5/8 scale working replicas
Richard’s working replicas, three in number,
Are sources of wonder at country shows.
Patrons stare at each model on display,
Waiting to see whether each vehicle goes.
Richard proudly starts each five-eighths model,
Then he stands to one side, because he knows
The patrons’ faces will all crease with smiles,
And observes them as their demeanour glows.
Created on the workshop floor, piece by piece,
Beside its full size 1950 counterpart,
The first of his models was the Land Rover.
When you hear the baby Land Rover start
There is no mistaking the Rover sound;
Overhead inlet, side exhaust, at the heart
Of that versatile, go anywhere vehicle,
Authentically built, by one who’s smart!
The second model built was the Sunbeam,
A five-eighths scaled version of the race car
That first took to Southport Sands in 1925.
The V12 engine, is well on a par
With anything built in a backyard man cave!
By any means, Richard may be called a star,
As the Sunbeam Racer was drawn and built
From magazine pages, – clever by far!
The little crawler tractor came to be
After many trips to Lebrina farm
Measuring the Farmer’s full size tractor,
Five-eighths again, for size that had its charm.
The tractor quickly began taking shape,
Piece by piece, each unit, in Richard’s palm.
Electric start on the high compression
Diesel engine saved its creator’s arm.
The results of many hours in the shed,
Not to mention the meticulous work
On the lathe and hours of fabrication,
Part by precious part, no room for guesswork,
As each replica took its final shape,
Despite some worries, he’d done the legwork
To ensure that each would take its place,
A lasting tribute to his handiwork.
Bill Edmunds,
December 2018
Bill Edmunds 