Pride of Hull

This build is a snapshot in time of the P&O Pride Of Hull as it was in 2006/7. It is taking time to build as no plans "other than deck plans" are available for the build. Everything has to be calculated from known reference points and details are taken from a host of photos taken of the real ship. This has only been possible thanks in no small part to the cooperation of P&O with details and access and especially the help of captain Woodhouse and the crew . As we have been over every inch of the ship from monkey island down to the keel and had the chance to photo the hull while it was in dry dock. We have a complete record of the ship now. We were also fortunate as we had the opportunity to be on the bridge while at sea which gave us a good idea of how she handled.

As you can see from the photos this build is from scratch and far from being a simple build we have encountered some very difficult problems. Coupled with this for a ferry it is incredibly detailed which is taking many hours of patient work to complete. There have been some very creative solutions needed to automate some of the features as they aren't found on other models. Due to this being a ferry most of the parts needed are unavailable in the scale we are using. This has added it's own delays as these parts are also having to be scratch built.

We are hoping to have this model fully working and fully detailed by October this year in time for the Blackpool Boat Show. We hope to launch the model at the Bridlington Boat Club pond before the show. We have invited P&O to attend the launch as well as Captain Woodhouse. It will be interesting to see what the Captain makes of the model and it's handling compared to the real ship.

While viewing the photos please bear in mind this is a work in progress and until the final paint it may look a little rough.

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We have now conducted our first water tests to check the controls, water tightness and maneuverability.

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The model is really starting to take shape now. Most of the automation and construction is almost finished. The long slow detailing will now begin. 

The anchor now works on remote. The rear door also works on remote. The props and rudders are working properly as is the bow thruster. We have also made 4 of the rigid lifeboats swing out on remote. A small diesel sound generator has been added so that it sounds right. We added a small smoke generator so that it would look like diesel exhaust. 2 of the 4 radars work. Most of the lights now work by remote. One of the deck ramps is also under construction so that it will work by remote as well. Due to the low door water ingress is a problem at the rear but a water tight wall is used to keep water in the last compartment where a bilge pump is used to pump out. The detailing is going well and we are still on target to finish on time. I have to admit though there is far more detail than you might think at first look. 

Progress is very slow now as we get down to the fine detail. We now plan to launch officially at the Bridlington Model Boat Club open day on 7th October 2007 10am to 4pm. This will be just short of a year since the model was started. There are still hundreds of little bits that need to be finished before then but steady progress is being made and it will get finished eventually. 

Well we have finished the lights. They all work from remote but it needs to be dark to fully appreciate them. We have now fitted all the windows and added a few more details. We are working on the lifeboats now and then the tables and chairs. There are still hundreds of little details to take care of but we are working through them as fast as possible.

Well we launched the boat today at the open day. It went very well. Captain Woodhouse named the boat and pored champainge on the bows before sailing out of the harboure and arround the lake. He then birthed the boat perfectly back in the harboure. He commented on how well it sailed and how detailed it was. We were lucky enough to win the best boat award to boot. Anyway below are the pictures. Lets hope we can do well at blackpool as Arther has never won the tower and it would be fantastic if he can win it with this boat.