Hi Marmod, I met Richard Howlet just once towards the end of his life while I was buying bits for making sails. No real conversation but I knew who he was when I saw him, very pleasant. He had two walking sticks and looked in pain.
I have a very dodgy 36R hull, no deck, which I am going to restore for general sailing. It is an old hull but it has a nice moulded lead keel.
I remember Maritime Models when I used to visit the Maritime museum, then the museum got rid of nearly all its models so have not been back.
I have been restoring models (sailing boats mainly) and a bit of scratch building and sadly it does not often take me into a model shop.
I am currently looking for 2 off simple lifeboat davits 60mm high, no luck at any retail or on-line store. I have 6 but need 8 to complete my Glyn Guest Noggsund. I challenged myself to build a model only from parts and wood I have accumulated in my workshop.
The many new plastic ready to run yachts can only be a good thing to introduce people to sailing models. Most sold on-line I would think.
Do you manage to sail your 10R.? Russell Potts chair of VMYG is always pleased to hear about vintage models and appreciates a few photos for his archive.
regards Roy