Karl AKA Stroget is an active curator at HobbyDB of many of the 1/43 model car brands. He has been adding model cars to the DB since 2014; some of his favorites are Alfa Romeo and obsolete Tekno from Denmark!
Photos by the author.
Some readers will already know through my books that my interest in this hobby of ours is as much about the people who make the models, as the models themselves. And, just occasionally, we all come across a person who stands above the rest in terms of compassion, thoughtfulness, attention to detail and just overall care for everything and everyone.
One such man was Doug McHard, former Marketing Director for Meccano, and founder of Somerville Models. Doug was a keen, lifelong builder of model aircraft, which he enjoyed flying. He was educated at Sheffield College of Arts and Crafts, and became a photographer in the RAF.
His model building and writing skills led him to leave and join Aeromodeller magazine, then Model Aircraft, as Assistant Editor.
He moved to Lines Bros in 1964 to run the monthly Tri-ang Magazine. When in 1965, Lines Bros took over Meccano, the publication was merged with the Meccano Magazine, to which Doug moved.
Within Meccano, he became Marketing Manager and later, Marketing Director for the Dinky Toys range, where his quest for perfection and fascination for production techniques ensured that the quality remained as high as possible in the mid 1970s.
After his departure to join its advertising agency, Brunnings, in Liverpool, in 1978, he and his wife Roly took the plunge and launched Somerville Models.
From their house in Billinghay, Lincolnshire, Somerville model cars were made by Doug, who also made most of the earlier masters and moulds, as well as the castings. Roly looked after the painting side of the models, with a small skilled team of helpers completed final detailing and assembly. The range concentrated on British cars of the 30’s, 40’s, 50’s and 60’s.
Their models have become world renowned for being some of the most detailed and highest quality in the industry, with the company gaining recognition with numerous modelling awards. The company continued as a small scale producer until Doug’s death in August 2002. Such was his standing in the field of radio-controlled model aircraft that he had taken to judging rather than competing and flew his own models after the competitions were over. He was doing just that when he collapsed and died at RAF Honington in Suffolk on 28th August 2002.
Understandably, his wife Roly retired soon afterwards, so production of the Somerville range came to an end. However, this wasn’t the end of the story, thankfully. In December 2002, Graham Ward of Promod, who produces a number of specialist ranges of models under the Promod name as well as being a major distributor of many ranges of volume-produced diecasts, purchased the machinery, moulds and rights to the Somerville name, with a view to reviving production.
In the heyday of white metal model development, at ModeleX 1999, Doug’s Vauxhall Velox L type was chosen as Best Model, an award he was very proud of and, indeed, a just reward for exhibiting at every show since its inception in 1990. A diversion was the work they carried out for both Saab and Volvo, although large scale production for these companies was turned down in order to maintain the cottage industry style that Somerville epitomised.
It is understood that Somerville also made a FAB 1 as well, some I believe were done in real silver for Gerry Anderson.
There are also one or two genuine rarities which have captured my interest, mainly as a result of learning the purpose of the build. The first, and the main subject of this article is the Somerville Bus, which was a straight copy of the Dinky Toys No 290. The exception was that the base is plain, except for a faint 290, Made in England, Somerville in its familiar script, and a paper label describing it is a “Reproduction of the 1946 Dinky Toy bus, for display only”
The bus is a delightful mid green colour, with a cream mid panel that wraps around the whole vehicle. Side panel adverts are for Somerville Models on the nearside, and Turf Quality Cigarettes on the off-side. The destination boards front and back carry the number 104 and read High Street Billinghay Lincoln, a reference to Doug’s home town, with a telephone number – clearly a private hire vehicle!
The registration number is SOM 1, and the company name on the lower sides is just Billinghay.
The bus’s other departure from the Dinky Toy original is that it rides on spun aluminium wheels, fitted with treaded rubber tyres, perhaps a nod to progress within Dinky Toys. These buses, it is believed, were made for the express purpose of a Christmas present to both his staff, business associates and friends, as a thank you for their support. This was probably in 2001, when the company was celebrating its 25 years of production. As to numbers produced, from two very reliable sources the best estimate is likely to be 25 green ones, and probably less of the red one also pictured here, with the same decals, but a grey roof. It also carries a ‘25’ route number on the upper deck nearside.
A small number of these delightfully painted and decalled models came up recently in auction, which also featured other models in Doug’s personal collection. These buses were assumed to be old stock held back to give to future employees.
Buses may have been in Doug’s mind as a possible range, in the early days of Somerville’s life, as Rod Ward advised me that he made a number of prototypes, including a little tram which has been widely publicised. Less well-known was a project to make a 1:76 scale Bedford OB coach. Rod has the partly-completed brass master, which he describes as a beautifully-executed body, together with a baseplate with tube axles. No attempt was made to put it into production, and in Rod’s view a master could not be cast as it stands, but he sees it as a superb piece of craftwork.
Another personal gesture from Doug was a one-off Somerville, given to Rod and Val Ward on the occasion of their Silver Wedding anniversary in 2001. It is a Fordson van in metallic blue and silver, which Doug and Roly gave them as a present for their 25th wedding anniversary in 2001. Doug died only a year later.
Apparently, Doug had also copied a few of the Dinky and Hornby figures as well.
Another rarity, commissioned by RM Toys, and one of the last Somerville models ever made, after Doug’s death, is a Fordson van to commemorate the Battle of Britain.
Aircraft, derived from Dinky models, were also considered by Doug, including a Bristol Blenheim of a different Mark from the original Dinky Toy. These never proceeded as far as production, but a number of test castings were produced.
Thus we build on our knowledge and understanding of one man in the White Metal modelling industry, who saw his work developing the Somerville range as a vehicle to making many friends, and thus wished to celebrate those friendships. His approach to life has given us collectors the satisfaction of a wide range of models, the stories behind them, and information that is still to this day coming to light. Long live model car collecting as a friendly and international fraternity!
Acknowledgements
Rod Ward for his insights on Doug, his story from a friend’s point of view, and images of the Fordson vans.
Charles Barnett for his images of the red bus and wide knowledge of the White Metal field.
Graham Ward of Promod, who has carried the name forward
Further Reading – A History of White Metal Transport Modelling –www.transportmodellingbooks.co.uk
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