Jim Lad

Karel, Thank you very much for that image. This ship never ceases to amaze me with the range of strange bits and pieces that were fitted. I wouldn't have believed that a railing like that would be fitted to a ship in the mid 1930's if I hadn't seen the image. It looks like Gustaf was looking for the cheapest way to repair the ship and found some old railing in his shipyard. You obviously have access to an archive of photos that I've never seen before. You may be able to help me with some other fittings that I'm still trying to work out and can't find details. What I still need are: details of the pipes running to the water tanks on the starboard side of the donkey boiler house information concerning a lightly built yard on the spanker topmast - it shows in Villier's photos from 1927 and was still there when the ship was wrecked. I suspect that it may have been fitted as a signal yard - that would be unusual, but I can't think of any other practical use at the moment. photos of the hot bulb engine powered winch at No. 4 hatch. I have photos of a similar hot bulb winch fitted on the 'Pommern', but would love to have details of the actual winch fitted on the 'Duchess' photos of the gangway (accommodation ladder) at the ship's side. She must have had one, and a gangway davit is clearly visible in many photos, but I'd love to see an actual image of it clear photos of the underside of the lower yards as I suspect that the sheet lead block were individual single sheave blocks and not the more usual three sided spectacle blocks. I know that sound a lot, but if you were able to assist us with any of this, it would be extremely helpful. John

Ian, Keith and Patrick - thanks for your positive comments. Hopefully I can keep her going to a good standard to finish the model for the National Collection. Karel - thank you for your comments which you have given to help with the ongoing restoration and completion. We are trying to complete the model as she looked when she left Port Lincoln in South Australia on her final voyage and have thus been careful to use only photographic evidence that we can date from this period. Photographs and cinema footage taken shortly after the ship ran aground are therefore very valuable to us. We have found nothing to indicate that the anchors fitted at the time were of the Trotman pattern, and photos of the wreck indicate that the patent anchor was not on board at the time of the wreck, and therefore not on the ship when she left Port Lincoln. A spare fluked anchor can be seen secured to the after end of the forecastle deck in the photo you attached. The 'Duchess' indeed had solid bulwark sections port and starboard at the forward end of the poop and across the fore end of the poop as far as the well deck ladders - the centre section was of the fore end railing was of steel pipe railing. Yes, we realise that the railing stanchions are out of scale, but as these were fitted by a previous builder, we have decided to leave them on the model for the sake of the model's historic integrity. The top railing, however, is removed to be replaced by a wooden capping rail in the interests of historical accuracy. Once again, thank you for your interest in this project. John

The lower standing rigging creeps slowly forward. I've now removed the boat skits and the well deck gangway again (you can see them sitting on the base) and they will now stay off (apart from test fitting to make sure I can get the skids back on again) until the model nears completion. They had to come off (of course0 to give me access to the base of the foremast where the lower main stays are attached. My current plan is to complete the standing rigging on the foremast and then completely rig the bowsprit before working aft along the deck to complete all the deck structures and detail that can go on prior to rigging and then to work from forward to aft completing the rigging. A couple of photos of the model as she is now are attached. I', still looking for a good spot near where I'm building her to take photos as all the backgrounds are really cluttered and the carpet is very dark. I'm sure I'll think of something by the end of the build. John

That's a very nicely done curvy bit, Keith! John

This build just continues to amaze, Roel. John

Yes, that's certainly a possibility, but the original builder's other metal work is so precise that that hadn't occurred to me. John

Back at the museum after holidays, and the 'Duchess' continues to creep slowly ahead. More photos of progress next week, but in the meantime can anyone suggest a use for this fitting just above the mast cap. it's only on one topmast (masts are interchangeable on this ship) and I'm pretty sure it was a brain fade on the part of the original builder, but I don't want to remove it until I'm absolutely certain. Sorry for the ratty quality of the image, but my phone doesn't do close-up photography very well. John

Hello, and a warm welcome to the forum from 'Down Under'. John

Can't quite make out what that might be, Keith. You don't have a different view of it do you? John

Andreas, please post in English! John

Great to see the 'Wahine' on the move again, mate! John

Hello Olli, and a warm welcome (finally) to the forum from 'Down Under'. John

What an interesting looking coastal ship type, Eberhard. It will build a beautiful model. John

That looks an interesting build, Bryan. John

She's looking very 'swish', Paul. John

Can't help with those fitting, Melissa, but the model has come up extremely well! John

Just catching up. Roel This is rapidly reaching lunatic proportions! 😲 John

Hello Miguel, and a warm welcome to the forum from 'Down Under'. John

Very neatly laid deck. John

Phil, she may have lacked distinction, but she was still a very workmanlike looking little ship. John

It's not the 'rat's nest' that impresses me so much as the fact that it actually all fits inside the allotted space! 🙂 John

Just catching up after being away on holiday, Paul. She's coming along beautifully. John

Catching up after holidays, Mark. That's some very nice work on the stern. John

Hello Yann, and a warm welcome to the forum from 'Down Under'. John

Just catching up after holidays, Keith. She's progressing very nicely. John