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Barry Smith |
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_ I am 61 years old and have always had an interest in the Titanic. I served for three years with Cunard on various ships as a steward when I was much younger (1959) and worked with a lift attendant who was on the Adriatic at the time of the disaster. He used to relate stories of the sinking as he was a bell boy at the time. Plus sailing across the Atlantic most of my time in the merchant navy, I used to wonder whether we ever sailed over the area where the liner rested on the sea bed. My wife bought a Minicraft kit for my Christmas present in 1999 and although I open it up and looked at the bits and pieces I didn't actually start building it until after I was made redundant by my Company in June 2000. I purchased Brass items from both Gold Medal Models and Toms, decals from Bruce Beveridge and days and days running out sheets from the Rivet Site on my computer, giving details of changes that needed to be done. Along with most of the books on the subject. Finally in August of this year I finished it. The decking is made from Marquetry wood so all the deck markings were lost, all railings and stairways are brass and all portholes have been drilled out. During working on the rigging both mast broke so these have been made from brass rod soldered together to the right size and pattern. The model is also lit by about 20 small peanut bulbs, but as yet I haven't taken any night shots. I changed the base from the one in the kit to a piece of Cherry wood with mahogany surround and a 4mm float glass case. Finally with the help of my computer I was able to add some clouds, sea and smoke to one of my pics so that once again I put this magnificent ship back to sea.
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