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Diesel 10/Behind the Scenes

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This is a behind the scenes subpage for Diesel 10.
 This subpage contains all behind the scenes material relating to said article.

Background Information

In Thomas and the Magic Railroad, Diesel 10 was originally played by Australian actor Keith Scott and the character was intended only as a villain supplementary to Doug Lennox's character, P.T. Boomer. Boomer was cut due to early audience reactions and Diesel 10's role was rewritten to make him the primary villain. In the process, Keith Scott was replaced by Canadian improv comedian Neil Crone. Crone, with fellow improvisation comedian Kevin Frank, had been auditioning for the film to play the trucks. Crone was given the part of Diesel 10 when he was heard performing a gruff voice during auditions. In the final film, Crone and Frank improvised much of their dialogue, including the name "Pinchy" for Diesel 10's claw.

His plan in the original script was also much different. He plotted to get rid of the steam engines by making their lives miserable, one of the sections of the plan included the "Sneezing Powder" sequence (originally quarry dust in the original script and Little Engines Can Do BIG Things). He also planned to destroy all the buffers on the railway so the steam engines would crash and derail, with the diesels taking over and rebuilding the buffers after. The plan to destroy the buffers was further bolstered by his discovery of the buffers that led to the entrance of Mr. Conductor's Magic Railroad, thus stopping him from continuing his plans of diesel domination. This plan was the reason why George was going to be one of his assistants. Also, instead of returning to Sodor to finally destroy Lady once and for all, he was a new engine who Sir Topham Hatt brought to help while he was away but instead caused more havoc on the island.

Following his return in Calling All Engines!, he remained absent for 3 years before having a cameo in The Great Discovery and did not appear until 2 years later, in the post-credits scene of Misty Island Rescue, where he began serving as a special-exclusive villain.

Following Day of the Diesels, Diesel 10 did not appear again until the seventeenth series episode, The Missing Christmas Decorations, which is his only full appearance in a television episode. Aside from "Pinchy's" cameo in a fantasy scene in the twenty-second series episode, What Rebecca Does, Diesel 10 has been absent from the screen since 2013 for unknown reasons.

From his return in 2010 to 2013, Diesel 10 is voiced by Matt Wilkinson (originally Rupert Degas). Matt Wilkinson gives him a gruff British accent, though his initial performance had a considerably more villainous deep tone to it. Wilkinson reprised the role of Diesel 10 seven years later in Thomas & Friends Storytime despite the character's absence and removal from the series.

Behind the Scenes

Gauge 1 model

Diesel 10's model was scratch built from brass and was built with pickup contacts and an eye mechanism with two servos that allow them to move however the crew member with the controls want it. The model was also equipped with a functional claw, controlled by the pre-programmed "motion control".[1]

A lightweight model was also built for the scene where he holds on to a piece of rail of the viaduct before it collapses, this model features a longer pinchy arm and was also non powered.

Concept art showed that it was originally meant to extend after unfolding from inside his roof before it was dropped for engineering concerns. The models also had an alternate extended version of the hydraulic claw arm, which prominently saw use when he gets smacked in the face and hung from the viaduct. For the face smacks, however, the claw was removed from Diesel 10's body, and was smacked into Diesel 10's face by hand. This was hidden by strategic camera angle views. Furthermore, Diesel 10's model was originally meant to feature his name.

Reference Sheets

Thomas and the Magic Railroad
Calling All Engines!

Faces

Eight different facial expressions were sculpted for Diesel 10, although only seven were used on-screen and one of which a cringing face was left unused. Six of them were sculpted for use in Thomas and the Magic Railroad, the remaining two being sculpted for use in Calling All Engines!, both being smiling faces. His happy face was worn by him in The Great Discovery as well. The faces were first sculpted in clay and from that resin casts were made using a silicone mould.

Reference Sheets
Usage and Evolution

Diesel 10's Mountain was carved based on Diesel 10's malicious face.

Present Day

Some of Diesel 10's faces would be displayed at the 'Clearwater Weekend' event at the Midland Railway Centre in 2021, but were only present in the "V.I.P" area.

Some resin casts of Diesel 10's faces are currently owned by Twitter user SeansModels, a resin cast of Diesel 10's crining face is also owned by YourProps user Deutschebahn. A production made malicious face is now owned by the YouTuber, ThomasFan U.K.

Model Changes

Diesel 10 has had modifications throughout the model era. These include:

  • Calling All Engines!:
    • His pupils became bigger.
    • His brake pipe was removed.
    • The wipers on his front windows were removed.
    • His body is incorrectly fitted to his chassis at the front, leaving a gap above his front bufferbeam.

Present Day

After production of the model series wrapped in 2008, most of the models and sets would be put into storage, with some being put on display at Drayton Manor Theme Park. All other models would be logged and referenced from 2010 till early 2011 by HiT Entertainment, from this HiT would decide on which models were to enter storage once again, which would be given to crew members and which to be disposed off. Due to only having one functional gauge 1 scale model made, one of Diesel 10's models would stay under HiT and later Mattel's ownership.

Diesel 10's main model currently resides in Mattel's storage unit in Southampton England however in August 2021, Diesel 10's model and some of his faces, was taken to the 'Clearwater Weekend' event at the Midland Railway Centre but only present in the "V.I.P" area along with BoCo, Caroline, Duck, Lady, City of Truro, one of the Old Tenders, Toad's scrap model, the plastic model of Henry and Gordon, Annie and Clarabel's Gauge 3 models, the Sodor Suspension Bridge, the Lighthouse and the Warehouse. The other model is likely in storage as well although this is unconfirmed.

Reference Sheets

Life-size model

A life-sized version of Diesel 10 was required for a scene where the actors interact with him. Junior was green-screened in the scrapyard and rolling shots (also including P.T. Boomer of the chase scene in the original version), while a facade of Diesel 10's rear cab was done for the ease of editing. For the scene where he picked up Mr. Conductor, only half of the claw's arm was built, as the entire body did not need to be seen.

Close-up model

A close-up model of Diesel 10 was required for scenes where he had to interact with the close-up scale figures in Calling All Engines! The model was not complete and only the claw was built.

CGI model

In 2009, the series introduced Computer-Generated Imagery (CGI) as a replacement for the show's long-standing live-action models. Diesel 10 was recreated from scratch in CGI by Nitrogen Studios. His model was "hand-sculpted" in Maya, a 3D animation and modelling software.

Photographs of Diesel 10's Gauge 1 model were used for reference. According to Greg Tiernan, every detail of the original television series models for each character is carefully reproduced in the CGI model. The models are subjected to many rounds of review before they are submitted to HiT Entertainment for final input and approval.

Diesel 10 has had modifications throughout the CGI series. These include:

  • Misty Island Rescue:
    • The 'teeth' on his claw now interlock.
    • His upper bodywork is level once again, but fitted higher with gaps above both bufferbeams now.
    • His pupils returned to their original size.
    • His livery becomes slightly darker.
  • Series 17:
    • He gained a new horn sound.

Pantone Colours

The following pantone colours were used on Diesel 10's CGI model:

  • ■ PMS 456 (dark yellow)
  • ■ PMS 458 (light yellow)
  • ■ PMS 485 (light red)
  • ■ PMS 7531 (brown)
  • ■ PMS (black)
  • ■ PMS 877 C (silver)

Reference Sheets

Voice Actors

References

  1. ↑ "Dave Axford's interview with Sodor Island Fansite"
  2. ↑ Diesel 10 face reference sheet
  3. ↑ Diesel 10 face reference sheet
  4. ↑ Diesel 10 face reference sheet
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