Classic Ship Models

[David WooleyParticipant @davidwooley82563]

Hi Neil Your welcome.

 

I found this shot of the  Lavadia  built by John Hollis . Looking closer John produced astonishing  detail work around the deck housing and cabins . This detail is simply drawn into place on the builders model as was the practice of the time.  

Dave Wooley

[David WooleyParticipant @davidwooley82563]

There a numerous examples of unusual  and classic ship models  but   there is one model maker by the name of Ken Gamble who is a past master of coming up with some really interesting if not thought provoking models . This model of Bushnell’s  submarine  built by Ken   really did work and I  think deserves to be on the list.

Dave Wooley

 

[David WooleyParticipant @davidwooley82563]

Ever thought what became of the Mersey Ferry builders Models. Well many still survive and  a number  including the Wallasey Ferry river Cruise Boat Royal Iris can be seen at the Earlston Road Library  Wallasey . The Birkenhead Ferry models at  the Williamson  Art Gallery model collection Slatey Road Birkenhead.

The Royal Iris

Dave Wooley

Edited By David Wooley on 02/04/2009 16:16:15

[David WooleyParticipant @davidwooley82563]

Two very different builders models .

One of  the  promotional builders models of Titanic  at the Merseyside Maritime Museum . The Name was changed to  that of Olympic to avoid   problems in  promoting the White Star line. But   when examining the inside of the hull  the Yard number was revealed and the name  Titanic was just visible.  I believe the model weighs in over a  ton .  

This delightful 1:48 scale model of the Mersey Ferry Snowdrop is amongst the small number at Earlstone Library  Wallasey . This is unusual as few know that the model  exists .

Dave Wooley

Edited By David Wooley on 03/04/2009 09:23:16

[David WooleyParticipant @davidwooley82563]

Moving away from the builders  model to   a model by    Don Brown ..

Don  has  produced many exceptionally fine models over the  years and represented the Uk at the highest levels Internationally . The model featured  is  the Torpedo gunboat HMS Jason pictured at  one of the most idyllic venues ,   the Steam Boat Museum  on the banks of lake Windermere . Don was also a keen steam enthusiast  and were possible endeavored  to install a steam plant into the smallest and most  detailed of models .

Dave Wooley

 

Edited By David Wooley on 03/04/2009 20:40:58

[David WooleyParticipant @davidwooley82563]

Perhaps we as modellers  tend to  go for better known vessels  as a subject for modelling . Yet Museum collection are full of   little known vessels , many oozing charm and grace . This particular model whilst  rather insignficant in the pantheon of  great ships comes into that category . The vessel is the   Lady Blanche  built as a private Yacht in 1907 and on display at the Museum of Transport  Glasgow .  

Dave Wooley

[David WooleyParticipant @davidwooley82563]

I rember taking the picture some years ago at Ellesmere Port Convention but I have never seen the model on show since,  a fascinating subject .Aviation  transport vessel

Dave Wooley

 

[Bob WilsonParticipant @bobwilson59101]

I suppose this model of PREUSSEN is pretty unusual as not many ship model builders want to tackle anything with enormous amount of rigging such as this.      It is just over sixteen inches long on the waterline.    25’=1″ scale.    All the masts and spars are metal rod or tube, whilst the rigging is 100% copper wire (even the ratlines).

Despite the complexity, it didn’t take all that long.    117 hours total and that included building the display case and carrying case.    The work was timed on a stopwatch and so is accurate.    There are no shop-bought parts in it – all hand made.

Bob

[David WooleyParticipant @davidwooley82563]

Hi Bob Alway good to see your work  and  good to see you posting on this thread .

Dave Wooley

[David WooleyParticipant @davidwooley82563]

Some modelers will go to extraordinary lengths to produce  a real sence of reality on their model . The picture shows the inside of a hanger on an USN Frigate . The amazing  part of the picture  is the level of  detail for very mundane items found aboard such ships , the step ladders being just one example . Sadly I didn’t record the name of the modeler  but the idea of exposing as much internal detail a possible is not new but to accomplish this to a level were it can   be appreciated and remain relevant  speaks volumes for the modeler . 

Dave Wooley

[David WooleyParticipant @davidwooley82563]

This model is extraordinary for many reasons. The vessel is the Clyde ferry PS Alliance built by Tod MacGregor in 1954.  the design used a catamaran hull form with azimuth drive  , Sounds all very modern and state of the art  but it’s true . The azimuth drive is a rotating paddle wheel which could be moved to propel the vessel sideways . “Did it work” I really don’t know the answer to that question  but a model could be built to prove one way or the other.

Close up of paddle stern drive

Dave Wooley

 

[David WooleyParticipant @davidwooley82563]

This one I think Bob will recognize . it is a model  of the oscillating cylinder engine built for the Great Eastern 1847. This particular model was built by  Cdr WT Baker. 

Dave Wooley

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

That`s very interesting Dave………….But is the date correct?

 

I`m pretty sure, GE build started in 1850 summat!……….lol

 

Bob

[David WooleyParticipant @davidwooley82563]

This model of the a Rhine cruise ship Britannia was built by Cliff Robinson  . The top deck can be removed to reveal the  inside lounge and much more . A stunning model .

Dave Wooley

[David WooleyParticipant @davidwooley82563]

Hi Bob  Your quite right with the dates of the building of GE . The reference to the engine seem to imply that the development of the engine started in 1847 .

Dave Wooley

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Hello Dave

 

I often wonder how they actually made these giant steam engines in the early Victorian days?……………..They must have had the necessary machines to do it!………………and drill and tap the holes etc……..and make the nuts and bolts too!

 

Worth a search on the net?……………….I`m on it already!

 

Bob the Engineer

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Hello Chaps

 

Had a look into the machine tool question and it appears that a Boring Mill was invented by John Wilkinson in 1775 that………….”made Watt`s steam engine a practical source of power”

 

It`s a bit like the “Chicken and egg question”………………..how did they make a boring mill?

 

No pictures found at the moment, but the story is here……    http://www.neo-tech.com/businessmen/part6.html

 

Bob

[David WooleyParticipant @davidwooley82563]

Hi Bob same question . Who invented the forge .The most important element in the working of metals   ? With out the forge and so it can go on?  By way of interest the four oscillating cylinders on GE were each 74inches in diameter with a huge  14ft stroke developing 3410hp at 10 and half revs per minute. But amazingly they were supplied with steam from four separate boilers at a pressure of 24lb/insq. It’s been recorded that one of the most stupendous feats during the construction of the ship was forging the paddle crank shaft , the largest forging ever produced up to that time  but it took three attempts before  Fulton and Neilson  produced  a successful  crank shaft , I wonder if they ever made any money  . Your quite right GE   was the most amazing piece of Victorian marine engineering.

Dave Wooley

 

Dave Wooley 

Edited By David Wooley on 08/04/2009 20:15:27

[David WooleyParticipant @davidwooley82563]

Another piece of Victorial lateral thinking .This facinating and little known vessel was the paddle ferry    Claughton with a very different type of paddle box   arrangement .The model is on view at the Williamson art Gallery Birkenhead .

Dave Wooley

Edited By David Wooley on 09/04/2009 08:43:46

[David WooleyParticipant @davidwooley82563]

This unusual  on deck steering gear  arrangement and  operating cables are part of two quite famous ships ?

Dave Wooley

[David WooleyParticipant @davidwooley82563]

This attractive paddle steamer   model cought my eye  or should I say the camera at the Glasgow Museum of Transport . It is officially designated “Hospital Ship Number 16″ and was built   at the request of the War Department” for the I’ll fated Dardanelles campaign of 1915 .

Dave Wooley

 

[David WooleyParticipant @davidwooley82563]

Leviathan  really did live up to   that name . This vessel at 3943 tons was the largest suction dredger ever built . . The ship was 332 ft  in length by 65ft in beam  and entered service dreadging  sections of the river Mersey in 1909 and was capable of dredging to a depth of 70ft ., being retired in 1963.

Dave Wooley

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Just a little snippet of irrellevence…………..Met a chap yesterday, at a model railway exhibition and his Grandmother`s Grandad was a Captain on the Great Eastern. He had paperwork to prove it too……………(I think he said , he was called Kennedy)

 

There was a steam boat that sailed round the Great Lake at Belle Vue Manchester and was called……….The Little Eastern ………….and was sailing round the lake during Great Eastern`s operating life…………….Such olde worlde charm?

 

That`s all really………………Bobrunel

[David WooleyParticipant @davidwooley82563]

Remember the   German Surface raider  Graff Spee . One of her early  victims was  the freighter Newton Beech { the picture posted earlier shows the rudder arrangement on the stern.} The original vessel of 4651 tons was built at the Pickergill and Sons ship yard Sunderland in 1925 . The model is made in the old style   with many of the fittings being unpainted brass and copper.  The model resides in  the battle of the Atlantic Gallery Merseyside Maritime Museum.

Dave Wooley

[David WooleyParticipant @davidwooley82563]

Another  Classic ship model with a difference

This is the Mersey Ferry  Storeton. Built in 1910 by Ailsa Shipbuilders  for the ferry service between Rockferry New ferry  on the Wirral side of the Mersey and Liverpool . An attractive vessel but note the propellors . Yes they have the part of the  blade  hollow. The reason for this  it that such props  improved maneuverability .

Dave Wooley

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