This model had been badly damaged during transport. Most of the masts/yardarms were really in poor condition and couldn’t be saved. Fortunately the sails were still in good condition.
A gentleman approached me after my 2023 exhibition and asked me to repair this enourmous model sailing ship that had been damaged. I thought I was very clever and rfeapired it in my spare room. At least I did until I tried to get it out through the door! I then had to cut the rigging sand turn the yardarms to get it through the various doors. When it was delivered to him I then re-installed the yardarm rigging. The model was very impressive, a huge amount of detail. When I surveyed the model I found that most of the rigging had perished and the bowsprit and associated sails/rigging had been broken off. I also had to fabricate some new carved figurines for the stern walk.
Thunderchild from H.G Wells’ “War of the World”. I built this for Drachinefel to my common scale 0f 1/192. The model was based on drawings that Drachinefel provided as a starting point. I then used the plans that I have of HMS Victoria as the main design for Thunderchild. I must say that building a “What if” is more challenging than an actual real life ship. I did like her final appearance and Drachinefel was very happy with my rendering. Getting it to the UK is another story!! An exercise in “thinking outside the box”!
