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County of Roxburgh -
Some of my model ships
- Thread starter shipbuilder
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Marjory Glen -
Wonderfull work and I admire the water you create around your models, very realistic which is difficult to create.
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Hi Bob Excellent draughting - alas my drawing skills are very limited, only did pencil sketches of plants and a few dissected animals in my student days. I was impressed by your resin (?) seascapes under many of your models, a great touch. Enjoy and keep drawing
Cheers
Tim
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Thanks. The seas are not resin. The earlier ones were plasticine (modelling clay) The later ones were polystyrene foam shaped with a gas torch with the air intake turned off so the flame was more like a candle flame. It was then covered by crepe paper glued on with white wood glue, and pressed into the hollows - my wife painted the seas using Humbrol gloss enamels.
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Anybody who would run your work down and indulge in character assassination undoubtedly has a personal penile adequacy problem that they felt the need to compensate for. A process they call" transference". Anyway, the problem is in themselves, not in your stars! 
For what it's worth your work is brilliant!
Pete
For what it's worth your work is brilliant!
Pete
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PM Sent - BobAnybody who would run your work down and indulge in character assassination undoubtedly has a personal penile adequacy problem that they felt the need to compensate for. A process they call" transference". Anyway, the problem is in themselves, not in your stars!
For what it's worth your work is brilliant!
Pete
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Gle Helen - British coaster - 
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Gorgeous! Please keep posting pictures of your wonderful models. They are most exemplary and inspiring as to how very much can be accomplished with relatively meager supplies, tools and resources!
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Thank you. The reason I started miniatures was that they were more convenient when I was at sea, and the tools and materials were very few and inexpensive - I nearly always stuck to obscure or semi-obscure merchant ships. Not as complicated as warships, and plenty plans around. Here tramp steamer Framlington Court -
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Bob, I bet that you’re the guy to answer this. I’m building a model of a Great Lakes freighter designed to haul pulp wood. So, unlike most Great Lakes vessels, she has cargo gear, similar to Framington Court. Some of the lines lead to the winch, and some to belaying pins on the mast. The vangs lead through the bulwarks, but what do they belay to? Cleats? Belaying Pins? Bollards?
Roger
Roger
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Hi Roger,
Afraid I have no idea. My models are so small that I do not have to bother about a lot of things. I am not a perfectionist, but no-one has ever complained about my steamship rigging. I know what vangs are on a sailing ship, but not on a steamer. Probably the Lakers have a law unto themselves on rigging.
Bob
Afraid I have no idea. My models are so small that I do not have to bother about a lot of things. I am not a perfectionist, but no-one has ever complained about my steamship rigging. I know what vangs are on a sailing ship, but not on a steamer. Probably the Lakers have a law unto themselves on rigging.
Bob
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Monday,24th February, 2025
Yesterday, I was hoping to nail the lid on my ship modelling activities. My last two models were to be collected in the morning. But at 1030, an e-mail arrived to say not coming, and would let us know when. A very reliable long-standing customer, so no reason to think the sale will not go through, but I was so looking forward to finishing it all off.
There really isn't much interest amongst model builders when it comes to merchant ships, but the demand for them by ship model collectors is overwhelming!
This one was my first sailing ship that went for over £1,000 at auction in London. That surprised me, because I did not feel that it was anything special!
Yesterday, I was hoping to nail the lid on my ship modelling activities. My last two models were to be collected in the morning. But at 1030, an e-mail arrived to say not coming, and would let us know when. A very reliable long-standing customer, so no reason to think the sale will not go through, but I was so looking forward to finishing it all off.
There really isn't much interest amongst model builders when it comes to merchant ships, but the demand for them by ship model collectors is overwhelming!
This one was my first sailing ship that went for over £1,000 at auction in London. That surprised me, because I did not feel that it was anything special!
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I’m glad that your work is in demand, but sad that you’re nailing the lid on your ship modeling activities. I’m glad that you find your drawings satisfying.
IMHO the sailing warship interest has been increased by publicly from the entertainment industry; Pirates of the Caribbean, Master and Commander, etc. I personally like the merchant vessels from the 100 years- 1850-1950. Although Great Britain ruled the waves, her economy was sustained by her merchant marine.
Likewise, here in the USA, the economic development that occurred during this same period was fueled by Great Lakes shipping that hauled three key industrial ingredients: Iron Ore, Limestone, and Coal. A fact ignored by Americans that don’t live near the lakes.
BTW, have you ever modeled a Turret Ship (175 or so of these were build by Doxford in the late 1890’s - early 1900’s) and were popular with companies in trades passing through the Suez Canal due to favorable tonnage treatment. The turret ship was inspired by the Great Lakes Whaleback Ship built by The American Steel Barge Company in Superior, Wisconsin very near where I live. I recently wrote a book on the subject.
Roger
IMHO the sailing warship interest has been increased by publicly from the entertainment industry; Pirates of the Caribbean, Master and Commander, etc. I personally like the merchant vessels from the 100 years- 1850-1950. Although Great Britain ruled the waves, her economy was sustained by her merchant marine.
Likewise, here in the USA, the economic development that occurred during this same period was fueled by Great Lakes shipping that hauled three key industrial ingredients: Iron Ore, Limestone, and Coal. A fact ignored by Americans that don’t live near the lakes.
BTW, have you ever modeled a Turret Ship (175 or so of these were build by Doxford in the late 1890’s - early 1900’s) and were popular with companies in trades passing through the Suez Canal due to favorable tonnage treatment. The turret ship was inspired by the Great Lakes Whaleback Ship built by The American Steel Barge Company in Superior, Wisconsin very near where I live. I recently wrote a book on the subject.
Roger
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You could say it is old age more than anything else - I just don't have the energy any more, and it was getting harder and harder to get models delivered without damage, with insurance wriggling out of it with "inadequate packing!" excuses.
I used to take a different model every month to the local model ship society, and you could almost see their eyes glaze over when they were placed on the table. In recent years, there were not many ship models there anyway. And since they dropped the word "shipwrights" from the title of the society, I have not been to the meetings.
Wr have kept five of the best models for ourselves, but visitors rarely seem to even notice them, apart from collectors.
I designed this one myself, and named it after my wife - This is one we are keepomg
I used to take a different model every month to the local model ship society, and you could almost see their eyes glaze over when they were placed on the table. In recent years, there were not many ship models there anyway. And since they dropped the word "shipwrights" from the title of the society, I have not been to the meetings.
Wr have kept five of the best models for ourselves, but visitors rarely seem to even notice them, apart from collectors.
I designed this one myself, and named it after my wife - This is one we are keepomg
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I think any modeller will appreciate the true value of the models. £1000 is not that much when you consider the research, time, skill and effort that needs to go into making a good model. Hell, that would only just about cover 1hr of a barristers fees!
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Yes, but a lot to me, and I always felt guilty of asking too much for them. I don't put much research into them, because I get the plans from my own library of old technical journals, disposed of by colleges, and collected over the years. They are full of plans - These are just a few of them. Most of them cost between £30 and £50 each. but the collection is one of my most treasured posessions.
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That's a very nice collection of journals.
Bill
Bill