| by Mark Steele
- Auckland, New Zealand
Modeling is
About People |
Well, what nice, though oft too generous comments
on the first issue. Thank you, both old friends and
new friends. Here’s another delve into the wonderful
world of little sailing boats by way of this August
offering. Mark Tindall of Kent in the United Kingdom,
a through and through fan of the old Nelsonian-era
ships, finished his 58” long RC model of Horatio’s
famous flagship VICTORY after a one and a
half year period of construction. Impressive isn’t
she but not a project for the impatient, the not too
skilled or the feint-hearted. What was that old Nelsonian
toast? Something like “To sweethearts and
wives! May they never meet“.
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Impressive
isn’t she but not a project for
the impatient, the not too skilled or
the feint-hearted.
(click
images to enlarge) |
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Almost a rogue wave hit this model of Englishman,
Tony Searle’s Man O War, Mars. She
survived but his Thames Sailing barge Serenie
in the next photograph, took in water, slowly rolled
and sank. These things do happen occasionally, so
keep the ocean outside of the boat where it belongs
!
Be careful when uttering the expression “sails
like a dog” within earshot of this one. He will
display his helmsmanship and show you how a pukka
dog sails – then he will get angry and chew
up your decking, perhaps even go for your `privates’.
(photo by Kiwi Tom Harper who owns the Firebug yacht
and the dog)
| Be careful
when uttering the expression “sails
like a dog” within earshot of this
one. |
|
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You know how it is, sometimes you see a boat, or
a model of one (even perhaps have a sail of it) then
forever after it lurks in your mind while you pronounce
it `the most beautiful model ever?’. So it is
with with my dear friend Ken Impey’s schooner,
John Fossett Bonds which I sailed in Cornwall,
England in 1994, enjoying both his boat and his company.
Funny things memories!
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my dear
friend Ken Impey and his schooner, John
Fossett Bonds which I sailed in Cornwall,
England in 1994 |
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Modeling of any kind I believe is about people,
and I have met and corresponded with so very many
absolutely wonderful and talented ship modelers, in
so many countries in the years of producing my little
magazine, Windling World. Like Ken Impey,
Lloyd `Swede’ Johnson is one of them. Very well
known in both fullsize yachting and in model sailing
boats, Lloyd of California (seen with young Swede
the helmsman who actually steers the model) and his
second Pinky schooner, is another good example. Generous
to a fault (he airfreighted his first Pinky schooner
to me all the way in New Zealand as a gift because
I admired it!) he is a knowledgable sailor and another
wonderful friend-never-met of mine. I’ve found
that model sailing boats often bring out the very
best in people.
| Lloyd `Swede’
Johnson of California and his second Pinky
schooner. |
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Back in New Zealand, Richard Gross, one of our Ancient
Mariners weekly windlers, built and sails this
Bawley fishing boat, Anita. Always attracting
attention and good comment whenever he brings it down
to the pond. Its style takes one back to earlier,
long-passed years in Britain. Built plank on frame,
it is 1200mm long. A big model indeed with a rig slightly
shortened to 1650mm.
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Richard
Gross, one of our Ancient Mariners
weekly windlers, built and sails this
Bawley fishing boat, Anita. |
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My
friend John Butterwith in Devon, England has built
several fine Bristol Pilot Cutters, also a couple
of Bawleys, his latest this Cutter Jane Winifred here
seen passing the old Victorian pier at Clevedon in
Somerset.
| John Butterwith
in Devon, England has built several fine
Bristol Pilot Cutters and also a couple
of Bawley models, this cutter, Jane
Winifred shown here. |
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Roy Lake originally of England, but resident in
Auckland is a skilled modelmaker who can build virtually
anything out of wood. He has built heaps of lovely
RC models over many years This is his Pride of Monterey,
an elegant 4-master onto which he has lavished great
detail indeed and which he sails at Monterey Park’s,
Modelworld, a commercial establishment north of Auckland
city.
I hope you enjoy this visit to Where the winds
blow, and for those who may hurriedly leave perhaps
with the view that big men building and sailing model
yachts are a bit weird, I leave you with Gloria Steinem’s
much-quoted quote…`It is never too late for
a happy childhood’.
`The season is ending, time for
sending
Marigold my model ketch…
Up the pond to seek her own `beyond’
While my Summer I try to stretch’.
Mark Steele
[email protected]
Other Articles by Mark Steele:
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