Charriot

[Andy HustlerParticipant @andyhustler32076]

Many years ago i met a gentleman who had built a Charriot " Human Torpedo" .I think this was at the Swansea Model Boat Show.If you know this man or you are he please contact me as i’m in the middle of watching Sink the Tirpitz  on the History channel.Any way there is a chap called Robert Hudson/Hobson who is a naval historian and has built a working Charriot.Have you still got yours ??

[Alan PooleParticipant @alanpoole81825]

Hi Andy,

 The gentleman that you met was probably Steve Webb, a true gentleman. Unfortunately  Steve passed away 18months ago. He was a very good friend of mine and a member of the association of model Submariners. The Chariot is still on the model boat circuit now being run by his wife at selected events.

The frogmen suits are getting a bit worn now but it still operates very well, the model won a silver medal at the Model Engineer Exhibition in 2001/2002

Robert Hobson is the founder of the Underwater Heritage Trust who have most of their exhibits in the Eden Camp museum in Malton North Yorkshire. There is a full size Mk I chariot, a Mk II and the Italian Maile in this museum.

There are others who have built chariots that I know but Steve was probably the man that you met.

Regards  Alan

[Andy HustlerParticipant @andyhustler32076]

Many thanks for the reply.I think it was this get i met and yes a true gentleman and a highly skilled model maker but he will live on through his work.The first charrit i came across was at HMS Dolphin,the sub museum,in portsmouth.Alas i lack the skillls to build such a craft but it is nice to admire those who can. 

[RichParticipant @rich]

I believe I’m right in saying that the late Bernie Wood also built a chariot…I’m in the middle of moving home at the moment, but when I get settled I’ll dig through my collection of photographs and get some posted up for you if you’d like?

[Alan PooleParticipant @alanpoole81825]

Hi Andy,

As Richard says, Bernie might well have built a chariot and I do know that Alf Blake has one with superb figures. If you are contemplating building one for yourself I do have quite a lot of information on the Mk I and MkII. I also started a MkI some years ago and was seriously considering building a MkII (a vastly different looking craft) sometime in the future.

Regards  Alan.. 

[Andy HustlerParticipant @andyhustler32076]

Send it on i wouldlove to have a look at it

[RichParticipant @rich]

Would that be THE Alfie Blake…the Alfie Blake from the AMS whom I knew years ago?

[Alan PooleParticipant @alanpoole81825]

Hi Richard.

 The very same! and still displaying with the AMS, I saw him at Brighton Modelworld Show.

Regards  Alan..

Andy, this will take some time as I have stuff all over the place. … Alan

[RichParticipant @rich]

Well, well…perhaps he’ll pop up on here at some time, I was only looking through some old AMS photos last week and came across a very young Alfie at the ME Exhibition, putting up the portable pond on the roof.

Small world, isn’t it…thanks Alan, much appreciated. 

[Alan PooleParticipant @alanpoole81825]

Hi Richard,

On the roof eh!  Must have been at Wembley, I was there but not with the AMS at that time.

 As you say, small world.

Regards  Alan..

[RichParticipant @rich]

I wish I could remember the year Alan…are/were you an AMS member? Try as I may, I cannot put a face to the name..I quit submarine modelling around the early nineties, I think it was, and went on to play in Scale Sail…silly idea.  

Rich

[Alan PooleParticipant @alanpoole81825]

Hi Rich,

 Yes I was in the AMS, I have not rejoined this year though. We would probably know each other if we met as I started building my first submarine in 1989, can’t remember exactly when I joined the AMS but it must have been around the time you were still in it.  I,m still building submarines but am also interested in "targets" as well, working on a frigate at the moment. There are a few of my submarine models on this website gallery, probably a few pages in by now.

 Regards  Alan..

[Alan PooleParticipant @alanpoole81825]

Hi Rich.

The albums are on page 11.

Cheers  Alan..

[RichParticipant @rich]

Found them…seen them…very impressed by them! Lovely looking models, Alan…my heartiest congratulations on your modelling skills. Once I’m sorted and settled in the new abode I’ll get some of mine posted up, including the infamous nine foot U117. If ever there was a white elephant, that was it. I could never lift the perishing thing when it was full of water!

[Andy HustlerParticipant @andyhustler32076]

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