Pullman Carriage Doris, backdrop

The backdrop at Brighton Modelworld 2015 [image info]

The disassembled mockup in storage, being cleaned. The rather crude oval window graphic was replaced with something rather more realistic [image info]

A flat brown and cream 1:1 scale model of part of the side of a Pullman carriage, normally used as a backdrop for the 5BEL Trust's yearly stand at Brighton Modelworld. Although the painted name on the panels is "RITA", the backdrop is usually displayed with an overlay panel reading "DORIS".

The backdrop is built in sections so that it can be assembled and disassembled for (relatively) easy transportation, and has been used at ModelWorld since 2011.

History

The multi=panel backdrop was originally designed and built for a Brighton Belle exhibition at Brighton Museum and Art Gallery in the 1980s. Once the exhibition was over, the panels were rescued by Ray Marsdon, who bought them rather then see them thrown away. Ray kept them in his garage, until they were acquired by David Redfern, who then generously donated them to Brighton Toy and Model Museum.

The backdrop was then extensively renovated and repaired (and partly rebuilt) in the Museum's workshops. It's normally been displayed with blank windows (apart from a sign and a cut-out Pullman table lamp), but for 2016 we've populated the window spaces with large reproductions of the window-sections from the museum's Brighton Belle mural, designed by Chris Littledale and painted by Terry Smith.

External links

• Doris arrives at Horsted Keynes (southernelectric.org.uk)