Presentations by members

Most models of HMS Victory are unpopulated, however Mort Stoll describes here his provision of a crew, properly dressed and equipped, busily at work on the vessel. By leaving sections of the deck unplanked he was able to reveal details of the various cabins, fittings and crew below the weather deck. This treatment adds considerable interest to the model. This short talk was given to the Society of Model Shipwrights at its Zoom meeting on Friday 8th November 2024.

Following Part 1, in which Tony Boswell described the purchase of this second hand model and the work required to restore it, this part touches on the repairs, mostly cosmetic, required to bring the model to an acceptable standard. Due to unforeseen circumstances Tony was unable to deliver his talk and it was given on his behalf by another member of the Society on Friday 8th December at the monthly Zoom meeting.

Following Part 1 on the research undertaken into the history and design of this unusual vessel, Kevin Kenny describes the building of this inter-island ferry. Because the hull was given two tunnels aft in which the propellers ran, Kevin decided to build the hull by assembling a number of vertical transverse laminations following the pattern of the bulkheads. The other main difficulty was in setting up all the vertical tubular members to provide the framework for holding, supporting and positioning the superstructures decks and ceiling. Fortunately Kevin was very ready to point out his mistakes from which he and we can learn the pitfalls that can occur in scratch building. This presentation was given to the Society of Model Shipwrights at its Zoom meeting on Friday 8th November 2024.

Presenting damage in model form is unusual and difficult. In this presentation, Alistair Feltham explained how he represented the attack by two Iraqi Exocet missiles on the USS Stark in the Persian Gulf in 1987. By using appropriately directed heat he was able to create the necessary distortions in the hull adjacent to the entry and exit points of the missiles and by using thin sheet brass formed the buckled plating caused by the attack. The model also shows the damage control activity conducted to save the vessel and, using a cleverly mounted helicopter, the evacuation of casualties. Alistair based his modifications on an "Academy" plastic model kit at 1:350. This briefing was given to the Society of Model Shipwrights at their Zoom meeting on 11th October 2024.

Following his introduction and the construction of the hull in Part 1, Michael Reading discussed the marking up of the deck to receive the superstructure and the then the creation of its various components. Some of this work is highly intricate particularly the building of the guns and the mast with all its antennae. He also insists on fitting out interiors despite the fact that they will eventually be enclosed. He gave an example of the detail inside the bridge, which can only be viewed by looking through the windows. This update was given to the Society of Model Shipwrights at their Zoom meeting on 11th October 2024.

Prior to a presentation on the building of a model of this unusual ship, Kevin Kenny discussed the research required to be able to build an authoritative model of this little known vessel. The Naparima was constructed by the firm of Thornycroft on the River Thames above London. In order to operate as an inter-island ferry in Trinidad and Tobago she had to have a very shallow draft. - 3 feet. Steaming this vessel across the Atlantic must have made her captain anxious! Kevin's research led him to numerous sources in Trinidad and Tobago and to the National Maritime Museum in England amongst many others. This talk was given to the Society of Model Shipwrights at their Zoom meeting on 11th October 2024.

John Garnish presents his variations of the Harold Hahn method in the building of the hull of a 14th Century Mediterranean Cog, These additions to the Harold Hahn method are designed to improve accuracy and precision in forming the hull and in retaining its true conformation throughout the build, including planking and interior detailing. He also deals with the use of a turntable to afford the viewer an all round view of the model, a concept rarely used by other model makers. This presentation was given to the Society of Model Shipwrights at their Zoom meeting on 13 September 20024.

Five members of the Society of Model Shipwrights describe their different views on Marine Painting starting with the joy of building up a family collection and then the appreciation of light and drama in the work of Winslow Homer. These two approaches were followed by the enjoyment of recording your travels in watercolour sketches and then the value to the model shipwright building models from the 17th and 18th centuries of the paintings of the Old Masters such as the Van de Veldes. The evening was closed with a talk on the work of Klaus Bergen allied to the rebuilding of the German Navy between the two World Wars. These presentations were given to the Society of Model Shipwrights at their meeting on 13 September 2024.

The internet is well populated by videos made by Kevin Kenny demonstrating the methods of creating high quality model ships. Here he explains how easy it is to spend money unnecessarily on expensive equipment that is surplus to requirement following that with what is really necessary to make a perfectly good video. He focuses on the use of I-phones, I- pads, good stands to hold them, good lighting and the supporting software particularly the app I-Movie. He stresses the importance of editing as you go rather than returning to it later one the video has been completed. This presentation was given to the Society of Model Shipwrights at their Zoom meeting in July 2024.

Mark Brady relates that this warship was built by Armstrongs for The Republic of Chile in the years immediately before WW1. At the outbreak of war the part complete vessel was requisitioned by the UK Government and renamed Canada. She was completed during 1915 and subsequently served at Jutland. After WW1, the builder's model was passed to the Imperial War Museum where it was damaged during an air raid in 1940. Since then it lay untouched until acquired by the National Museum of the Royal Navy. It was given a deep refit and repair in 2015/16 in time for the 100th anniversary of the battle in 2016. The model is now displayed in the Explosion Museum at Gosport near Portsmouth. This presentation was given to the Society of Model Shipwrights at their Zoom meeting in July 2024.

Alistair Feltham described his fleet of submarine models from the WW2 U Boat to the vast nuclear versions of the 21st Century. Some of these were highly detailed showing internal arrangements, whilst others were distressed to show the effect that long sea passages would have on their hulls. This presentation was given to the Society of Model Shipwrights at their Zoom meeting in June 2024.

Adrian Roberts describes the opening stages in the building of his model of HMS Polyphemus. This extraordinary vessel, which was the only one of her kind, was built in Britain towards the end of the 19th Century when both the ram and the torpedo seemed to have potential as weapons for naval warfare. The former failed but the latter proved to be a key element in the future of war at sea. Having covered the problems of acquiring plans at a reasonable price, Adrian covered the build system of vertical laminations. This presentation was given to the Society of Modelshipwrights at their Zoom meeting in June 2024.

Richard Simon continues his discussion on the construction of this minute and highly detailed model of a large French sailing frigate. In this episode he covers the decoration of elements of the stern, the production of miniature blocks and deadeyes and the modelling of six mortars capable of firing combustible munitions, a very unusual equipment for a frigate. This talk was aimed at the serious model maker of vessels from the age of sail. This presentation was given to the Society of Model Shipwrights at their Zoom meeting in May 2024.

David Griffiths concludes his three part series on the building of a replica of CMB 4, a 40' Thornycroft Coastal Motor Boat which in 1919 torpedoed and sank an armed cruiser of the Soviet Navy immediately outside the Kronstadt Naval Base near St Petersburg. In doing so he covers in outline her history and the building of the replica before going into her fitting out and her sea trials. He finishes by tracing Thornycroft's development of fast racing craft which led to the design of these elegant little warships. This presentation was given to the Society of Model Shipwrights at their Zoom meeting in May 2024.

Alistair Feltham describes the linear development of the capital ships, cruisers, destroyers and smaller warships of the Soviet/Russian Navy from 1950 to the present day. His talk is liberally supported my models of these warships made from kits at 1:700. This talk was given to the Society of Model Shipwrights at their Zoom meeting on 8th February 2024.

Having spent most of his model making time producing destroyers and frigates from the latter half of the 20th Century, Michael Reading has started work on a more recent vessel. Here he describes the opening stages in the construction of a waterline model of this general purpose missile equipped frigate. This talk was given to the Society of Model Shipwrights at their Zoom meeting on 8th February 2024.

The Whaleback ship is usually associated with the Great Lakes lying between the USA and Canada, however SS Sagamore was built at Sunderland in the UK in 1892/3 and steamed was an ocean going vessel. Jim Baumann describes here his scratch built model of this vessel. Note the fantastic detail and realism of this minute model. This talk was given to the Society of Model Shipwrights at their Zoom meeting on 8th February 2024.

Alan O’ Neill briefed the meeting on his model of an Aleutian kayak. The finished model was displayed in frame without its skin together with a model of a seagull and walrus. This presentation was given to the Society of Model Shipwrights at its Zoom meeting on 9th February 2024.

Christopher Cooke briefed the meeting on the vast choice of card and paper model ship kits available mainly from producers in Germany and Poland. He also laid out the advantages of this form of model making, particularly the minimal requirement for tools and the low cost of the kits compared to the plastic and wood varieties. This talk was given to the Society of Model Shipwrights at their Zoom meeting on 9th February 2024.

Toni Levine briefed the meeting on her project aimed at teaching the correct way to rig a mainmast by using a cross section waterline model of the hull and setting up chainplates, channels and the mast. This talk was given to the Society of Model Shipwrights at their Zoom meeting on 24th February 2024.

Tony Boswell briefed on his acquisition of a 2nd hand, radio controlled model of HMS Amethyst and his luck in locating the kit builders and obtaining from them the plans and instruction book. Much work was going to be required on the electrical installation and on the deck equipment. This briefing was given to the Society of Model Shipwrights at their Zoom meeting on 12 February 2024.

Bruce Dennis recounts the history of this American built merchant sloop that was purchased in Antigua in 1745 by a Captain Knowles in order to send urgent dispatches to the Admiralty. Having arrived at Portsmouth her subsequent career was short and violent as a few days later she was attacked and captured by a French Privateer, was recaptured almost immediately by the Royal Navy before being quickly repaired and dispatched to the support of British forces in Flanders, where she was then wrecked on the shoals off Ostend. This presentation was given to the Society of Model Shipwrights at their Zoom meeting on 8th December 2023.

Alistair Roach briefed the Society on the many uses made of ship models during and after WW1 such as wargaming for naval staffs, research into camouflage painting and training in ship recognition. This presentation was given to the Society of Model Shipwrights at their Zoom meeting on 14th January 2022.

Ian Mclaughlan, Paul Fontenoy and Michael Reading describe the development of the destroyer, now combined operationally with the frigate during the Cold War years. The navies discussed are the USN, the RN and the navy of the USSR. This presentation was given to the Society of Model Shipwrights at the Zoom meeting on Friday 10th November 2023

Alan O'Neill describes the dismantling of the stern framework on his model of HMS Bellerophon and the reconstruction of the same to achieve the correct shaping of the structure. He followed this with an account of building an 18' cutter to the same scale as the model of Bellerophon. This briefing was given to the Society of Model Shipwrights at the Zoom meeting on Friday 10th November 2023

Edward Cowan briefly describes the additions he has made to his working model of HMS Ferret, a sloop of war from 1710, followed by a quick look at her sailing together with other models built by Patrick Puttock, of a Bristol Channel Pilot Cutter and a steam drifter set up for minesweeping in WW2. This presentation was given to the Society of Model Shipwrights at their Zoom meeting on 13th October 2023.

Ray Peacock and Alan O'Neill describe the use of Computer Assisted Design to develop the lines of a yacht prior to the construction of a half model, using limited primary information, which came in the form of an owner's manual and some photographs taken in a boatyard. This presentation was given to the Society of Model Shipwrights at their Zoom meeting on 13th October 2023.

Bruce Dennis described his passion for the work of Philip Reed, Britain's leading builder of small scale ship models for display. Philip's book, "Building a Miniature Navy Board Model" - Seaforth Publishing - goes into great detail on how he managed to replicate this style of construction but at a scale of 1:192 when the original models were at 1:48. Bruce described his progress so far, which amounted to acquiring all the information to make a start, preparing all the wood, cutting the external faces of the frames and preparing an assembly jig. This talk was given to the Society of Model Shipwrights at their Zoom meeting on Friday 8th September 2023.

Adrian Roberts delivered his third presentation on the development of naval air power having previously covered the period up to the end of WW1 and then, in his second talk, the Royal Navy's difficulties in developing its air arm during the interwar period. He points out that both the USA and Japan, who made the biggest advances in this period, investigated and learnt from the experiences of the Royal Navy during WW1 who were, at that time, the leading nation in this form of warfare, only to lose it due to bad judgements made by successive British governments. This presentation was given to the Society of Model Shipwrights at their Zoom meeting on Friday 8th September 2023.

Bruce Dennis briefed members on the opening stages in the construction of a model of this colonial sloop, brought into the Royal Navy in 1745. This was his second attempt using the plank on bulkhead system since the hull in the first had warped due to the poor materials he had available at the time. His second effort included measures to prevent movement in the hull during the building process. He also covered the topic of tools which he had modified to help this build. This talk was given to the Society of Model Shipwrights at their Zoom meeting on 14th July 2023.

Paul Fontenoy, using a gallery of high quality card and plastic models, describes the 'Super Destroyers' that were developed by Germany, Italy, France, Japan and the USA between the Wars. He did not include the Royal Navy's Tribal Class leaders as they were covered in Part 5 C. Dealing with armament, speed, range and stability he rightly asks the question if these craft, in some cases, were worth the extra expense over and above that of the conventional destroyer. This talk was given to the Society of Model Shipwrights at their Zoom meeting on 14th July 2023.

Mark Brady outlines the Royal Navy's approach to air defence in the period 1918 to 1939, by which time the problems posed by this form of attack had been largely appreciated and the necessary solutions found. He stressed the importance of having effective fire control systems linked to anti-air weapons and the penalty thus paid in terms of stability to the destroyer. This talk was given to the Society of Model Shipwrights at their Zoom meeting on 14th July 2023.

Ian McLaughlan gives a brief description of the Royal Navy's offensive minelaying capacity during the interwar period 1919 - 1939 and the lack of attention to this vital role until a year before WW2. He therefore deals with the design, fitting and conversion of minelaying capable destroyers of which only six were available at the start of WW2. He also discusses the importance of the fast, purpose-built minelayers ordered in 1938. This talk was given to the Society of Model Shipwrights at their Zoom meeting on 14th July 2023.

Alan Hall describes the anti-air and anti-U Boat capabilities, in terms of detection and weaponry, of those destroyers acting in an escort role during the battle of the Atlantic 1939 - 1945. He also touches on the developments during the interwar period 1919 - 1939. This talk was given to the Society of Model Shipwrights at their Zoom meeting on 14th July 2023

Ray Peacock describes his restoration of two miniature models made by German prisoners of war in Canada during WW2. The work involved the repair and replacement of very small fittings on the models as well as the rigging and masts and the provision of display cases to protect these historic models. This presentation was given to the Society of Model Shipwrights at their Zoom meeting on Friday 9th June 2023.

David Grifffiths gives an update of the building of a replica of this iconic craft in Boathouse 4 in Portsmouth Historic Dockyard and covers the work by Issac Thornycroft in the development of the planing or skimming hull at the beginning of the 20th Century, which led to the design of these fast torpedo attack craft for the Royal Navy. This presentation was given to the Society of Model Shipwrights at their Zoom meeting on Friday 9th June 2023.

Ron Thornton describes the building and sailing of his working model of this graceful yacht-like fishing schooner Puritan. Built of balsa planking on a ply centre line and treated with a two part resin epoxy this model had a light and strong hull and proved a good looker and sailer on his local pond. This talk was given to the Society of Model Shipwrights at its Zoom meeting on Friday 14th February 2023.

Ian McLaughlan introduced a series on the building of a model of the Brig-Sloop HMS Badger, allegedly Lord Nelson's first command. This project will use the paper and card printed kit as a template for a hybrid model built out of wood and card. This session covered just the preliminaries of material, basic structure and tools. This talk was given to the Society of Model Shipwrights at its Zoom meeting on Friday 14th April 2023.

Alan Hall gave an account of an ingenious method of producing a planked deck by glueing together on their flat faces, strips of thin veneer measuring 0.4 x 2.1mm in such a way as the edges of the strips became the top surface of the planking. He demonstrated this on his recently completed model of the paddle steamer Medway Queen. This talk was given to the Society of Model Shipwrights at its Zoom meeting on Friday 14th April 2023.

Alan O'Neill describes the design and construction of a mariner's astrolabe, a device used by ancient mariners in much the same way as a modern sextant is today and like it, in search of the same information, the angle of the sun above the horizon. He also dealt with the irregular path of the Earth about the Sun and the resulting need for calculations leading to detailed tables for variation.This talk was given to the Society of Model Shipwrights at its Zoom based meeting on Friday 14th April 2023.

Russian Destroyers 1905 - 1918. Mark Brady follows the design and development of the Russian destroyer from the disastrous defeat of the Russian Fleet by the Japanese in 1905 and its recovery before and during World War 1. He points out that before 1913 most of the destroyers were influenced by German design and were built either in Germany, Russia or at Riga. However, in 1913 the Russian naval staff came up with a design that gave rise to the largest and most powerful destroyers in the World for the duration of the War. This presentation was given to the members of the Society of Model Shipwrights at their Zoom meeting on 10th March 2023.

German, French, Italian and USA Destroyers 1906 - 1918. Paul Fontenoy conducts a brief resume of the Destroyers of European countries and the USA before and during World War 1 dealing with armament, propulsion, displacement and seakeeping ability. He also touches on the slightly different approach to the use of these warships by the contrasting navies as well as the management and direction of the yards building them. This presentation was given to members of the Society of Model Shipwrights at their Zoom meeting on 10th March 2023.

Japanese Destroyers 1898 - 1918. Ian McLaughlan gives a comparison between the development of Royal Navy destroyers those of their Japanese counterparts pointing out that Japanese destroyers prior to 1901 had been built in British commercial yards. Subsequently the Japanese destroyers proved to have a slightly heavier armament but were generally slower and lighter than their British cousins. This presentation was given to members of the Society of Model Shipwrights at their Zoom meeting on 10th March 2023.

Detailing The Stern of The Napoleonic Frigate L'Egyptienne
Richard Simon gave an informal explanation of how he worked up the detail on the stern of his 1:162 model of the French Heavy Frigate L'Egyptienne. The piece measured only two 2.5" in width and included delicate boxwood carvings and bas reliefs formed using just two tools, a 1.5mm gouge and a size 11 knife blade. This talk took place at the Society of Model Shipwrights Zoom meeting on 10th February 2023.

Keith Smith gave an account of the history, method of operation and the building of two unusual models of early Dutch vessels. The first was a "Crompster", basically a small armed merchantman with a fore and aft rig and equipped with 12 guns and described by one maritime author as the "pocket battleships of their day". His second model was a herring buss, presented complete with a section of its drift net.and with its fore and main masts unstepped and secured whilst it lay to the wind and its net under a square mizzen. This presentation was given to The Society of Model Shipwrights at their Zoom meeting on 10th February 2023.

The Peregrine Galley was designed by Peregrine Osbourne, Marquis of Carmarthen in 1700. She is normally pictured as having three masts, all square rigged. However, following an examination of a contemporary model of the vessel in the National Maritime's Reserve Collection, Ian McLaughlan has come to the conclusion that her designer set her up with a bilander rig on two masts with the mainsail being an enormous fore and aft lugsail. This presentation was given to the Society of Model Shipwrights at their meeting on 13 January 2023.

Following his earlier talk, given in July 2022, on the history of this important warship, Tony Boswell describes here certain aspects of the vessel's construction, painting and decoration. This is a difficult task because not only are the records sparse but she was altered several times during her long life. Part of the talk was supported by photographs of Tony's own model of this iconic ship dubbed "the Golden Devil" by a Dutch Admiral. This presentation was given to the Society of Model Shipwrights at their meeting on 13 January 2023.

HMS Resolution was built in 1667 by Sir Anthony Deane. As Keith explains in this video, the model took him five years to build. Keith is a winner of the Duke of Edinburgh Challenge Trophy for 'best model in show' at the annual International Model Engineering Exhibition 1990. This presentation was given to the December 2020 meeting of the Society of Model Shipwrights.

Following his earlier talk on the History of this illustrious 74 gun ship of the line, Alan O'Neill describes the construction of his fully framed 1:64 model of her. He admits that he started the project as a novice and will consider himself no longer a novice when the model is completed. This model has been constructed in the manner of the original ship, so this talk forms a lesson on how to build a ship of the line! The detail is impressive. Further presentations will follow. This presentation was given to the Society at their Zoom meeting on 9th December 2022.

Edward Cowan updated the Society on progress with his large-scale model of HM Sloop Ferret. This included a first attempt at sailing - relayed on video - using radio control for steering but allowing the sails to be controlled by elasticated thread. There was a successful outcome. This talk was given to the Society of Model Shipwrights at their Zoom meeting on 11th November 2022.

Following on from Parts 1 and 2 of this series, which dealt with the torpedo, the early torpedo boats, the torpedo gunboats and the torpedo boat destroyers at the end of the 19th Century, this part covers the development of the Royal Navy's destroyers "proper", with the raised forecastle deck, between 1902 and 1919. This presentation was given to the Society at their Zoom meeting on 11th November 2022.

Following on from Part 1 of this series, which dealt with the torpedo and the early torpedo boats, this presentation by members of the Society of Model Shipwrights covers the torpedo gunboats of the 1890s and the torpedo boat destroyers that took their place towards the end of the Century, being faster and adequately armed. This presentation was given to the Society at their Zoom meeting on 8th July 2022.

Michael Reading described the research and building of a waterline model of the Co Class destroyer HMS Concord as she would have been during the Korean War 1951 -1953. This lecture was given to the Society of Model Shipwrights at their zoom meeting on 14th October 2022.

Bruce Dennis lays out a trail of detection. Working from two marine paintings that he owns and using his knowledge of the subjects portrayed, he explains how he tracked down the identity, career and activities of the painter in the first example and the name, details and history of the ship in the second. This is a good look at the techniques of research.

Richard Simon continues his journey in the construction of the French 24 pdr frigate L'Egyptienne. Using a system of transverse modules based on bulkheads, he forms a hull, solid to the gun deck but in frame above. The bulkheads are interspersed with blockwork, matching the bulkhead and the camber off the gundeck, to achieve the correct spacing of their frames to suit the gunports. Also covered are the planking, the making of guns and the building of the complex head.

Tony Boswell related the background to the building of the world's first 100 gun ship in 1635 before providing details of her construction, armament and history. This presentation was given to the Society of Model Shipwrights at its meeting on 12th July 2022.

Nigel Strafford describes the detailing, both internal and external, during the construction of his model of the 24 gun light frigate HMS Pandora of 1779. This was the vessel that was sent to find the mutineers on the Bounty. This presentation was given to the Society of Model Shipwrights at their Zoom meeting on 12th August 2022.

In this final presentation, Ray Peacock deals with the research necessary to build an accurate model of this tragic vessel and the impact of the underwater photography on the subsequent alteration of his model. He offers a full explanation of the methods used in constructing this 1: 48 model framed in the Admiralty manner.

Ray Peacock explains the weather patterns on lake Ontario and the unusual storms that took place on the American eastern seaboard just before the loss of HMS Ontario at night in a severe gale with the loss of all the crew and passengers. He goes on to relate the luck of her discovery and the value of images of the ship taken after her discovery.

Ray Peacock (voiced by Alan O'Neill) introduces his three part talk by explaining the political and Military situation on and around lake Ontario during the American war for Independence and the decision to place a British garrison at its northern and establish a base for ship-building and operations.

Nigel Strafford delivers a masterclass on the building of a model of HMS Pandora using many of the methods that would have been used in its original construction. He deals with framing, planking, internal structural work, decking, external fitting out and decoration.

Alan O'Neill gives the history of the first HMS Bellerophon, a 74-gun ship of the line, from her laying down in 1782, through her many battle honours and to her transportation of Napoleon to exile on the island of Elba in the south Atlantic.

The first of a five part series on the origins and development of the destroyer deals with the arrival in 1866 of the independent, locomotive sub-surface torpedo and the vessels designed to launch it. The period covered runs from the American Civil War 1861 - 1865 until the turn of the Century 35 years later. This Presentation was given to the Society of Model Shipwrights at their Zoom meeting on 11th March 2022.

Gail McGarva, our guest speaker, gave us an account of the building of a Cornish pilot Gig. After explaining how she came to be a boatbuilder, she took us through the steps of building a Gig and handling the woods involved, which could often be capricious. In addition to building three of these vessels she had also built, as her first creation, a Shetland boat. She constructed it when she was a student at the Lyme Regis Boatbuilding Academy. This presentation was given to the Society of Model Shipwrights at its Zoom meeting on 11th February 2022

Edward Cowan took us through the production of various components for his working Model of a Sloop of War from 1710, dealing with the deck planking, the rudder, the spars and mainsail. This presentation was given to the Society of Model Shipwrights at its Zoom meeting on 11th February 2022

Keith Smith presents his 1:96 model of HM Paddle Frigate 'Dragon' together with a separate model of her engine. This vessel bridges the gap between the sailing navy of Nelson and the steam navy of the late 19th century. The presentation was given to the Society of Model Shipwrights at their Zoom meeting on 10 September 2021.

John Longstaff presents his two miniature models of the paddle steamer RMS Scotia, the first as a "Cunarder" (she held the Blue Riband for five years) and the second, when no longer required for that service, as a screw driven cable laying vessel. In the paddle steamer version, the model has cut away sections showing the engines, boilers and some of the cabins, the latter fully furnished. Both the research for and construction of the models is covered here. This presentation was given to the Society of Model Shipwrights at their Zoom meeting on Friday 13th August 2021.

Following his earlier talk on the development of naval aviation from its inception in 1842 until 1918, Adrian Roberts based this presentation on the Royal Navy's experience from 1918 until June 1940. He made the point that the amalgamation of the Royal Flying Corps and the Royal Naval Air Service at the end of WW1 created great difficulties for the Royal Navy in that whilst the Navy operated the carriers, the flying of aircraft from them was left to the RAF, which did not regard the maritime requirement as a high priority. This situation meant that whilst in 1918, Great Britain led the world in Naval aviation, by 1939 it had been overtaken by both the USA and Japan. This talk was given to the Society of Model Shipwrights at their Zoom meeting on 9th December 2022.

Adrian Roberts discusses the early history of naval aviation both pre World War 1 and during that conflict. He looks at the three stages of air arm development: the balloon, the seaplane and the land plane, the latter launched from the aircraft carrier. He concluded with the fact that at the end of this period, the Royal Navy had a clear lead over all other countries but promptly lost that lead in the inter war years.This presentation was given to the Society of Model Shipwrights at their Zoom on 13th August 2021.

Ron Thornton describes the construction, fitting out, and sailing of his models of two "Chinese" junks, though neither of them are associated with China. Both have been fitted with radio control equipment. This talk was given to The Society of Model Shipwrights at their Zoom meeting on 11th June 2021.

Edward Cowan and Ian McLaughlan describe the research for and planning and construction of a model of HMS Ferret at 1:24. The original vessel was launched in 1711 and then deployed to the West Indies to suppress smuggling and piracy. The model has a framed hull and a system for attaching a false keel. The first flotation tests were successful. This talk was given to the Society of Model Shipwrights at their Zoom meeting on 11th June 2021.

Keith Smith presents his 1:48 model of the Charles Galley. This fast frigate/galley was launched in 1676 and was designed to chase and defeat the equally fast Xebecs along the Barbary coast. The model was built in Navy Board style using a stylized form of frame construction popular during the reign of the later Stuart Kings. The model is presented equipped with all its sweeps out, ready for rowing. This talk was given to the Society of Model Shipwrights at their Zoom meeting on 11th June 2021.

John Garnish explains some enhancements, in the pursuit of accuracy, to the Harold Hahn method of framing a hull, a procedure which assembles the component parts upside down on a building board. He introduces tools and accessories to measure the correct alignment of all members of the complex structure that is the skeleton of the model of a wooden seagoing vessel thus avoiding the all too often occurrence of a deformed hull.

Ron Thornton introduces his 1:60 working model of the American privateer Le Prince de Neufchatel from the War of 1812. The model is built out of polystyrene coated with epoxy resin and is equipped for sailing with radio control and a detachable fin and bulb keel .

Richard Simon presents three models: the Brig Le Curieux, the Xebec Le Requin and the Heavy Frigate L'Égyptienne, all three constructed to plans prepared by Jean Boudriot. In doing so he discusses assembly, carving, coppering and rigging. This presentation was given to The Society of Model Shipwrights, 30 April 2021

Peter Rogers describes his scale working model of a naval cutter c. 1800 and the difficulties of managing the topsail when going to windward. This presentation was given to the Society of Model Shipwrights at their meeting on 29th January 2021.

John Garnish describes how he first came across the 'Philadephia' in the Smithsonian Museum in Washington and then designed and built this outstanding diorama. This presentation was given to the February 2021 meeting of the Society of Model Shipwrights.

Ian McLaughlan explains how to use a paper model as a template to make wooden parts. This presentation was given to the February 2021 meeting of the Society of Model Shipwrights. This presentation was given to the February 2021 meeting of the Society of Model Shipwrights.

Alan Hall describes the tools and techniques required to achieve the ideal painted finish on very small model ships. This presentation was given to the February 2021 meeting of the Society of Model Shipwrights.

The importance of research before and during the construction of a model. Using the example of a Hezermeyer anti-aircraft platform on a C Class destroyer of 1944, Michael Reading emphasises the need for good plans, texts and photographs to fully understand the operation and design of a major piece of weapon equipment that is to be modelled