Blackpool Model Show 15/16^th October 2011

This year’s display by the SWA at Blackpool was the biggest and best ever with five SWA members taking part including Allen France, Keith Dixon. Roy Cragg, Bill Gillett and myself. We had a total of thirteen models on display in the Norcalympia Hall of the Norbreck Castle Hotel on the Queens Promenade. Mick Astle arranged for us to have eight tables in a good centre position in the hall which gave us plenty of floor space for viewing.

To mention the model ship’s names which SWA members will be familiar with are (at 1:96 and 1:128 scale) :- Delight, Jutland, Jamaica, Liverpool, Nelson, Manchester, Saintes, Suffolk, Sheffield, Warspite, Vigo and Zulu (2) – my Zulu being incomplete. The three “Battle Class” destroyers looked very good together (Jutland, Saintes and Vigo).

We also had on display a selection of ship’s badges (from Allen France), ship’s drawings, information on models and, of course, information about the aims of the SWA.

Of the many people attending our stand some had interesting stories to tell, like the ex RN Stoker who served on HMS Daring with the whole crew being seasick whilst crossing the Bay of Biscay. Also a young lady who told us of her great granddad being lost at sea during WWII and a visit by a ship builder from Barrow-In-Furness.

A 1:48 scale HMS Amethyst was on display with the Fleetwood Model Boat Club accompanied by information and photographs of the “Yangtse Incident”. This model was judged “Best In Show”.

By way of a complete change in model ship making was an excellent 1:1200 scale waterline model of HMS Hood. The title was :- “The last moments of HMS Hood on 24^th May 1941 60⁰ 20’ N 31⁰ 50’ W.”

The trade stands seemed to do good business and we helped it along by buying some tools and materials for our model building.

The Blackpool Model Boat Show is a good weekend for all model boat enthusiasts.

Allan Derham