve, but the prominent players were of course Brooklin Models, Crossway Models, Minimarque43 and Western Models in the UK, with accurate models also from Europe & USA.
Big River Models commenced with a range of Australian model utilities (pick up trucks) and later Holden Commodore road cars in 1:43 scale, and in 1:76 scale, double deck buses. These began to find their way overseas and then two interesting developments occurred:
Firstly, the Armstrong Siddeley Car Club approached BRM to produce a model of the Sapphire. These were produced and were immediately sought after world wide.
Secondly, a stand at ModeleX 2002, which had to be transported as airline luggage, proved extremely successful with four prominent UK, and some continental dealers ordering models. This relationship is ongoing.
Along with magazine advertising and editorials and, more recently, production of other makes, success has been assured. Production has not been easy. The data for each model has had to be sourced with photos and drawings produced. The masters for body shell, chassis, wheels etc all had to be hand made. Silicone moulds, and digital drawings for photo-etched window surrounds, had to be prepared and sent to Hong Kong for manufacture.
For a one person operation, this is a huge undertaking and limits the model range. John produces all the patterns himself, together with the moulds, and then undertakes the casting. Photo-etching is outsourced, and the tyres are purchased from Italy. Attempts have been made to acquire assistance from other model makers but only the model train industry in Australia is really able to do this and that is mainly in the castings. As is well known, to find a pattern maker who can produce a convincing body shape which can then be cast is a difficult task.
BRM models are not made in limited numbers. They can be purchased in almost any colour the buyer wishes. They can be customized (racing versions), fitted with white walls, two toned, whatever. John believes that their headlights are possibly the most convincing in the business. New models are added as time permits, some are expensive, some, in resin are less so. These include trucks and semi trailers of late 1930s to early 1950s and will have a good variety of body types.
In Australia Mike Michalak of Cheshire Scale Models sold all the Bristol patterns to Big River Models. (https://www.maronline.org.uk/cheshire-update/)
John Halcrow sadly passed away in 2024.
Subject ID: 82948
Subject ID: 82948
