GRAUPNER RAU IX Whaler

[neil hpParticipant @neilhp]

i bought this untouched kit a few months ago on impulse. Built one in 1982 and it was both a lovely kit to build AND sail. however i gave it away to the son of a work collegue who had just lost his mum to cancer, and my mate and i thought it might take a little away in sailing it from the trauma of the situation

i didn't regret it, but always thought i might buy another, until Graupner discontinued it.

and it became very rare as an untouched model.everything is there, including a tube of very hard out of date glue, lol.

i paid quite a bit for it because of its rareity, and so dont want to sell it, but would if the right model came along swap it. i am limiting my scope at the moment to something allong the lines of a lifeboat or possibly something along the lines of a well built Louie Helloise sailing boat…but i would lke a swap that has no work to be done, but just ready for plonking in the water on a nice sunny day.

i realise that as i get older, i am not the best [ never was] at reading instructions[ even less so if much is in diagramme or German] and so probably will never get built.

as i said its nice and complete and just aching to be built.

[neil hpParticipant @neilhp]

Very rare untouched kit

[neil hpParticipant @neilhp]

as there are no offers of a swap for another lifeboat i have decided to sell it.

i have put it up on ebay at £335 .00p, plus £25 quid postage by courier…………

but as one pays fees on ebay, i will let this model go for £300 plus postage or personal pick up from Poulton le Fylde……….i've had my jabs lol

find another one……….they are rarer than hen's teath.

[neil hpParticipant @neilhp]

i am amazed that this hasn't been snatched up by a collector.

[Richard SimpsonParticipant @richardsimpson88330]

I suspect Neil that there is quite a bit of negativity nowadays towards this sort of vessel, which unfortunately may affect the popularity of the kit.

[neil hpParticipant @neilhp]

indeed there is Richard, that is basically why Graupner decided to pull the plug after only 10 years of manufatcure.

but i say to people…………it is part of mans history, just like war ships and u boats are, like gass gussling cruise liners and ferries are, and what about trawlers and factory freezers.

in a time where we knew no better, the Whale catcher was no different to a trawler, its only since the moretorium on whaling that people have taken such a stance, and sadly like the old steam trawlers, and Flower class corvettes, which were based on whale catcher hulls, they sail so beautifully.

[neil hpParticipant @neilhp]

and on a par, the restored museum based RAU IX Whale catcher situated, i believe in Bremerhaven receives more visiters per year than any other museum ship in Germany including their large cruising lifeboats, AND the 1st ever nuclear powered cargo ship, the Savanah based in the USA……………and that is what i don't understand about modellers shying away from this model.

if it dont sell, i'll build it myself one day………a nice build tbh…..just no time at present.

[Richard SimpsonParticipant @richardsimpson88330]

I can only think that modellers don't want to get involved with those conversations on the pond side that they know this model might generate. I completely agree with you though, is it any different to a trawler? It is all part of our maritime history and, like many things in the past that some may rather try to brush under the carpet, it happened and we won't prevent it happening again if we try to deny it.

Strange when you think that we are all happy building models of warships, tanks and military aircraft, all designed to kill human beings in the most effective way but mention a whaler and suddenly everyone is upset!

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

I think there is a subtle difference Richard, Warships are designed to sink or neutralise other ships. Human casualties are usually (but not always) collateral damage and once their ship has sunk then the enemy has often (but again, not always) tried to rescue survivors if it is safe to do so.

Whale catchers were built to directly kill whales in a very unpleasant way and I quite agree with you that modellers understandably won't want to get into charged conversations at the pondside.

Colin

[redpmgParticipant @redpmg]

Perhaps if you change the harpoon gun to shoot water as one of our members did in Johannesburg – derogatory remarks were met with a good squirt – and an abject apology of course – sorry – did not realise you were there etc………..

Agree with Neil in that its all part of history – we live where Southern Right whales come to calve each year – some other types also visit when on their way to warmer water. Would hate to see them hunted now – but that has not stopped me from trying to convert a small plastic kit into a whale catcher…………

Ironic too that no one has tried to change the name of that particular breed of whales – the Right refers to the fact that they floated after being harpooned – not like others which sank,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,There is of course a Northern Right Whale too which I believe (if faulty memory serves) usually inhabits the coast off North America………

[neil hpParticipant @neilhp]

i shouldn't say this as trying to sell it, but i did hear of one story some time ago of some people trowing stones and other objects at a whale catcher on a pond……

a sad world we live in at times……

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

I'm amazed they recognised it as a whale catcher Neil. Most people seem to think that every boat on a pond is the Titanic.

Colin

[neil hpParticipant @neilhp]

[Empire ParkstoneParticipant @empireparkstone]

But it's ok to hook fish and then chuck them back in or catch and release which sounds harmless

[neil hpParticipant @neilhp]

Posted by Empire Parkstone on 27/09/2021 22:41:54:

But it's ok to hook fish and then chuck them back in or catch and release which sounds harmless

could you explain to me what that has got to do with whale catchers…………you have totally lost me on that one.

Edited By neil howard-pritchard on 28/09/2021 00:53:11

[Empire ParkstoneParticipant @empireparkstone]

My mistake I overlooked this was a for sale topic and section not a chat section debating peoples reactions covered by the several posts prior to mine

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

Let's leave it there.

Colin

[neil hpParticipant @neilhp]

Now sold, THANK GOODNESS, LOL.

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