Private Commission

[Bob WilsonParticipant @bobwilson59101]

Sunday 21st September, 2025

As most of you know, I have now retired from model shipbuilding, but the demand remains.   Last week, I was contacted by someone in the UK who wants a model of the Dunottar Castle (15,000 tons – Black and white picture).    It would need to be at a scale of 32 feet to 1 inch (1:384) and built to a similar quality to the other three shown below: Edinburgh Castle, Winchester Castle and Braemar Castle. (All my builds).    They already have Winchester Castle and Braemar Castle (pictured here).    They asked if I knew any ship modellers that would like to take on the commission, and I said I would ask around.

I don’t have much hope of anyone taking it on, as merchant ship models are not very popular amongst model shipbuilders, but said that I would ask  around.

Bob

 

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

Bob,

I doubt if there is anyone in contention on here. Your miniature type of modelling  seems to have effectively died out. A huge shame but the interest in making models of that type appears to have died out completely. Depressing but true I”m afraid.

Colin

[Bob WilsonParticipant @bobwilson59101]

Hi Colin,

I guess I know that, but I told them I would try.      I really could not do it myself these days, being allergic to glue fumes, and side effects to prostate cancer treatment causing lack of energy.     Still waiting for cataract on other eye done as well.    The Edinburgh Castle, above, was originally sold privately for £800.    Years later, it turned up again at a London auction, where it topped the £2,000 mark!

Bob

[Ray Wood 3Participant @raywood3]

Hello Bob,

Very strange, but before your post I’d been thinking along the same lines . But I’ve made the same mistake in the past building a steam engine for someone years ago, as soon as money is involved and you have a client it seems like work. the capital outlay is negligible on small static models compared to the designs I do for the magazine.

Your models have always been held in high regard rather like jewellery, maybe not for the actual model as such but for the reputation and value of your work, presentation has always been your strong point by putting it in a case it draws the attention 🙂 Some of my models could benefit from that !!

I have loads of your build articles in Model Shipwright magazines, I may have a go out of curiosity and for the enjoyment which is the only reason I make models .

Kind Regards  Ray

 

 

[Bob WilsonParticipant @bobwilson59101]

Hello Ray,

Yes, I agree with you that it can become quite hard work when money is involved.    I got over this partially, years ago by not taking private orders, but just building what I wanted, and selling them on a “first come, first served,” basis when they were completed.

But this gave rise to statements like the following that I found difficult to deal with, and usually ended me up as the villain of the piece.

If you ever think of building   ….. i will buy it

Put me down for the next sailing ship.

Put me down for the next steamship

I will buy everything that you build!

I want “first refusal on anything you build.

I will pay you in full before you even start if you will build a specific model.

Surely you can make a special exception for me, and you  can name the price,

———————-

I have not built anything for nearly two years now, and can’t say I miss it.    Thse are my last two, and they are NOT for sale.   Baron Vernon and Olivebank.

Bob

 

[Ray Wood 3Participant @raywood3]

Hi Bob,

Lovely work as always, I’ve been retired 2 years from the construction industry, I don’t miss it at all 🙂 in fact the only nightmares I have are I’m back at work and can’t remember how to use the software I used for 30 years 🙂

Regards  Ray

[Bob WilsonParticipant @bobwilson59101]

Thanks Ray,

I sometimes have similar dreams that I am back at sea again (I left 33 years ago) and can’t find the logbook, or I have forgotten how to use certain pieces of equipment.

My particular field of model shipbuilding, as Colin says, does seem to have died out now.  Even the North West Model Ship Society that I joined in 1993, has dropped the word “ship” from its title and just become a general model society.   As no-one seemed to build ships any more, I dropped off going some time ago – Sad.   I think you were at the last meeting I went to with Baron Vernon model.

Bob

 

[Bob WilsonParticipant @bobwilson59101]

I have drawn a complete blank. – No-one interested!    The last model shipbuilder I knew that could do this sort of thing has not been answering his phone or e-mails fore some time now, so it looks like something has happened to him, or he has just packed it in!

Bob

 

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

Last Man Standing then Bob?!

Colin

[Ray Wood 3Participant @raywood3]

Reminds me of the demise of the square wheel company, when some rotten bugger invented round one’s 🙂

Nothing lasts for ever 🙁

Regards  Ray

[Bob WilsonParticipant @bobwilson59101]

Yes Colin – I guess so!   – Ray, who would have thought that round wheels would ever catch on?

 

[Bob WilsonParticipant @bobwilson59101]

My model shipbuilder friend has turned up again, alive and well!    So maybe they will get their model after all.   I think the problem was that he had got an answering machine, and maybe not got the hang of it straight away!

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