Meet the Makers - Model Display Table 8

Table 8 - Place 1

Model Owner: Alan Pearson

Model Builder: Alan Pearson and Bob Nelson

Vessel: Sea Witch

Vessel Type: TID (Tug Inshore and Dock) Wartime emergency steam tugs built for the UK war effort. Later converted to diesel

Scale: 24 : 1

Builder: Assembly and fitting out by Richard Dunston Ltd., (Thorne and Hessle), William Pickersgill & Sons Ltd., Southwick, Sunderland.

Length: 20 m

Beam: 2.2 m

Displacement: 120 tons

Launch Date: The British Admiralty Ministry of War commissioned TID (Tug Inshore and Dock) in 1942

This vessel is modelled at a scale of 24:1 which gives the model a length of 833 millimetres and a beam of 216 millimetres. By 1942 steam tugs were urgently needed for War duties both in the U.K and overseas and the British Admiralty requested the construction of a standard ‘Utility’ vessel, which could be built quickly and easily using revolutionary construction methods.

TID tugs were prefabricated in sections, with the weight and size of each section such that they could be transported by road to the assembly and fit out facility. There were 159 TIDs constructed with the last being delivered in 1946.

After World War 2 some TID’s were modified to diesel engine drive like the Sea Witch.

Table 8 - Place 2

Model Owner: Ralph Burns

Model Builder: Ralph Burns

Vessel: Model Boat Kit

Vessel Type: Un made model boat kit

This provides people with an idea of what you get in a full kit. There are many ways to get a model, the simplest way is buying a ready to run model which often comes with a radio as well. The next simplest way to get into the hobby is to buy a kit like the one on display. It is also possible to buy a semi kit which includes a hull and some of the more intricate components. You can also buy the hull and make the model from this. Or you can opt to start entirely from scratch. Everyone makes their own choice and most modellers have used more than one of the approaches outlined above.

Table 8 - Place 3

Model Owner: Alan Pearson

Model Builder: Alan Pearson and Bob Nelson

Vessel: HMS Jersey 295

Vessel Type: Island Class Fisheries Patrol Vessel

Scale: 72 Scale

Builder: Hall Russell and Company.

Length: 59.5 metres

Beam: 11 metres

Displacement: 1260 tons

Launch Date: 18th March 1976 commissioned January 1977

This vessel is modelled at a scale of 72:1 which gives the model a length of 800 millimetres and a beam of 150 millimetres. Tasked with managing economic exclusion zones, providing maritime security, and assisting with disaster relief.

In 1993 she became involved in the Cherbourg incident, when Jersey captured the French trawler La Calypso in the Channel Islands waters on 2 April 1993.

As part of the Fishery Protection Squadron, along with her sister ships, Jersey patrolled the waters around the UK (sometimes also Gibraltar) providing protection for Britain's fishing grounds, as well as providing oil and gas platform protection

A sister ship FPV Westra owned by the Scottish Fisheries Patrol Authority was sold to the Sea Sheppard organisation and this vessel was renamed the Steve Irwin and is currently docked in Newcastle.