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[kiwimodeller]

Greetings all, a friend recently purchased the pictured boat off our local internet auction. The gentleman who made it passed away quite a few years ago and the family cannot remember what it was modeled from although there was mention of it being either a "Cross Channel Ferry" or a "Channel Islands Ferry". It has a Taycol motor, a mechanical speed control and a reversible prop so it will be an interesting project to get it operating with modern gear. It would be nice to put the correct name on it and to track down some photos or plans so that he could add a few more fittings etc to dress it up. Any ideas much appreciated. Cheers, Ian.

[Colin Bishop]

I think I can confidently say that there as no UK Cross Channel or Channel Islands ferry that looked like that, nor is the colour scheme one which has been used in the UK. It may be based on an Australian or New Zealand ferry and in fact the livery does resemble that used on the Cook Strait at one time. It is obviously a predominantly passenger carrying vessel.

Colin

[TugCowboy]

Looks very much like something I saw at the Brighton show a couple of years back labelled as a Greek ferry.
Will see if I can dig the pictures out and confirm if my memory is misleading me or not.

[grendel]

too small for a cross channel ferry, plus no obvious bow and stern doors is a big giveaway - even the older cross channel ferries had cargo hoists and hatches for loading vehicles, and that is a more modern ferry hull shape.
Grendel

[Colin Bishop]

It does look like it might be a freelance model rather than a model of an actual ship.

Colin

[Brian60]

What about a Scilly Isles boat? Or an early Caledonia MacBrayne ferry for the Shetland or Orkney Isles? I have no idea about those craft, just throwing it in the ring for discussion.

[hama]

Reversible prop? I'd like to see that please. If it works, keep it. Not many modelboats have that feature though it's very common on modern ships.
Hama

[bj]

I think I can confidently say that there as no UK Cross Channel or Channel Islands ferry that looked like that, nor is the colour scheme one which has been used in the UK. It may be based on an Australian or New Zealand ferry and in fact the livery does resemble that used on the Cook Strait at one time. It is obviously a predominantly passenger carrying vessel.

Colin

Bluebridge and InterIslander (the two Cooke Straits companies) seem to have a penchant for using our old cross channel ferries. One vessel was giving one company real grief last year as I recall. See also a report on stuff.co.nz dated 26/10/2014 for more of the problems

[kiwimodeller]

Thanks for the input. A little more info has come forward from the family about the builder and when the hull was built although some of it is conflicting. It seems likely that his work may have involved time on the Cook Strait ferries so we will pur sue this line and see if we can track down info about the ferries of the 50's and 60's. Cheers, Ian.

[rayna]

  At our sailing day today a member brought along this model he had restored. The builder has passed away and his widow would like to know what ship it was. The builder visited the UK for the delivery of the Union Steam ship Company passenger vessel TEV Maori and it was then he built the model We presume with its very British lines that it is a Ferry of some sort. The Colours are not correct and to us are unknown. Anyone help?
Rayna

[Colin Bishop]

Already discussed here I think: http://www.modelboatmayhem.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,49807.msg507660.html#new

Colin

[rayna]

 %)Hi all thanks for the replies.
As I stated the colour scheme was a guess and yes it does match the early Cook Strait ferries but NO it is not one of them as far as I know. I was a Marine Engineer in Wellington in the 50s and 60s and to my knowledge the model is unlike any of them. Aramoana, Arahura, Aratika, Aranui , Arahunga, Aratere and certainly not Kaitaki or Tamahine. Blueridge ships were all RORO of different designs.
I just thought looking at the forward passenger walk under the bridge was reminiscent of UK marine design of the 60/70s as was the funnel and bow. Yes it reminds of the Aramoana specially when painted those colours but she had a stern RO RO ramp and in other aspects that is not her.
I think the call "freelance" is probably right.
Rayna

[bj]

Interesting but sad picture in today's Dominion Post 150 year anniversary supplement shows the ferry WAHINE laying on its side after trying to enter Wellington in April 1968. Clearly the colours are blue hull with white superstructure.