Falls of Clyde 1878 by GAW - FINISHED - scale 1:96 - iron 40-frame hull center cross-section

[BANYAN]

Stunning! - simply stunning detail and workmanship.  What a wonderful model this turned out to be GAW, you can be justifiably proud of this work.

 

cheers

 

Pat

[Geonas]

This is increible!!!! 😲

[mtaylor]

Beautifully done, GAW.   Very clean and precise.  

[Bob Cleek]

Dear Mr. Wingrove,

 

I first made your acquaintance close to forty years ago when I obtained a copy of your book, The Techniques of Ship Modelling. https://www.amazon.com/Techniques-Ship-Modelling-Wingrove/dp/0852423667 I am happy to be able to personally express my deep appreciation for your having written that book. At this point, I have a fairly complete library on the subject, including all the "classics" such as all of Underhill's, Davis', Crothers', and Longridge's works, as well as your own. I have to say, though, that it is your book to which I find myself returning more often than the rest. This is not so much for reference, but rather to "recharge my batteries" when I feel the need of a muse.  It isn't so much a "how to do it" book, as it is a "how to figure out how to do it on your own" book.  I can't recommend it highly enough to any miniaturist, regardless of their particular subject matter, be it ships or automobiles, or anything else, for that matter.

 

Notwithstanding how much I expect you must have on your plate, I urge you to consider an "updated and enlarged edition" of Techniques of Ship Modelling. Much has changed in the nearly fifty years since it was written and, surely, you've come up with many more fascinating techniques, tools, and fixtures to share. The book was written long before the advent of the internet when books were the primary way modelers learned the techniques of the craft. Today, of course, one can easily find a  "how to" video on any subject from tying your shoelaces to removing your own appendix, but a shortcoming of the internet is that information is rarely presented in a comprehensive, orderly manner that permits one to learn in a comprehensive and orderly way and, certainly, one has to separate the wheat from the chaff, which is near impossible when one is there to learn the difference in the first place. Forums like this one have greatly accelerated our progress on the modeling learning curve, but they often lack general reference material that is best presented in book form, as is evidenced by the continuing market for volumes like Steele's Elements... and Underhill's Masting and Rigging...

 

As far as I know, nobody has published anything even approaching your book's detailed treatment of modeling shop design and tools and machinery. Every other book on the subject offers a list of tools so basic that their authors merely overstate the obvious and dismiss the rest with a promise that "You'll find other useful tools as your skills develop."  No recent book has comprehensively addressed the subject of contemporary state-of-the-art "scratch-building" at all.  (And who might be better suited to do so authoritatively than you?) It was your book that introduced me to the Unimat, albeit a few years after that nifty machine's production had ceased. After years of unrequited lusting, I was able to procure one and now use it for all my small turning and milling work.  Unimat SL's have developed something of a cult following today and used tooling and accessories often bring more than they did when new.  Sadly, like many out of production lathes, they are worth more "parted out" so parts and attachments can be sold separately.  Indeed, some of the Unimat attachments treated in your book, e.g. the table saw attachment, can cost more than a new stand-alone miniature table saw such as the Byrnes or Proxon examples which are better alternatives than the Unimat saw available back then. I'd love to know what tools you are using now and what you think of what's currently available. When your book was written, you were still in your little eight by ten foot "garden shed" attached like a wart to the back of your house. (It was a masterpiece of space-saving engineering.) I am sure, were you of a mind to expound further, you'd have several times over the amount of fascinating information on the subject of shop and storage design to add to the "first edition." Then there's your modeling tools, jigs, and fixtures... You must have added an entire book's-worth of those in the last nearly fifty years.  Perhaps you are thinking, "I've been there and done that." but even the Beatles came out with a "Greatest Hits" album.

 

I know it's a chore and perhaps an imposition for me to implore you to write an second edition of The Techniques of Ship Modelling (although I hope you take it as a compliment,) but surely there must be a publisher willing to make a reasonable advance and an editor willing to collaborate on such a project. If you decline, we'll still love you, but for the moment, your audience is shouting, "Encore! Encore! Encore!"

[archjofo]

Gerald, that's model construction at the highest level.
It is an honor that you let us participate.

[the learner]

You know you've done a fantastic job when even the pros ooo and aww! Fantastic work. There are a lot of jealous people out here including me!

[mtaylor]

I just noticed he hasn't been online since his last post.   A bit of Googling to find out if he's working on other projects and I found this:  https://www.automobiliaresource.com/news/in-memoriam-gerald-wingrove     Sad news for the model world.

[Landrotten Highlander]

sad news indeed.

a bit late, but condelences to his friends and family

[Bob Cleek]

Sad indeed. He was one of my favorite modeling authors. Not always an easy read, but his books were chock full of valuable ideas. His Techniques of Ship Modeling is a must-have.

[KeithAug]

Sad news to hear of the passing of an exquisite craftsman but at least his exceptional legacy will inspire future generations of modellers.

[druxey]

May I add my condolences. Gerald was a master craftsman and shared his knowledge freely. As it was said of Christopher Wren, si monumentam requirat, circumspice; If you need a memorial, look around. His work will endure.

[rwiederrich]

I'm stunned and very saddened by Gerald's passing...he truly is an inspiration.   *Techniques of Ship Modeling* is an amazing testament.

I'll miss his conversations and encouragement.

 

Rob