Bulk Carriers Sagamore & Silverdon

[Bob WilsonParticipant @bobwilson59101]

Here is a selection of images on U-Tube of the above two ships that I served on in the early 1960s and late 1970s. Sagamore was scrapped at a ripe old age, but Silverdon was lost in a storm in the South China Sea, with only about 4 survivors, more than 20 years after I left.

http://youtu.be/2zYzBgHhcgs

Bob

Edited By Bob Wilson on 05/08/2013 13:20:14

[Bob WilsonParticipant @bobwilson59101]

[Ian GardnerParticipant @iangardner62867]

I enjoyed the photos, and your article in the recent Special. It was interesting to learn of some of your techniques.

I've always been frightened to death of miniatures. My late father used to build 100' to the inch and latterly 50' to the inch waterline ships and I was always amazed at his skill. I have inherited most of his collection. He liked to use the drawings done by R Carpenter in Model Boats.

I wonder if there would be any interest in a regular feature on miniatures in the magazine? It might encourage some to have a go, especially if there were drawings available. It seems to me that your preference for smaller vessels to a slightly larger scale might be appealing- but who knows? I'd certainly be interested to see such a development.

Ian Gardner

[Bob WilsonParticipant @bobwilson59101]

Ian,

Thanks for reply. It is the other way round, My preference is for large vessels at small scales

I usually build at 32'=1" for ships between about 2,000 tons and 20,000 tons.

I went from large scale [8'=1"] to miniatures [32'=1"] literally overnight many years ago and found it easier from the start, and still do at the age of 69! If you build large, it seem to me that you have to include things that wouldn't nomally be seen on a miniature such as rivets, door handles, ringbolts, splicings, etc etc.

In the 60s and 70s, I was a regular contributer to Model Boats magazine. In fact they were the first publishers to accept anything off me. I only stopped because they gradually lost interest in miniatures and stopped using my articles. That was thirty years ago with a completely different management (It was Argus Books then).

I was very happy indeed to be asked to return for the special edition and am pleased it has been well received. I doubt if there would be much demand for a regular feature and I would find it very hard-going to produce articles on a regular basis anyway!

I have been very lazy recently as far as model shipbuilding is concerned. A combination of house decorating, hot weather and a general acceptance on my part that there doesn't seem to be much interest in my type of ship or model these days. No doubt I will recover from this torpor (always have before).

Bob

PS – The reason for all the editing [below] was because closing the two scale above with a conventional bracket brought in two unwanted smilies.    I finally changed them for square brackets and all OK now!

 

Edited By Bob Wilson on 05/08/2013 15:59:25

Edited By Bob Wilson on 05/08/2013 16:00:00

Edited By Bob Wilson on 05/08/2013 16:00:45

Edited By Bob Wilson on 05/08/2013 16:03:21

[Ian GardnerParticipant @iangardner62867]

Bob, I suppose I was comparing your 32' to the inch to my father's 100' to the inch. I think it is a shame that there isn't an interest in miniatures these days- my father had numerous friends who built waterline models; one exhibited at the Model Engineer exhibition I believe.

There still seems to be a following for commercially produced waterline models, and my dad also had a large collection of cast ships of german origin, a good number of resin models from a gent called Len Jordan and some lovely handbuilt ships from a chap called Ron Hughes I believe. I had to dispose of all these as there just wasn't room for them- but I kept his own work.

I do remember your articles from previous decades. I wonder if the contents of Model Boats is based solely on demand-and if so, how that works.

Anyway, it was good to see your article and examples of your fine work. I think people would always be interested, even if they didn't build themselves.

Ian

Edited By Ian Gardner on 05/08/2013 17:01:01

Edited By Ian Gardner on 05/08/2013 17:01:46

[Bob WilsonParticipant @bobwilson59101]

Ian,

Yes, true enough when you are comparing my relatively large" 32'=1" with even smaller scales such as 50'=1" or 100'=1" !

I have noticed on Ebay that the 100'=1" resin models have a high degree of popularity. I have made them at that scale, but cannot get the amount of details that I like in them, even if they look well enough from a distance.

I think what gets to me more than anything else is the almost complete lack of feedback and a general indifference to ships and models of 19th and 20th century vintage. I would even find it refreshing if someone would say "what a load of rubbish!" or "can't stand them at all!"

Take the "Marjory Glen" for instance (in the static models section). Absolute zero response – good or bad!

I have no axe to grind on that one, because it sold for hundreds of £s, but for many years, it has amazed me that so little interest is ever shown in this type of ship or model (made ether by myself or others)! I can almost see a curtain come down whenever fellow modelmakers cast their eyes upon them!

Therefore it is a very pleasant interlude to be able to talk to someone like yourself about them!

Recently, I have gone into the frame of mind of "speak only when spoken to!"

Bob

[Carl WalkerParticipant @carlwalker]

Hi Bob, I bought the Special just because ot the miniature shipbuilding article, I find those models fascinating. I'd love to have a go myself, although I already have a huge backlog of half finished and not even started projects, so it may be a while before i get around to trying it. If and when I do, I would like to build a waterline version of the yacht "America" the first Americas Cup winner. I made the Revell plastic kit model of this many years ago, and have been interested in her ever since.

Cheers

Ricky

[Bob WilsonParticipant @bobwilson59101]

Hi Ricky,

Glad you enjoyed the article. America shouldn't pose any problems as a first miniature. I started with a full-rigged ship and didn;t have any problems. One of the advantages of miniatures is that they don't take very long to build!

Bob

[Author]

Posts