Very large paddle boat

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Ellesmere Port show

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Found this old photo this morning…..Taken at Ellesmere Port show about 2000

Note the old camping ground!

It was about 12`-0" long and the builder used to sit inside it!……Makes my boat look silly!

It used to appear at the Woodvale Shows about 1995 along with a similar large model

Most of the superstructure was made of cardboard

Anybody know the name of the builder and what became of the boats?

Bob

[David WooleyParticipant @davidwooley82563]

Hi Bob the model built by Bill Wilkinson and some of his smaller models were sold during his life time , the larger one such as another huge man powered tug Pert where taken on by one of his loyal helpers. when Bill past away. His largest model the huge JP Morgan steam yacht Corsair 4 was removed from his 1st floor apartment and is now owned by a collector in Cumbria . I recall visiting Bill with Jon Godell back in the 1980s to have a look at this huge 29ft model .Powered by an Hillman Imp petrol engine and it was built entirely in his flat To my amazement Bill had knocked through entire walls to accommodate the build including the bathroom . All of Bill ship models were built of card board and amazingly strong . I remember it was a struggle to view all of this astonishing model in such a confined space. Bill loved sailing his models at Ellesmere Port Boat Museum and at the marina in Southport during the Life Boat weekends . With the passing of Bill some years ago now we sadly saw the passing of a real eccentric who lived for his models. By the way you can see one of Bills model suspended from a ceiling in the Boat Chandlery at Preston dock complex.

This is a much smaller example of Bills huge 29ft Corsair 4 yet Bill model was full of all the fine detail you would expect on such a ship.

 

Dave Wooley

Edited By David Wooley on 25/03/2015 10:52:46

Edited By David Wooley on 25/03/2015 10:54:33

[Paul ChesterParticipant @paulchester27014]

Hi Bob,

Very nice to see an old picture from Ellesmere Port.

I'm the "loyal helper" as Dave puts it that took on 5 of Bills models back in 2004 when he sadly past away, all the models are still intact but sadly I lost interest in modelling after losing my father 6 years later who was also a keen modeller.

The picture is of "Pert" which is 15' long first sailed 1997 and you will also remember "Cracker" which is 12'8" first sailed in 1993, I cant remember sailing both models together at Ellesmere but if you were a regular attender you will have seen them both along with a smaller model paddler called "Suzy" 8'6" and "Navette" if you attended in the early years of the show

Navette was another yacht owned by JP Morgan like the one Dave mentioned above, "Corsair 3"

The one at Preston dock, not sure if it still there is a 3 deck sailing ship i think is called Queen Elizabeth

That just leaves a small model which sailed nearly every Sunday at Southport MBC which he called the picket boat which i don't know much about! he called it pocket sized at only 4'

Suzy was sold on in the 90's

He also built the architects model of St Marks church in Preston before it was converted into flats

I have some fantastic memories from the various events we attended, sadly many don't take place any more, Windermere Steam Boat Museum being one of the best!!

Thanks

Paul

P.s Dave, do you have any more details about corsair, I'd love to see it out of the flat!

[The Long BuildParticipant @thelongbuild]

Bob

The large boat in your Picture I last saw was at the last Woodvale show at the Airfield I think about 2011-12 with the Southport Club, Not sure who looked after it.

[Paul ChesterParticipant @paulchester27014]

Yeah that would be me,

It was the last show i did with the model, I didn't like the sound of the new venue so they haven't been out since then

I think Navette may have been there too!

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

I remember the builder showing me round his boat at Woodvale

It was mounted on a road going trailer

Most of the superstructure was made of cardboard

More like a stage prop?

Bob

[The Long BuildParticipant @thelongbuild]

I think He borrowed some Cereal bowls for the vents !! from what I was told.

A Few Picts from 2009, I think that nay have been the last Time I saw it out at a show,

Edited By The Long Build on 22/12/2015 22:29:37

[Paul ChesterParticipant @paulchester27014]

yeah these pics are from later years as the trailer is the newer version after bill died,

I'll dig out some pictures of the model being constructed and the 25ft Corsair , few people got to see it!

You will be amazed how little space he had to build!!

[neil hpParticipant @neilhp]

I remember the BBC or ITV local north west news actually did a story on Bill and his models for their 6.00pm news programme and showed the Corsair taking up the floor of his flat.

After watching the prog I often wondered whether he had made structural improvements to his flat to stop the ceilings falling in on him.

As you say he was a total eccentric, but his models ( or should I say small scale replica's were just amazing pieces of engineering, and really should be on display.

Some time ago on Ebay there was a model of a paddle steamer about 8 – 10' long that was reputed to have been built by Bill came up for sale as described, but this was disputed and with drawn for sale for a short while only to be re advertised a few weeks later with that part of the description carefully reworded.

Sadly I never saw them in the "flesh" but they shouldn't be kept in the dark……..get them out and sail them………….they are beautiful and a great accolade to a very fine builder no longer with us.

Neil.

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Hello Neil

Nice to see you post once in a while

Bob

[Paul ChesterParticipant @paulchester27014]

Neil,

Bill was on BBC news in the early 80's I think and then in 2004 the "Corsair III" and the 3 decker featured on Granada reports in 2004 after he passed away

The model on eBay could have been "Suzy" 8'6" built on chieftain lines, This was the only model Bill sold back in the mid 90's to a bloke in Northumberland, Its was rumoured that the model was damaged after being permanently in the water which due to construction methods didn't do it any good

This is Bill (with a smile… just!) pictured with both Cracker & Pert at Southport Marine Lakes, One of the many excellent lifeboat weekends we attended

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Thank you, Paul C

A very nice picture

How did he actually get inside, without damaging anything?

Bob

[Paul ChesterParticipant @paulchester27014]

If you study closely you will see differences between the sailing and static pictures,

Talking specifically about Pert

The most noticeable being the wheelhouse roof. on static display you see the binnacle and railings, but when sailing this is changed to an awning roof with canvas dodger in front of the railings allowing for your head to fit up inside the wheelhouse and look out the wheelhouse windows (without this mod you'd need eyes in your forehead!) This modification is still scale as the boat would have the features when working in hot climates.

The forward section of the bridge deck hinges back and the lower deck section behind the mast is removed, the mast is mounted on a 6" section of deck to allow this section along with the mast to hinge forward giving room to get your knees in.

Just realized on the picture I posted earlier the model is not finished so no awning but you see it on the first picture

All this layout and design came about after lesson learned from Cracker which is difficult to get in and out

Paul

[Paul ChesterParticipant @paulchester27014]

Here are some photographs of the 25ft Corsair III… built in 2 sections to aid removal from the first floor flat

Again built to sit inside and had a reliant engine driving 2 dynamos powering 2 electric motors

Sadly Bill never saw it leave the flat and i don't think the new owner had any intention to sail it

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Very impressive models

It's nice to know they are being well looked after

Bob

[The Long BuildParticipant @thelongbuild]

This is a shot from the Bridge, I have some of him getting into the boat but can't find them at the moment, also 2nd picture is the Large Carrier. not related to Bill but still impressive,

[Paul ChesterParticipant @paulchester27014]

Here is the short clip from the BBC back in 1983, quality not brilliant as I've converted from VCR!

**LINK**

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Very interesting

Bill certainly was a Master Builder par excellaunt!

I remember speaking to Bill at the Woodvale shows…….His models were awesome!

Bob

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