Interview With Sean Hedges-Quin, Former Thomas And Friends Senior Sculptor

Greetings everyone. Recently, I had the opportunity to interview Sean Hedges-Quin. Sean was the face sculptor for Thomas from its 7th season to season 12. He also worked on V For Vendetta, Skyfall, Clash of the titans and more! Today, He shares his insight on Thomas as well as his other projects -Aaron

1- What made you get the job on Thomas?

I just so happened to be working at Shepperton Studios on a different production (5 Children & IT), when I was approached by Dave Eves, who was the project supervisor on Thomas. He asked me if I was interested in working for him on Season 8 of Thomas & Friends and (or) Jack and the Pack ( Season 1). He had quite a workload and I had been recommended by another sculptor on the series. ( Chrissie Overs)

2- Were you aware of Thomas before you worked on the show?

Everyone is aware of Thomas the Tank Engine in England aren’t they? You certainly were aware that Thomas was filmed at Shepperton as there was a giant painting of him on the stage door!

3- How did you make the heads and figures, from a commission to a finished model?

The heads were quite a complex process. If it was a new character as was quite often the case I was given a script involving that character in addition to a personality synopsis of what this new character was like. I was then given a free reign to design this character from what I had learnt from reading the personality brief and the script. Were they shy? Were they confident? Loud? Brash? etc. This had a bearing on how I perceived their ‘look’. I then did some rough sketches to show to Dave Eves and Steve Asquith (Director) for approval. Some changes/suggestions were usually made and then I sculpted the original face in 3D usually in a standard smiling expression.

If everyone was happy I then proceeded to sculpt all the expressions required for any particular episode, IE Happy, laughing, scared, etc.. Most new characters had around 4 or 5 different expressions to start off with.. Thomas however had over 50 different faces.. Initially they were sculpted out of plastiline (professional plasticine) over the eye mec which was always made first specifically so that I could sculpt onto it and know it was the correct shape/size. When the sculpt was complete it was then molded using silicon rubber and cast out in ‘Fast-Cast’ a type of quick drying resin that can be filled/sanded/drilled etc. I would make this cast mirror smooth and make sure the eye mecs worked before handing it over to Franc Madden or Jessica Lee to paint up. They would paint spray the faces and add freckles/eyebrows/blusher etc.

The figures were simpler in a way depending which scale was needed. The smaller ones were often more difficult to make because they were so small. The large scale however because they were often in close up had to be made/painted to a pristine standard.

4- What was your favorite character (or characters) to sculpt faces or make figures for? Least favorite?

I loved sculpting all of the characters. They were all unique in their own way. I think I personally designed well over 15 new characters(trains) including Molly, Rosie, Neville, Stanley, Madge, etc but if I had to choose a favorite it was probably the double ended train ‘Mighty & Mac’. They were just different but obviously connected. I enjoyed the challenge of creating them.

My least favorite train was probably Sir Handel, he just had a bit of a meh face, a little plain.

As for the human characters I would say the one I loved the most was The Fat Controller in the wizard outfit, ( it was in a Halloween episode) .. I did initially sculpt him in a devil outfit ( which I loved even more) but although it was filmed it was evidently cut from the episode by the USA market because it portrayed Satan and that was considered inappropriate for an American children’s TV show!.

5- I’ve always wondered, were any of the faces or figures based off of real life people?

No not really, although people often said the troublesome truck faces I sculpted looked very much like me!

6- The first season you worked on, If i’m correct, Is Season 7, Which was the last season of what fans call the “classic series” How different was it working on Season 7, compared to season 8–12?

The first faces I actually ever sculpted were of Jack and Alfie of ‘Jack and the pack’ Season 1 …Season 7 of Thomas was being filmed at the same time in the same workshop. My first Thomas & friends face I ever sculpted was that of Percy (season 7).. I personally think the standard of the models/characters/ buildings/sets etc improved as each season went on. Some of the models and certainly some of the human characters were quite primitive compared to those of seasons 8,9 and 10. The production values of the series probably reached a peak on season 10.. And then the CGI started creeping in and ousting the traditional model making….

7- Out of all of the faces you made for Thomas And Friends, how many were used? How many were unused?

I believe they were all used… Every single one of them.

8- One of the characters from Thomas, Molly, had a very different face originally, compared to how it looked like in the show. This original face was used as a basis for most of her toys and merch. Why was her original face changed for the show?

I was not aware that her face had changed until you mentioned it.. I designed and sculpted the original Molly faces and they were the ones used… The change happened when they went CGI. I personally think the new version looks like a young boy rather than a female character.

9- Thomas Has changed a lot over the years. A switch to CGI, more than 1 voice actor and an upcoming reboot, are just a few changes that have happened since 2008. What are your thoughts on Thomas today?

To be honest I do not take much notice of it these days. When I was working on Thomas I had 3 young children who loved Thomas and they thought I was a superhero because I worked with their favorite train!! It was the most magical time working on that series (and films) . The people I worked with were insanely talented, we laughed every day, we are still great friends to this day, We meet up often. The CGI was inevitable, it wasn’t too bad when the faces were CGI and the models remained but when it when full on computerized it looked like all the other ‘ruined’ British children’s TV shows, Fireman Sam, Bob the Builder, Postman Pat ,they all turned into these lifeless plastic looking computer animated shows in the end.

I have to say the cartoon reboot looks shocking. But hayho it’s all about money and at the end of the day the market catchment is preschool kids and what do they mind?

10- You worked on V for Vendetta, what are your thoughts on the impact that film had on those who watched it, 14 year later?

I loved working on that film.. To be honest I didn’t expect it to be such a big hit as it was. I believe in the US it was voted one of the top 100 films ever made !! It’s great it has a cult following and I am very proud to have been a part of it. But then again I am proud of a lot of films I worked on, Harry Potter, Skyfall, Clash of the Titans, 12 Monkeys etc. All great memories.

11- What was your reaction and the model crew on Thomas’ reaction to the news that the show was switching to CGI faces and figures for the 12th season?

We all knew it was coming. Of course we were resigned to the fact that our days together were numbered. But we also realized that we had been extremely fortunate to have had almost 10 years together working on the most amazing British institution. All good things come to an end.

12- On Thomas, How tough was it making new faces for pre existing characters like for instance, Percy, or even Diesel 10?

It was fairly easy to be honest. All the information for the characters is out there already.

13- What is your favorite memory working on Thomas?

Blimey!! There were so many great memories of Thomas. Everyday was a joy. When I brought my kids to Thomas to visit the set was pretty magical, They even controlled the trains for a little part of an episode (priceless). When we all attended the children’s BAFTAs in London was also a memory that will stay with me forever. We were nominated for best TV show but were beaten by Channel 4’s ‘Milkshake’. It didn’t matter though when your table was next to the cast of Harry Potter who won best film !!! Another memory was when Tom Hanks visited the Thomas set ( He was filming ‘The Da Vinci Code in Shepperton at the time). He loves Thomas and spent a good while looking around.

14- I was very fascinated to see that you make statues. What made you want to make them? What’s your favorite one?

I do indeed sculpt figurative bronze statues now for the public domain. I wanted to move on from the film industry in around 2012 as because I was working in the film studios (Shepperton, Pinewood, Leavesten etc) I wasn’t seeing my kids. ( They lived in Suffolk with Mum) , I was living in London during the week and only coming home on weekends, something had to give.

I am now fairly successful at what I do ( I have a two year waiting list) and I love it!. I have a sculpting studio within an old cinema where we also live in the Suffolk countryside.

I love sculpting all of my figures, they are all so individual, unique… If I had to pick a favorite it would be the one of Cpt Mainwaring of Dad’s Army fame that is in situ in a town called Thetford in the UK, Another of my favs is of a Scottish conservationist, TV personality ‘Tom Weir’ that is in Loch Lomond in Scotland. I am at the moment sculpting Joseph Merrick, The Elephant Man so that one might nick the crown!

15- Do you have anything to say to the people that grew up with Thomas?

The pleasure was all mine!

I would like to thank Mr. Quinn for doing this interview. Was very nice and interesting hearing what he had to say. For those interested, check out his website.

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