| Most viewed - Working Models |
Swift (steam launch)936 viewsHere is an interesting example of what can be done. The client supplied us with a wooden hull in a very rough state. He had picked it up in an antique shop, and liked the lines. We completely rebuilt it. We installed a simple interior, and a small steam plant. Just look at the engine! You can almost smell the steam and hot oil.
(model by John Davies)
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HMY Britannia935 viewsThis model of the Royal Yacht "Britannia" faithfully captures her lovely lines. A true scale model, she has an excellent performance on the water. Radio control equipment gives control of the rudder, independent control of the twin screws, and switches on a small tape player loaded with a compilation of music from the band of the Royal Marines. At just over four feet long, she is big enough to have a wonderfully convincing presence on the water. She was featured in "Marine Modelling" magazine.
(model by John Davies)
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Dragon class keelboat.929 viewsAs you can see, she sails very prettily. This example was commisioned for the famous Childe Beale collection. She was the third of the type we have built. The other two were a matching pair, researched from the full-sized vessels for their owner, who still sails them enthusiastically in a hard-fought racing series.
(model by John Davies)
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Flower Class Corvette (1/96th)928 viewsThis gives a good view of the intricate detail found on even a small warship model. Although it is only to 1/96th scale, it compares quite well with its 1/48th scale equivalent.
(Model by John Davies)
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Liberty ship926 viewsTraditional merchant ships make lovely models, both as display pieces and on the water, where they have an atmosphere and a presence all their own. This model of the Liberty ship "City of Ely" represents her as she was post-war as a ship of the Ellerman lines. She was built for a gentleman who had sailed the real vessels as a Merchant Navy officer. He was highly delighted with his little ship. One of the delights of building on a fairly capacious hull is that it is possible to incorporate extra features. She has a working anchor winch and navigation lights. There are many possibilities for models of this nature. Contact us for details.
(model by John Davies)
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Fishguard lifeboat.925 viewsThe present Fishguard lifeboat, "Blue Peter VII", was the first offshore lifeboat to be paid for by the famous television programme. Their previous endowments to the RNLI had been inshore boats.
This model is based on the well-known Model Slipway kit. She was an elaborate and time-consuming model to build, taking over four hundred hours. Since every lifeboat is slightly different, we carried out a research visit to Fishguard to check what minor changes had been made to their boat, in order to ensure the accuracy of the model. The kit is extremely detailed, down to the rivets on the frames on the flying-bridge windscreens, and the keyboard on the computer-operated radar in the wheelhouse. She makes a magnificent model, which has a lively and convincing performance on the water.
The Model Slipway, who manufacture the kit on which this model is based, paid me a very pretty compliment on its appearance, and stated that they are happy to refer any requests they receive for completed versions of their range of kits to me.
(model by John Davies)
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Ryhope (detail)924 viewsI was able to complete her at a very reasonable price, as there really weren't too many hours in the job. Now he has two models; one large and magnificent, the other a pretty little thing he carry in one hand, and can take to the water on impulse.
(model completed by John Davies)
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Tug Furie.919 viewsThis working model of a steam tugboat is twenty-seven inches long. She is small enough to be easy to store and display, easy to transport to the water, but big enough to carry a convincing level of detail. She has a good presence on the water.
She is a complete pleasure to sail. At the end of a demanding day's work, take a little ship like this to the water. Put her afloat. As she gathers way, spinning her delicate web of illusion, looking every inch a little ship in great waters, you can feel the day's cares wash away. Model boats can be very therapeutic.
She is based on the famous Dutch steam tug "Furie", now preserved. Tugs are an important part of the Dutch maritime heritage. The Dutch are the world's marine salvage specialists, and many of the world's largest and most powerful tugs sail under their flag. "Furie", exemplifying a vessel from an earlier age, is something of a national monument.
This model is now in the famous Childe Beale collection.
(model by John Davies)
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Flower Class Corvette (1/48th)917 viewsThis gives a good view of the intricate detail found on a warship model.
(Model by John Davies)
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Flower Class Corvette (1/96th)916 viewsThis gives a good view of the intricate detail found on even a small warship model. Although it is only to 1/96th scale, it compares quite well with its 1/48th scale equivalent.
(Model by John Davies)
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Pond yacht restored915 viewsThis large pond yacht model, a family heirloom, came into my workshop in a pretty dreadful condition, with a nasty crackle-finish paint over much of the hull, (there was enough left to ascertain her original colour scheme, but it was in a horrible state) crude holes hacked in the decks over the mast step and rudder head, no hatch, no chain plates for the shrouds, no rudder and no keel (I cast a 35 lb lead keel for her and faired it in fore and aft), damage to the deck planking, especially over the counter, and no rigging parts whatsoever.
(Model by family builder, restored by John Davies)
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Pond yacht restored deck detail915 viewsI quite deliberately did not restore her to the best finish that would have been possible. She was a competent amateur built model, so that was the standard I endeavoured to reproduce. Her owners got her back in a condition very like she would have been when she was brand new, and yes, she can be sailed again.
(Model by family builder, restored by John Davies)
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