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[Colin Bishop]

At the age of 90 Brian has finally been obliged to hang up his modelling boots and has decided to sell his wonderful collection of models at auction by Ewbanks of Surrey on March 17th.

You can see a preview of the auction catalogue here:

https://www.ewbankauctions.co.uk/Fine-Art-Antiques/2016-03-17?arr=&box_filter=&category=COLLECTIONS&category_by=&currency=&department_id=&exclude_keyword=&export_issue=&filter_360=&high_estimate=&image_filter=&keyword=&list_type=&lot_no_from=&lot_no_to=&lots_per_page=&low_estimate=&month=&page_no=1&paper_filter=&search_type=&sort_by=&view=bidders&year=

Colin

[joppyuk1]

I can only drool over them. It will be interesting to see what they eventually realise.

[Ian K]

Hi, Sorry for the up coming negative....but.....

I wonder which idiot defined the ridiculous low valuations on these models?
Someone who has no idea of the amount of work, that goes into creating these wonderful objects.

Surely, these models deserve to be housed within a museum?

I met Brian King quite a few times, he taught me all about static scale judging. He even took me for my MPBA judges exam, in the early 90's....He was a very tough cookie to please indeed.
The man IS a legend within the scale warship modelling fraternity! Winner of countless awards, a huge wealth of knowledge, a very talented writer and a general all round great bloke!!

Ian......not very happy about it!

[inertia]

Ian
It's a sad fact that the value of the time and effort put into making a model - especially a model of the quality of these - will seldom be realised on its subsequent sale. As a rule of thumb you'd be lucky to get back the price of a kit, let alone the paints, glues etc included, unless you came across someone who was absolutely determined to obtain that model at whatever the cost. In Brian's case there probably isn't a way of valuing such masterpieces, as there was often no kit on which they were based. If there was then the huge amount of additional detailing etc would price them way above any 'standard' kit build.
Museums tend to want flashing lights and interaction for their exhibits these days. Even if a straightforward maritime museum was interested (does such a beast still exist?) I doubt if it would have sufficient funds to pay much, if anything at all, for such a fine collection.
Let's hope for Brian's sake that a few well-heeled and appreciative buyers will be found for these magnificent models.
Dave M

[TomHugill]

A daft question but are they all static models?

[Liverbudgie2]

In the current market the estimates are quite realistic, only with certain exceptions will model boast realise more.

Of course I hope that they do will go for considerably more, indeed they probably will, to private collectors and dealers; in the meantime we have to face the fact that people in general couldn't give a toss about model boats or their value. These have been offer to numerous museums etc. in the past, but all have declined the offer.

They are all static, cased models.

LB

[Colin Bishop]

Approaches have indeed been made to various museums but most have not been interested or would only accept them as donations. Very few auction houses are interested in model ships and boats unless they have antique or historical value such as builder's models or items which have been owned by somebody famous etc. Sheer craftmanship on its own does not attract much of a premium and the time put into building them was leisure time so it has no cash value.

Brian is indeed well known within the model boating world but not otherwise.

So ultimately the models are only worth what someone will pay for them although I really do hope that Brian does well in the sale.

Colin

[ballastanksian]

For me, his work on modelling the ninteenth century navy is peerless. They enthuse my efforts. A few years ago when I had a bob or two spare I would have bid on at least one of these beauties.

We can only hope the right sort of customer will attend and that none of the antiqueey telly programs are filming that day, as on the ones I have seen the crowd are either not a crowd (it being a quiet day), or everyone has their hands in their pockets