1880 Gloucester halibut dory

I know that many people who build the Model Shipways Lowell banks dory see it mostly as a learning experience. Here in Nova Scotia, however, the banks dory is a potent cultural symbol, nearly as powerful as Bluenose herself and much more accessible to most of us. A ship modeller's collection could hardly be complete without one, so I aimed for a "keeper".

Rather than aiming for realism, I chose to follow the classic form of ship models, dating from the 17th Century "Navy Board" principles. Hence, the dory is presented in isolation and out of the water (not in a diorama), with everything in as-new condition (no weathering) and no grubby humans included -- nor any smelly fish.

However, a banks dory is a fishing boat and a fishing boat without her gear is as useless as a warship without her guns. I know that many fine models of warships have been built without their weapons (including the early "Navy Board" models) but most who build miniature warships today choose to arm them. On the same basis, a model dory should carry her fishing gear.

Lowell's 15ft dory, the size represented by the Model Shipways kit, was built for halibutting. "Saltbanking" for cod used lighter, less bulky gear and so smaller, cheaper dories were adequate. Besides, I have a special interest in the history of the northwest Atlantic halibut fisheries, so a halibut dory she should be! I have put aboard the gear listed in Goode's 1887 description in Section V of his "The Fisheries and Fishery Industries of the United States". I am left to wonder: How did the men manage to row their dory, while it was so cluttered?

The images in this album appear in the reverse order from what I intended. I'm sure there is a way to change that but I don't yet know how!

Nicely conceived.  

If we didn't know this was a model, one might guess we are looking at a full sized dory with all it's equipment.

Mike

21 hours ago, Michael Mash said:

Nicely conceived.  

If we didn't know this was a model, one might guess we are looking at a full sized dory with all it's equipment.

Mike

You are far too kind, Mike!

Though I am pleased with how it turned out. I was caught between a vision, in my mind's eye, of a perfect miniature and an expectation that I would actually end up with an ugly mess. In the end, it fell very far short of perfection but also far ahead of my expectation. No doubt, experienced model builders will say that that is how models always are!

Trevor

You didn't include the hooks and bait? The effect is ruined without them!

Obviously I'm joking, this is a fantastic result. I really like how you turned a very simple kit into something quite accurate and very unique by doing research and making some well-thought-out additions. Anyone interested in kitbashing a dory kit should look here for inspiration.

16 hours ago, JacquesCousteau said:

You didn't include the hooks and bait? The effect is ruined without them!

 

Obviously I'm joking, this is a fantastic result. I really like how you turned a very simple kit into something quite accurate and very unique by doing research and making some well-thought-out additions. Anyone interested in kitbashing a dory kit should look here for inspiration.

Thank you, JacquesC.! I really appreciate your comment.

I can't remember when the idea of fully fitting-out the dory came to me. Once it did, figured that to ought to be possible, though I dd not know how well I might succeed. While the kit is simple, like most models of open boats, it builds into an almost exact miniature replica, with every part present and serving its full-scale purpose. (OK: All fastenings are glue, not nails!) That seemed to call for equal care in the fishing gear -- bit like Model Shipways' whaleboat -- one of my aspirations for later.

On the positive side, after the hours of careful, precise work to get planks laid in place, it was so very relaxing to model things that are inherently irregular. If one of those skates of trawl is too wide and another too tall, the full-scale gear would have been different the next time it was baited and coiled down.

But I can't claim credit for the research, at least not for this model. I have a near-finished book manuscript on the history of the northwest Atlantic halibut fisheries, so I already knew where to look for the details.

Trevor

1 hour ago, Kenchington said:

But I can't claim credit for the research, at least not for this model. I have a near-finished book manuscript on the history of the northwest Atlantic halibut fisheries, so I already knew where to look for the details.

Don't sell yourself short! Research doesn't have to mean tracking down records in an archive or measuring artifacts, finding and reading published sources is still research. 

Fully fitting out a relatively simple workboat is a great way to go, and a nice way to stretch fabrication skills beyond the usual of hull construction and rigging. A whaleboat would be fun, looking forward to following your next build!