Rocky/Behind the Scenes

Background Information
Rocky was introduced as a new character for the tenth series in 2006 and was created by Sharon Miller. Rocky was introduced as a way to feature more cranes, and has replaced the Breakdown Train since his debut. Following it's return in the form of Judy and Jerome, he appears at a semi-regular rate.

Gauge 1 model
During the production of the tenth series, two models of Rocky were built. One was built with the support blocks intact when shooting scenes where Rocky lifted an engine back onto the rails. This model was also powered to move the wheelhouse, as well as his eye mechanism. The other model was built without support blocks and only powered his eye mechanism.

Rocky's models were based off a Ransomes and Rapier 45-ton steam crane. They were built to approximately 1/32 scale and designed to run on gauge 1 track. The models' bodies were made from brass by model maker, Ray Lovell.

The eye mechanisms had two servos, one for up and down movement and one for left and right movement. The up/down servo was attached to the body. The left/right servo had a rod attached to the arm, which connected to a bracket. The eye balls were coupled to the bracket, and locked in by the face-plate, so whenever the servos were powered, the eye balls would move however the crew member desired.

The models were made out of brass and were powered by a DC motor.

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 in 2009 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 set of gauge 1 scale models made, Rocky's models would stay under HiT and later Mattel's ownership.

One of Rocky's television series models (without support blocks) used to be on display in Canada at Nitrogen Studios and wore his smiling face. It was sent back to the UK in Mattel's storage unit after Nitrogen left the series, it was put on display at the 'History of Thomas & Friends' exhibition at the Midland Railway Centre in May 2019 and wore his smiling, content, happy and sad faces along with his unused angry face. From early 2020 till late 2022, the model used to be on display at Drayton Manor Theme Park and wore his content face. In July of 2022, he is wore his smiling face. The model would be removed and returned to storage when the exhibit would close and a new layout would be constructed elsewhere in the park. T

The other model is currently in Mattel's storage unit in Southampton England. Two duplicate faces for Rocky were previously owned by a private collector, they are now owned by Twitter user Machan of Sodor.

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

Photographs of Rocky's Gauge 1 model were used for referencing. 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.

Rocky has gone through some changes in the television series:
 * Series 12:
 * Rocky's face is flatter and is covered by more of his roof.
 * Hero of the Rails:
 * Rocky's face has been lowered down and decreased slightly in size so the top of his face is not obscured by his roofs shadow.
 * Series 19:
 * In the nineteenth series, Rocky gains a tail lamp.

The following pantone colours are used on Rocky's CGI model:
 * PMS 130
 * PMS 428
 * PMS 431
 * PMS 432
 * PMS 1805
 * PMS 877 C

Voice Actors

 * Matt Wilkinson
 * William Hope
 * Kunihiro Kawamoto
 * Gerhart Hinze
 * Jürgen Uter
 * Anders Sundstedt
 * Christian Greger Strøm
 * Simen Sand
 * Marco Guerrero
 * Jarosław Domin
 * Pedro Bellini
 * Fernando Castro
 * Yehonatan Magon
 * Petteri Hynönen
 * Jarmo Koski
 * Christian Damsgaard
 * Alexander Kotov
 * Denis Bespaliy