Exciting development!

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Thank you Steve

 

We had a great time yesterday and Geoff really enjoyed himself.

He also enjoyed the trip in the campervan too!

 

UB73……..Work that one out!

[DuckyParticipant @ducky]

Sorry to have missed all the fun and excitement Bob, but you know the reason. Perhaps a trip later on will be manageabell, who knows?

 

Duckie

[Damien BrowneParticipant @damienbrowne14051]

Hi Bob,

 

Wow the Great Eastern looks amazing!

 

Best Regards

 

Damien

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Welcome to the forum, Damien!

Thank you for your nice comments
Your DVD of The Telegraph Field was excellent!

Bob

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Hello Ducky

Thanks for your post

Your presence was sorely missed at New Brighton!

We’ll be keeping your seat warm

All the best, my M8

Bob

[DermisParticipant @dermis]

Hi Bob

 

I tickled one of your photos…..

 

 

Hope ya don’t mind!

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Don’t mind at all, Dermis

Help yourself…..I enjoy fiddling photos myself!
The original of the above……had a chap standing behind the ship!

I tend not to notice the background….til I get home….then it’s out with the clone brush!

Bob

Edited By Bob Abell on 30/07/2011 15:18:57

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Just recieved this version of Great Eastern at New Brighton, from my pal, Duckie…

It`s similar to Dermis`s version, but he has removed the pond wall….and now it`s sailing the Atlantic

 

Thank you, Duckie…….I like the grainy effect too!

What a splendid picture?…………………………It looks so authentic!

Bob

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Bob. Stunning pictures. But…

 

did it work.. did you lay cable and test the transmission??

 

I recon a pulley wheel under the water on the aborted cable guide would give you the friction free guidance you need to pull the cable down as it is being laid…

 

Ashley

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Ashley

 

Of course we laid the cable…..You must have skipped a few pages, back there?

 

We didn`t put the power through the cable as things could have gone wrong….Like burning the cable out, highly unlikely, but that`s for the BBC Boffins to sort out next week.

We didn`t want to “Rain on their parade” and spoil their fun!

 

Don`t fancy any more junk on the cable run, as it is quite a pull on the cable already!

 

Next week is another dummy run…..then we`ll decide on any changes or improvements

 

Next week, it`s……..”Bob walking with Giants”!………and Hob nobbin` with the stars!….WOW!

 

Bob

[Trevor HollowayParticipant @trevorholloway99134]

Next week seems too soon !

As I (and probably many others) have been following this for the last three months it seems sad that it will soon come to an end.

 

Will have to wait for the next thrilling installment.

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Thank you, Trevor

 

What you`ve said is very true, it will be quite sad when this epic story comes to an end!

 

We`ve still got next week for the last dummy run and on 22/23rd August the final episode will unfold.

 

The final film will not be broadcast `till next year!

 

Bob

 

 

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

That won’t be the end Bob as you will be writing the epic inside story for us all to marvel at!

 

Colin

[Len OchiltreeParticipant @lenochiltree67043]

And photos of the Event also Coast Totties.

 

Len.

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

That should be a very interesting project, Colin!

 

Thank you Len……….Sorry Len………..What are Coast Totties?

 

 

Bob

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

For my reference, this is the original thread that described the build of Great Eastern in December 2007. This may be relevant for the epic story…….and the BBC film!

I remember very clearly, the excitement of the build and the amusing banter with The Fat Controller and others.

 

http://www.modelboats.co.uk/forums/postings.asp?th=865&p=1

 

Unfortuneately, the thread fizzles out late January 2008……..I think there was a website restructure around this time. Luckily, all the photos are still in the gallery

 

I had just finished Jeanie Deans at the time and noticed how similar the GE hull was to the JD hull. GE was 8″ longer….and parallel in the middle and only a few inches wider and taller…….and the top deck was flat

 

So the ship was born!

 

Bob

[DuckyParticipant @ducky]

Who would have thought that this project would have been this long hey Bob!

Congratulations on topping 8000 views it must be one of the longest running threads on the site, how are you going to top this then. What is your next project going to be??

How about the titanic with a sinking version, perhaps the Beeb will do a program on that!

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Thank you, Duckie

 

Can`t imagine another epic project at the moment!………I`m working on the magazine article at the moment

The titanic Titanic story has already been done, several times….There`s plenty to be seen on YouTube!

 

 

And……we`ve still got a few more weeks of hectic activity yet!

 

Bob

 

 

 

[David WooleyParticipant @davidwooley82563]

Congratulation Bob on a truly magnificent project , not just a superb model but a thought provoking project as well. I would consider the old Beeb really lucky to have you around with your GE.

Dave Wooley

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Thank you, Dave….That`s very kind of you!

 

If this howling gale we`ve got here in Manchester dies down a bit, we should be sailing again at New Brighton tomorrow.

 

Fingers crossed…..Bob

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Not a nice day at all, when we arrived, the sea was coming over the wall!

The sail was nearly called off!……But the weather improved soon after.

You wouldn`t think, this was the height of summer!

 

The far corner was the departure point, with the cable anchored in a cast iron grid cover.

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Away we go!…….Really hard work at first!

 

Paddles and prop working hard, and the cable was as tight as drum.

I think, more care is required on the drum wind, as I suspect the cable is digging into the coils

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Just a nice picture of the voyage, showing the realistic foaming?

Pity the cable is so taught!

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Alternatively…..

just offering an alternative IN CASE the laying does not go to plan, or can be perfected in time.

.the cable is payed out from a “transmitter station” on the shore, via a variable speed electric drive…thus keeping payed out cable in pace with the ship (which would have “an amount” of cable on the drum (locked still) for shots of it coming in across the atlantic) to show the cable on the drum.

 

The red/white cable indicator could be electrically powered for effect.

 

I know that this somehow defeats the object or the excercise BUT if you are unable to perfect this, and time may be getting short??? a taught cable is not good television…it is all about the effect. No one will know if an…alternative technique…..is used and it will look fantastic on the telly .

 

Sorry, not being defeatist or anything or belittling your fine efforts so far, simply offering an alternative if you get desperate!!. i am mindful that the cable is very light and may not eventually behave.

 

Ashley (hate mail accepted)

 

or heavier cable now you know the dimensions of the lay??

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Thank you Ashley

I know what you`re getting at, but time has run out, regarding any more serious mods.

Today, the BBC people were quite happy, the way things went!

 

Anyway, a few more pictures….

The ship reaches it`s destination, to find two lovely young ladies waiting, from the Beeb!

Hello Anna and Jenny!

Edited By Bob Abell on 09/08/2011 16:41:56

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