ShipbuilderMN

Thanks, It has always surprised me that they are not very popular amongst model shipbuilders. The main reasons given are because the rigging is too difficult and they don't carry guns beng merchant ships). Neither argument is remotely valid as the rigging is the easiest part as it is just wire glued on in short lengths with no knots anywhere. The fact that it doesn't have guns (the ports are just decoration, painted on) surely makes things simpler, as you don't have to make what is not there! As for the hulls, a sailing ship is infinitely simpler than a steam ship or warship because it has fewer deck with not many rails, ladders, lifeboats, deck machinery etc. If it is the missing war aspect that bothers you, that is also invalid, because when wars occur, merchant ships are invariably dragged in as well, whether they like it or not! Example, Jervis Bay (Below) Now, that was a complicated model, and her name has gone down in history for her heroic deed in WWII! of drawing a German battleship away from a convoy, resulting in her loss, but allowing the convoy to escape. Bob

Thanks Steve., So sorry to hear of your loss. I knew I could repair the Gulf Stream, it was just the thoughts of doing all the work again so soon that wore me down, and I didn't even make a start for many weeks, but when I did, I soon put it to rights. Bob

I am not in a rut at all The problem is that there is no safe and suitable way of transporting them now, as I am not prepared to go through that lot again. I have built so many, we haven't room to keep them all, so they must be sold. This makes collectors think that I am a business, where I am not - it is just a hobby, and they are continually asking what the next one will be, can they reserve it etc. I have even had unsolicted "deposit" cheques sent to me that annoy me no end! or offers to "pay in full" before I even begin. I may increase the writing, that is already surprisngley successful, because everyone then has access to the end result, and I don't get any pressure. Bob

Thanks, it is only minor things that are wrong with it, such as bits of glue that I couldn't remove fully from various spars and sails, but not really noticeable. But it is a great weight off my mind to have it back in one piece again, as for the past few weeks, I found it very depressing to look at the remains, and feel that I had to do it all again. Then finally, I started, and worked very hard in order to sort it all out and put the whole affair behind me. But it is no longer for sale, after all this, we don't really want to part with it, so it will join our permanent collection. Bob

I have now laboriously restored the Gulf Stream. Not quite as good as it was, but acceptable, and must confess that I am now quite fed up with the whole show of model shipbuilding! Bob

Thanks - It is a lot more difficult to build a passenger ship than a sailing ship because of all the doors, windows, portholes, lifeboats, rails, deck machinery, etc. A major part of the problem though, is over when you decide to start building one. Most ship modellers just decide they could never do it, so never try. This is one of my best, it took just over 100 hours to build, and that included the display case and carrying case. Not as good as one may produce from a kit maybe, but all my own work - the whole lot! RMS Carmania. For those who think merchant ships are boring, Carmania sank a German cruiser during World War I! Bob

Chewbacca - I have sent you a PM - Bob

Chewbacca, Thanks. Afraid they have already got to me. I no longer do "work in progress" anywhere or even admit to building anything these days I built Bulolo quite a few years ago now. I have written extensively about my methods. I was a regular writer (every issue) of Model Shipwright magazine for over a decade until they discontinued it. I have written extensively on my own account in the form of one printed book (reprinted a number of times, but now sold out and not likely to be reprinted), as well as numerous downloads from a few pages to 100s of pages, Here is Bulolo at 32 feet to 1 inch. Bob

It is a very awkward situation. When I have been asked what I am building in the past, and I have replied, adding "but it will not be for sale" I just get "If you ever decide to sell it, let me know!" That immediately makes me feel like I am being watched over a private commission, and I loose interest. Years ago, when I was practically begging for private commissions, very few were interested. But the moment I stopped taking them, the avalanche started and has never let up! Bob

Thanks for replies. The Anchor ships are very smart, and good, clear photographs as well. There is a huge following of merchant ships that do not come to the light of day because publishers have an obsession with the same old subjects: Bounty, Victory, Cutty Sark, Titanic, Constitution etc, that usually finish up in "end of range" bookshops at very low prices, because, really, they contain nothing new, giving the publishers the impression that there is no interest in merchant ships. Also, kit manufacturers are blinkered in a similar way - I am often told that plans for merchant ships are few and far between, and difficult to find. This is not true, they are well-documented in books and national archives, and my own collection is quite extensive, though it has taken many years to build up. There are many fold-outs from old technical journals that reference libraries have got rid of because they believe that they are of no relevance in today's world. These journals, when they can be found, now change hands for hundreds of pounds each! Lots of book have been published in the past containing merchant ship plans. For example, written by David R MacGregor, Basil Lubbock, Douglas Bennet, P N Thomas, C V Waine etc etc. When I take these models to the local ship model society, I can almost see eyes glazing over with lack of interest, but the Helen Craig was reserved yesterday only a few hours after putting images on the internet, although I had never even indicated that I would sell it! That sort of thing is ruining the hobby for me, as collectors will not leave me alone. So now the Helen Craig is complete, I am going to have a long rest from model shipbuilding. The Helen Craig would have been completed many weeks ago if collectors had left me alone, but the constant pressure from prospective buyers wore me down, and has now brougfht me to a standstill. I will be doing more ship plan drawing, but anything I draw up does not mean that I intend to make a model of it, or even sell it - it is just for my personal satisfaction, and use in any articles I may write. Bob

They are only considered uninteresting by ship model builders! The interest by collectors and other maritime enthusiasts is immense. The Helen Craig is still remembered where I live in Preston, as she sailed out of that port regularly between 1891 and 1959 when sold for scrap. Look at this forum: https://www.shipsnostalgia.com/forum.php They have thousands of members, and naval ships are rarely mentioned. The life was far more varied because of superior numbers of ships of all sizes from a few tons to quarter of a million tons or more. In 1924, the British merchant navy (including the commonwealth), numbered in the region of 24,000 vessels. I myself have sailed in ships ranging from colliers, general cargo, iron ore, oil, wood pulp, container, passenger liners, bulk carriers, log carrier, cruise ship, and the adventures we had were numerous. "But not as exciting as war" some may say, but when wars did crop up, the merchant navy was always involved in a big way - my own experience being 13 months in the Falkland Islands, 1982/83. Here we are refueling a minehunter in 1982, and at San Carlos, 1982. Aboard a collier in 1962 (I am on the left). And the passenger liner Windsor Castle, in which I spent 5 years. Bob

Completed today. Steam coaster Helen Craig (1891 - 1959), I began this model on the 15th July last, and completed it today. Total number of days worked - 27. Total building time - 47 hours. I kept losing interest and stopping work, but finally pushed myself to complete it today at 1355 BST. - Bob

In the days when Model Boats magazine was owned by Argus Books, they had a plan service that contained a series called Miniature Merchantmen, and it was amongst them, together with many famous passenger liners. The list can still be found here: https://www.sarikhobbies.com/product-category/model-boat-builder/plans/x-list-plans-boats/ But I don't see the Saxon in it (although I haven't really looked deeply into it. Also, I am told they don't reply to e-mails either, so not really much help (Unless they have improved) - Probably discontinued because very few modellers will even consider building anything like this - Bob

I have found it! I completed it on the 17th March, 2000. It took 78 hours to build, and the hull was 18 inches long. Bob

Yes, I made everything. Can't remember how long it took, certainly less than 100 hours. I had forgotten that I built it, as it was so long ago. Just came across the photograph. Scale 32 feet to 1 inch (1:384), so not very big. Robert