Model maker spends lockdown creating 30ft replica of Bath’s Royal Crescent at model village

Model maker spends 12 weeks painstakingly creating incredible 30ft replica of Bath’s Royal Crescent at Devon model village during lockdown

  • Steve Hanlon has spent his time during lockdown creating the incredible replica 
  • Team of four spent three months creating 30ft model of Bath’s Royal Crescent
  •  It will be on display at the Babbacombe Model Village in Torquay, Devon 
  • Tourist attraction is due to open next week as lockdown restrictions are eased 

A model maker has spent his spare time in lockdown creating an incredible 30ft miniature version of Bath’s Royal Crescent. 

Steve Hanlon built the intricate model at the Babbacombe Model Village in Torquay, Devon, while the site was closed to the public for three months. 

 With most of the staff on furlough, the detailed fibreglass building of the popular tourist spot took a team of four people 12 weeks to construct. 

Model maker Steve Hanlon has spent his time in lockdown creating an impressive replica of Bath’s Royal Crescent

Mr Hanlon built the intricate model at the Babbacombe Model Village in Torquay, Devon

Mr Hanlon built the intricate model at the Babbacombe Model Village in Torquay, Devon

A team of four people came together to help build the incredibly detailed structure

A team of four people came together to help build the incredibly detailed structure 

First they made a silicon mould of the famous row of Georgian terraced houses and hand-painted and colour-washed it to age it. 

They then added more details like street lights and fences which they made by hand. 

There are still some finishing touches to be added over the next couple of weeks.  

Mr Hanlon said: ‘It’s the detail that takes time – all the fencework and railings and all the street lights are made by hand, we have to do rewiring.

The model is 30ft tall and includes lots of intricate details to make it as accurate as possible

The model is 30ft tall and includes lots of intricate details to make it as accurate as possible

There is still some work to be done on the model but Mr Hanlon has been busy painting on the finishing touches

There is still some work to be done on the model but Mr Hanlon has been busy painting on the finishing touches

The team made a silicon mould of the famous row of Georgian terraced houses and hand-painted and colour-washed it to age it

The team made a silicon mould of the famous row of Georgian terraced houses and hand-painted and colour-washed it to age it

‘There’s a lot that goes into making a model, people don’t realise how much we put into it.

‘The trimmings and edges are all made out of resin and added on and it takes quite a long time to paint.

‘We use normal masonry paint that you would use on houses and then colour wash it with dirt and darker paints to get an aged effect.

Everything has been painted by hand by the team and Mr Hanlon says people do not realise how much work goes into making them

Everything has been painted by hand by the team and Mr Hanlon says people do not realise how much work goes into making them 

The model village in Torquay has been open for more than 57 years and has over 400 models

The model village in Torquay has been open for more than 57 years and has over 400 models

‘We’re very much looking forward to reopening and we have put all our social distancing measures in place.

‘We are an independent family-run business so we are desperate for visitors to come back.’

The model village has been open for 57 years and has over 400 models of homes, factories, shops, a railway, Stonehenge, a football stadium and even a fire-breathing dragon.

The 4.5 acre site is due to re-open next week after the Prime Minister announced further easing of lockdown restrictions.