A beautiful discovery

[Ettienne]

Good morning to all.
Kleinmond is a average size sea side town in the Western Cape Province. It also has a small gem of a second hand bookshop, Oupa's [Grandpa in english] Books. For it's size it has quite a substantial military history and war history collection. When trying to find some books on naval and maritime history I found these two gems. And I just had to buy them - of course. Any one has more information on them?

 

[Myhr99]

Happy New Year!!
I don't know anything about "the Model Shipbuilder", but I own a copy of "the Tall Frigates".
I like it a lot, but it's not your usual reference book...it has tons of good information, written in the form of a novel. It makes for an enjoyable read!

 

[BarrySR]

Found this on EBay.

The Model Shipbuilder (J. K. D. Hutchinson - 1949) Hardback with Dust jacket . | eBay

Vintage book Please see pictures for details/condition Hard back with dust jacket The first two pages have been embossed and also includes the addition of two photographs with details of boat built. All pages attached and flat retains full size body plans. A nice clean example. For auction with...

ebay.us

 

[pugwash]

Happy New Year 'E'.

As you say, finding that bookshop is a minor miracle these days.
Many happy times I've had browsing such establishments; the unexpected discovery of unheard of titles and encountering new, interesting topics can be a thrill.

Happy hunting.

 

[Ettienne]

Happy New Year 'E'.

As you say, finding that bookshop is a minor miracle these days.
Many happy times I've had browsing such establishments; the unexpected discovery of unheard of titles and encountering new, interesting topics can be a thrill.

Happy hunting.

And a kind and peaceful 2026 to you too my friend. Yes, it was quite a discovery as books on maritime and naval history in South Africa is relatively scarce. And in a way we are a maritime people ...That is how we arrived here in the first place.

 

[Ettienne]

Found this on EBay.

The Model Shipbuilder (J. K. D. Hutchinson - 1949) Hardback with Dust jacket . | eBay

Vintage book Please see pictures for details/condition Hard back with dust jacket The first two pages have been embossed and also includes the addition of two photographs with details of boat built. All pages attached and flat retains full size body plans. A nice clean example. For auction with...

ebay.us

View attachment 568156

And I got mine in the little bookshop for the princely some of GBP6.00...

 

[Ettienne]

Happy New Year!!
I don't know anything about "the Model Shipbuilder", but I own a copy of "the Tall Frigates".
I like it a lot, but it's not your usual reference book...it has tons of good information, written in the form of a novel. It makes for an enjoyable read!

I am really looking forward to the read. But ... I need to finish Peter Bagshawe's Warriors of the Sky, Springbok Air Heroes in Combat from the series South Africans at War.

 

[pugwash]

Here we go.

I noticed the author of 'The Model Shipbuilder' was 'former keeper of ship models' at the Science Museum, London; so presumably knew his stuff.

Further research reveals he was appointed to lead the survey team at the Sutton Hoo Anglo Saxon ship burial excavation, 1939, which opens an entirely new can of worms/rabbit hole

 

[Ettienne]

Here we go.

I noticed the author of 'The Model Shipbuilder' was 'former keeper of ship models' at the Science Museum, London; so presumably knew his stuff.

Further research reveals he was appointed to lead the survey team at the Sutton Hoo Anglo Saxon ship burial excavation, 1939, which opens an entirely new can of worms/rabbit hole

Well ... again some very interesting information to create beautiful context. Thanks Pug. Oh, the Russians, Chinese, Iranese and UAE ships arrived yesterday in Simons' Town and Cape Town Harbour. Exitement all around (not always for the same reason). I will post some pictures on the site during the weekend.

 

[pugwash]

Well ... again some very interesting information to create beautiful context. Thanks Pug. Oh, the Russians, Chinese, Iranese and UAE ships arrived yesterday in Simons' Town and Cape Town Harbour. Exitement all around (not always for the same reason). I will post some pictures on the site during the weekend.

Are your 'visitors' in warships?

 

[Ettienne]

Are your 'visitors' in warships?

Yes she ships from Iran, Russia, the UAE and China are indeed warships and their supply vessels. South Africa is part of BRICS. A conglomeration of countries (Brasil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) similar to the of the EU and NATO. The Americans and especially Mr Trumpelmann (Trump) do not like that very much. The naval exercise here at the Southern point of Africa is to put some pressure on the United States influence within the SouthEastern Hemisphere. Or at least to show the US that someone is willing to challenge it. Not too long and the Chinese navy will be able to compete with the USN navy as the "strongest" navy in the world. Combine that with the Russian and Indian Fleet the situation in the east and southeast may become quite uncomfortable for US geopolitics. I am quite sure that China will start to put pressure on the US-Taiwan relationship. China has not buried her interest in Taiwan.

I took some screenshots and pictures of the activity around Simons' Town and False Bay. Not too great, but hey here theyy are. I do now that a Chinese Frigate arrived on Friday as well as a Russian Corvette together with supply ship. The vessel, in the blurry picture, is an Iranian Command vessel and Helicopte/Drone platform. What is really needed here to have a significant geoplolitical effect are Russian and Chinese submarines, as well as a Russian Aircraft carrier.