Arthur/Behind the Scenes

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

Background Information

Television Series

Arthur is a fictional tank engine created by Paul Larson and Robert Gauld-Galliers with his name given by Luke Sharp.

In 2003, Arthur made his debut in the seventh series of Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends in the episode, The Spotless Record. He later appeared in the eighth, eleventh and twelfth series and also in the special, The Great Discovery. He was absent for 2 years until he came back in the eleventh series.

Arthur has not appeared in the television series since 2008.

According to an early leak on the names of the seventh series characters, which has not been found yet, Arthur was originally going to be called Clarence. It was then changed to Arthur when a TV magazine ran a competition to give him an official name and that was the one chosen. Arthur was named after the late grandfather of competition winner, Luke Sharp. TV Times had advertised it since November 2003 which also announced the seventh series airing every Monday and Friday from 5th January to 25th February 2004.

Seventh series concept art referring to the character as "Clarence"

Arthur is based on an LMS Ivatt Class 2MT tank engine developed for the London, Midland and Scottish Railway (hence the initials on his tanks). Unlike his basis, Arthur lacks a top-feed cover.

According to Robert Gauld-Galliers' original artwork, he was originally going to have the number "41241" painted in yellow on his coal bunker and a top feed like his original basis. The number 41241 comes from a preserved 2MT on the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway and at one point, 41241 was painted in a maroon livery like Arthur. Three others are also preserved.

Behind the Scenes

Gauge 1 Model

Arthur's model was scratch-built to run on gauge 1 track. The model was built from brass. It was painted in a matte finish and lined gold automotive pinstripe tape. The letters on his tanks were custom cut vinyl stickers.

Concept art

Arthur's model

Reference Sheets

Series 8

Faces

Eleven different facial expressions were sculpted for Arthur, although only nine were used on-screen, whilst his angry face was only used off-screen and sleeping/snoring face was left unused. The faces were first sculpted in clay and from that resin casts were made using a silicone mould.

Reference Sheets

Series 12 - 2008 (Page one)

Series 12 - 2008 (Page two) (Note: Arthur's unused sleeping/snoring face between his wincing and shocked face)

Usage and Evolution

Arthur's content face that first appeared in both the seventh and eighth series... (2003-2004)

...along with the ninth series interactive DVD segment, Arthur's Tricky Travels... (2005)

...before it last appeared in the tenth series Learning Segment, Help from Your Friends (2006)

Arthur's smiling face that appeared between the seventh and eleventh series, excluding the ninth and tenth series, Jack and the Sodor Construction Company and Calling All Engines! (2003-2004, 2007)

Arthur's happy face that appeared between the seventh and twelfth series, excluding the ninth and tenth series, Jack and the Sodor Construction Company and Calling All Engines!... (2003-2004, 2007-2008)

...but did appear in the ninth series Interactive Segment, Arthur's Tricky Travels (2005)

Arthur's worried face that only appeared in the seventh series episodes, The Spotless Record and Something Fishy (2003)

Arthur's sad face that first appeared in the seventh series... (2003)

...along with the Interactive Segment, Arthur's Tricky Travels... (2005)

...before it last appeared in the eleventh series episode, Thomas and the Runaway Car (2007)

Arthur's cross face that only appeared in the seventh series episode, The Spotless Record (2003)

Arthur's angry face that only appeared off-screen in the seventh episode, The Spotless Record (2003)

Arthur's shocked face that only appeared in the seventh series episode, The Spotless Record and the ninth series Interactive Segment, Arthur's Tricky Travels (2003, 2005)

Arthur's wincing face that first appeared off-screen in the seventh series episode, The Spotless Record... (2003)

...along with the ninth series Interactive Segment, Arthur's Tricky Travels... (2005)

...before it last appeared in the eleventh series episode, Thomas and the Runaway Car (2007)

Arthur's concerned face that only appeared in the ninth series Interactive Segment, Arthur's Tricky Travels (2003, 2005)

Present Day

Arthur's worried and cross faces would be put on display at the first Clearwater Event in 2021 as well as the Halloween Clearwater Event the same year, Arthur's smiling and angry faces would also be sold by The Prop Gallery in 2022, the smiling face is now owned by Twitter and Youtube user SmurfyDan, the angry face is also now owned by Twitter user MachanOfSodor. A resin scan of Arthur's sad face was also formerly owned by Twitter user IssacM6991.

Arthur's smiling face before it was sold on The Prop Gallery

The face with it's storage bag as prior to being sold

Arthur's smiling face with it's storage bag as owned by Twitter and Youtube user Smurfydan

Arthur's angry face before it was sold by The Prop Gallery

Arthur's angry face as owned by Twitter user Machan of Sodor

The storage bag the face came in as owned by Twitter user Machan of Sodor

Arthur's worried and cross faces on display in 2021

A resin scan of Arthur's sad face as formerly owned by Twitter user IssacM6991

Present Day Ruler Reference Photos

Ruler reference of Arthur's smiling face (courtesy of Twitter and Youtube user SmurfyDan)

Model Changes

Arthur has had modifications throughout the television series. These include:

• Series 9:
  • His whistle sound changed to be shared the same one as Edward's.

Pantone colours

The following Pantone colours are used on Arthur's Gauge 1 model:

• PMS 130 C (yellow)
• PMS 186 C (red)
• PMS 188 C (maroon)

Fonts

The following fonts were used on Arthur's Gauge 1 model:

• Georgia Bold ("LMS" lettering)

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 model made in gauge 1 scale, Arthur's model would stay under HiT and later Mattel's ownership.

In August 2021, Arthur's model was put on display at the 'Clearwater Weekend' event at the Midland Railway Centre with his content face. His worried and cross faces were also on display, along with a motion tracking faceplate. In October of 2021, his nameboard from the song Five New Engines in the Shed was added to go alongside it.

Arthur's model on display in 2021

Arthur's worried, cross, and motion tracking faces

Arthur with his nameboard

A spare unused decal sheet for Arthur's "LMS" lettering is also currently owned by Twitter user TomsProps.

Close-up Model

Several close-up shots of Arthur's cab was required for scenes in the seventh series, where he had to interact with close-up scale figures. Most of the engine was built, excluding the wheels, front running board, buffer beams and a visible face. However, only the cab was featured on-screen.

Reference Sheets

Eighth series ruler reference of Arthur's close-up model

Present Day

Arthur's close-up model is currently in Mattel's storage unit in Southampton England.

Voice Actors

• Yasuhiro Takato (Japan; seventh and eighth series)
• Shinichirō Miki (Japan; eleventh series only)