Wooden Roller wows shed mates

METICULOUS: Model-maker Dougie Hornigold, 82, with his 1907 Rolls Royce Silver Ghost, made out of scrap material.

CARTERTON man Douglas Hornigold almost bit off more than he could chew when he decided to build a model 1907 Rolls Royce Silver Ghost.

The Henley Men's Shed member, an expat Englishman, found a set of plans in a book.

Realisation of the task ahead set in early. "What the bloody 'ell 'ave I took on 'ere?" he recalls asking himself as the size of the job became obvious.

That was three months ago. Last week he took the almost-complete car to the men's shed to show it off and bask in fellow shedders' admiration.

"It made me feel chuffed," the 82-year-old said.

The car is made from scraps of wood he found in his shed, much of it rimu. A bed was dismantled and yielded a lot of useful timber. The spoked, steerable, wheels were a big challenge. Each is from a single piece of wood, including the tyres, the gaps between the spokes being laboriously carved away and the "tyres" painted black. Each of the "wings" (mudguards) are also from one piece of wood.

Dougie reckons the rear suspension, made of wood, not steel, caused the biggest headache. When things didn't work out he scrapped them and started again, three times when it came to the front axles. He's still not happy with the seats, leather being too difficult to handle. He's looking at options, including chamois leather.