THE BUILDER

Owner of Shortfinals Productions, Andrew St.Pierre White is the builder of superb, museum-quality model ships, and some of his best work is up for sale. Each item is a one-off piece, not built from a kit, but hand crafted out of plywood and brass. Each model has taken between one and two years to build, consisting of about 800 -1200 man-hours. Each is presented as a waterline diorama, incased in a solid oak framed glass case with brass name plate.

MATERIALS AND SCALE

The scale used us 1:196. It’s not too small to make a large and imposing model, but large enough to include some fine detail. Material used is mainly ply with brass fittings, the decks are hand made from real strip-wood, many fittings are hand-made, the rails are brass with painted top-rail, balsa is used in the curvy bits like the bow, stern and funnel and the superstructure is a mix of ply and plastic card. Each model is a labour of love, rather than a business.

TRANSPORTATION

The models are on show in Somerset West, about 50kms west of the City of Durban. The models are not overly fragile and are robust enough for the rigors of travel and are provided in a specially built wooden crate for transportation. (Each ship will be packed by the model maker).

On receipt the buyer must extricate the case from the crate, remove and case lid and then remove the travel aids securing the model to its sea base. This is a simple job and should take no longer than ten minutes. Replace the lid and the ship is ready for display. I suggest good lighting: It makes all the difference. Low-voltage halogens downlights work best.

A list of completed models are accessible by scrolling down this page. Ships and items appearing are on the following list.

TO CONTACT THE BUILDER AND FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE PURCHASE OF THESE SHIPS, PLEASE USE THE FOLLOWING EMAIL ADDRESS. SUBJECT: Model Ships.

andrew@4xforum.com

UNION CASTLE LINE

RMS WINDSOR CASTLE (III)
RMS PENDENNIS CASTLE
RMS EDINBURGH CASTLE (II)
RMS TRANSVAAL CASTLE (not pictured)
RMS RHODESIA CASTLE (not pictured)

OTHER SHIPS

HMS ARK ROYAL (WWII)
AUTOLYCUS (Blue-Funnel passenger cargo)
MV CALEDONIAN MONARCH
QUEEN MARY 2. (not pictured)

MEMORABILIA

WWII RN SEXTANT

This is a 1:196 scale model on a calm, blue sea.

She is dressed for her final voyage, ready to depart from Cape Town harbour for the last time in 1997.

Sale includes a free Union Castle Windsor Castle original dinner menu, 9 September 1974, while on a voyage from Southampton to Cape Town. She arrived on that voyage with the model builder, September 12, 1974.

The ship, incl. case is 1460mm long and 380mm wide.

Price: US$1 500 (this price has been reduced from US$3 750.00 because the builder is building another one. 2009.

Crating: US$ 100

Postage, crating and taxes excluded.

This is a 1:196 scale model on a blue-grey sea. She is modelled as she was during her launch in 1957 on a rolling blue gray sea of the Atlantic Ocean

The ship, incl. case is 1355mm long and 380mm wide.

The case is oak and she has a brass name plate.

Price: US$5 000

Crating: US$ 100

Postage, crating and taxes excluded.

This is a 1:196 scale model on a stormy, blue-gray sea. She is modelled in her pre-refit setup during her record-breaking voyage from Cape Town to England in 1954.

People enjoy deck sports around the pool and other decks despite the wind howling over the decks.

The ship, incl. case is 1200mm long and 330mm wide.

Price: US$5 000

Crating: US$ 100

Postage, crating and taxes excluded

This is one of my favorites. The classic lines of one of ‘Liverpool’s Navy’ freighters of the Blue Funnel line plying the eastern trade routes in the mid fifties.

Smaller in size than the other models, ideal where limited display space in an issue. She is modelled at full speed on a slightly choppy blue sea.

The ship (incl. case is 1460mm long and 380mm wide.

Price: US$4 000 SOLD

Crating: US$ 100

Postage, crating and taxes excluded.

This is a 1:196 scale model on a blue-gray sea. On Deck are three Fairey Swordfish aircraft and a number of Seafires (although strictly speaking the Ark Royal never carried Seafires. These are 1.144 scale plastic kits added for some realism. A true model aficionado may want to remove them.

The ship (incl. case is 1440mm long and 340mm wide.

Price: US$880.00. (This price has been reduced from US$2 000.00.)

Crating: US$ 100.00

Postage, crating and taxes excluded.

It is believed that this sextant was used on a Royal Navy Minesweeper during World War 2, but there is not presentable evidence of this. The sextant is in excellent condition, although it does has some genuine user marks. The solid box is made of some hard wood and has been lovingly restored.

The body is brass, the handle Bakelite. It has a removable lens.

Price: US$1400.00

Postage, crating and taxes excluded.