Pic 1: Houseboat on Lake Vembanad, Kerala, India (photo C. Stirling). Pic 2: Much of the fitting out work is done by hand (photo C. Stirling). Pic 3: Traditionally, poles were the only method of propulsion. They are still used for manoeuvring (photo C. Stirling). Pic 4: Stitching and caulking seen from inside the hull…
Pic 1, Pic 2, Pic 3, Pic 4, Pic 5, Pic 1: The basic hull framework. Pic 2: All decks in place with shaped battens in position. Pic 3: The inside surfaces of the bulwarks and transom lined before assembly. Pic 4: The stanchions are positioned between scuppers on main deck. Pic 5: The first…
I spotted it on a roundabout in France whilst exploring Burgundy, both the countryside and the wine. There it was, an old wooden river skiff, nicely painted and partly filled with soil and planted with flowers to make a display in the centre of the roundabout – such indignity! Camping nearby, I was soon walking…
Pic 1, Pic 2, Pic 3, Pic 4, Pic 5, This year I was invited to attend the Model Exhibition in Sinsheim, Germany with the Surface Warship Association (SWA). They have been invited to this show as model exhibitors for a number of years and are well known over there. For those who don’t know…
Pic 1: Port bow view from overhead. Pic 2: An overhead seagull view from above the stern.Pic 3: Le Renard at full speed. Pic 4: Close up on the mainmast top. Pic 5: Focus on the bowsprit with all the blocks required for amongst others, the top sail bowlines and braces. Pic 6: Focus on…
Pic 1: Martin Fowler shows the correct way to carry a Teifi Coracle. Pic 2: This attractive coracle model employs authentic construction methods and a number of laths and measures only 7ins x 4.5ins. Pic 3: An archive black and white photograph of coracles in use on the Towy at Carmarthen. A Welsh comedy series…
Pic 1, Pic 2, Pic 3, Pic 4, Pic 5, Pic 6, Pic 1: Gas tank and burner fitted fairly closely together. Pic 2: Gas tank and burner fitted fairly closely together in an alternative installation. Pic 3: General arrangement of tanks and burners. Pic 4: Steam plant on a removable tray. Pic 5: Steam…
Pic 1: The tin tug well on the way to being restored. I became interested in model boats in the late 1950s after building what was then an almost compulsory KeilKraft Ezebuild balsa model. It was then I joined the Hull Model Boat Club as a junior and my horizons became much wider, as I…
In the beginning It being term time, I took our nine year old lad to the Imperial War Museum in London for a visit. In the shop, as small boys do, he spent all my money and among the items he (or was it me) purchased, was a small box containing some slot together, pre-cut…
Pic 1: The completely restored 6M yacht confirming the elegance and beauty of this old timer. The model yacht lakes at Walpole Park, Gosport are synonymous with International A Class Yachts. However, before the introduction of these in 1922, another class was alive and kicking. The 6 Metre Class is basically a scaled down version…
