Grandad's homemade model ships

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CJS
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Grandad's homemade model ships

Post by CJS »

Thought I would share a few of my grandfather's models. He served in the (R)OC during and after the war but always had a passion for making models, both aircraft from kits but especially ships from bits of wood and whatever he had lying around. I was (am) fascinated by them and although they are starting to show the odd knock here and there (bear in mind some of these are c. 50 years old now) to me they have an imperfect perfection about them. Hope you enjoy seeing them - he's still soldiering on and I'm sure would be pleased to know his beloved ships have met with an even slightly larger audience than the family.

I've no idea if the ships ever existed (although I know he made one of the Liberty Ship he served on at D-Day) but to me that doesn't really matter.

ImageDSC04505 by Chris Strawson, on Flickr

ImageDSC04508 by Chris Strawson, on Flickr

ImageDSC04509 by Chris Strawson, on Flickr

ImageDSC04510 by Chris Strawson, on Flickr

ImageDSC04511 by Chris Strawson, on Flickr

ImageDSC04512 by Chris Strawson, on Flickr

ImageDSC04514 by Chris Strawson, on Flickr

A few details...

ImageDSC04513 by Chris Strawson, on Flickr

ImageDSC04515 by Chris Strawson, on Flickr

ImageDSC04516 by Chris Strawson, on Flickr

ImageDSC04517 by Chris Strawson, on Flickr

Like I said, imperfect, but to me all the more perfect for that. Thanks for looking, and thanks Grandad :up:
"There's only one way of life, and that's your own"

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iainpeden
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Re: Grandad's homemade model ships

Post by iainpeden »

Chris, that is real craftmanship - great to see.

Have you come across the Matchstick Fleet? I saw them in 2000 at one of the big events at Portsmouth.

They might be at the Nothe Fort at Weymouth now but here's a youtube clip:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=luaTqt1qMiY
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Sundowner
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Re: Grandad's homemade model ships

Post by Sundowner »

Wow! Those are stunning, something to be proud of.

FarnboroJohn
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Re: Grandad's homemade model ships

Post by FarnboroJohn »

The first one, ML291, is a Fairmile B Motor Launch: https://www.uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/14480.html

The second one has USN style numbering so I haven't tried to sort it out.

The Leander Class Frigate (F40) is HMS Sirius: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Sirius_(F40)

Super work. I'm a kit man myself, scratchbuilding like this is only for very minor bits of what I do so I appreciate the effort and skill in these.

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Brevet Cable
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Re: Grandad's homemade model ships

Post by Brevet Cable »

Second looks to be a WW2 USN Destroyer Escort - turret ( as opposed to exposed gun ) would mean Rudderow or Butler class.

Hard to tell, but I think the side-wheeler is a tug.
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cg_341
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Re: Grandad's homemade model ships

Post by cg_341 »

Brevet Cable wrote:Second looks to be a WW2 USN Destroyer Escort - turret ( as opposed to exposed gun ) would mean Rudderow or Butler class.

Comparing photos, the Rudderow class looks likely, with DE-589 being the USS Tinsman.

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CJS
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Re: Grandad's homemade model ships

Post by CJS »

Thanks for the comments and info chaps, appreciate it. Next time I'm at my parents I will photograph some more for your perusal (there are quite a lot!).

One interesting thing - some of the fine rigging...cat's whiskers from an old tabby tom named Tom.
"There's only one way of life, and that's your own"

K213
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Re: Grandad's homemade model ships

Post by K213 »

Something you should treasure.

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Southendnick
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Re: Grandad's homemade model ships

Post by Southendnick »

My Grandad was in the Merchant Navy mainly on the Atlantic Convoys, he was a radar operator who tracked a U-boat and guided the escorts in to make the kill, sailors up on deck salvaged some of the debris that came to the surface and formed a small piece of wood they bought on board into a small basic model of the U-Boat, he was mentioned in dispatches for the task.

Upon his passing the model was passed to me.
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Tuckat
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Re: Grandad's homemade model ships

Post by Tuckat »

Very interesting, what a clever fella!

Many thanks for sharing these with us.
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