16-02-2025

A life on the local pond waves.

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Almost the full gamut of the models on display

At our January social at Catisfield Memorial Hall, Gary Elston, a very keen local modeller provided us with an insight into his hobby and skills. He presented eight out of his collection of over 40 model boats.

The actual display and variety of his models was one thing but his descriptions and stories behind each one was another. We were all captivated by his tales as he demonstrated each boat with a fair bit of interjected humour thrown in!

Each model had a reason to be built. Each received hours and hours of his dedicated time and skill. Gary gradually got into this hobby post retirement as do many of us within the Shed in some form or another. Not a craftsman by trade, in fact a Firefighter for most of his working life, he claims he was just a practical DIYer and later a modeller. He loves gadgets used for the building and fitting out of the boats too!

His models are made of wood and traditionally built where possible, decking for instance is made from individually sculpted planks! Plastic is taboo although deckhands etc are now made using a 3D printer to order, each one lovingly painted by Gary.

Where the models are replicas of the real thing, he researches the history and hence embellished the presentation with this knowledge.

One such story: He built and presented his model of the first steam turbine powered steamship, the Turbinia (note the name) which was launched in 1894. The developer, Parsons Marine, tried to get the Admiralty interested but they declined. Having later made vast improvements to the propulsion it was the fastest steamer in its day! To make a show, Turbinia raced unannounced through the Fleet Review at the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria off Spithead in 1897 and could not be caught! Eventually the Admiralty did declare that all Royal Navy ships should be fitted with steam turbine driven propulsions. (The first, was HMS Dreadnought in 1906).

In the extreme, one of Gary’s models was that of the ‘Bat Boat’, (Batman not only had his Bat Car!). Like all of his models they do actually work, complete with sound, lights etc. The Bat Boat even plays the Batman theme music!

Another actual replica was that of a Cromer lifeboat complete with crew and, as he explained, such boats are normally named after people who have helped or donated to the RNLI; Gary had named his boat after himself and his wife!

Gary is a member of several groups who may be found demonstrating their models on various lakes and ponds locally. He has also built a rescue launch for those boats that break down, get stuck in the weeds or even turned over by resident carp or trout!

A really fascinating talk and demo, much enjoyed by the Shedders!

Author: Cliff Jones: