Viewing life in miniature.
Its a fascination most people have undertaken at one time or another, and to varying degrees.
For a group of Steveston-based model enthusiasts their dedication to creating all manner of scaled-down, sea-going vessels sometimes transcends the realm of hobby. Its part history lesson, and a study in patience.
Those attributes, along with their finely detailed works, will be on display this weekend during the 6th annual Doors Open Richmond arts, culture and heritage festival.
Ive been building models since I was teenager, said Tom Neilson, a retired engineer who belongs to the Steveston Maritime Modellers. We had a boat, but its much easier and less expensive building models than having a real one, he added with a smile.
Although, one model he has worked on, a radio controlled mahogany-hulled racer, complete with navigation lights cost him upwards of $850, and 400 to 500 hours of his time to complete.
This is, I would say, a very complicated model to build, and quite pricey, as well, Neilson said.
Its also the fact that you are bringing history to life, added fellow club member Gordan Kibble. Youre building something like HMS Triumph, or HMCS Fraser, or the Victory, as one of our other members has done. Youre allowing people to look at this and understand what it was like to live on a boat like that, work on a boat like that, or to fight on a boat like that.
One of those with a notable past he has built was the St. Roch, and Kibble launches into the vessels history without hesitation.
It was an RCMP vessel, and the only vessel of any size to circumnavigate North America, in both directions, he said. The voyage was done in two parts. The first took about three years, and the second about a year and a half.
The maritime history lesson then shrinks down considerably with a pair of tiny warships.
Kibble proudly stated the 1/700th scale models are of the HMCS Fraser and HMCS St. Laurent.
These are two, very famous vessels, because in 1939, the RCN (Royal Canadian Navy) knew war was coming and they completely outfitted their ships, got them war ready, and at a moments notice were summoned back form display at the Pacific National Exhibition to Esquimalt, and eight days later they were in Halifax, ready for war.
The diminutive size of the model warships comes with its own set of challenges, including the requirement for keen eyesight.
You have good eyes, when you start out, Kibble quipped. And after much dropping of parts, and the creation of an unprintable language, you wind up with getting the results you hoped for, hopefully.
In building one of these you take three steps forward, and if something doesnt fit, you take one step backwards, Neilson said. So, patience is a must.
Patience doesnt come in the (model) box, but its a necessity, Kibble added.
A total of 49 sites are participating in this years Doors Open, including Britannia Heritage Shipyard where the Steveston Martime Modellers group meets in the Muraki Boatworks building.
Other locations are places of worship, art studios and other historical buildings.
Doors Open runs May 4 5 and admission is free from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
For more information on the event, visit richmond.ca/doorsopen.
To find our more about the Steveston Maritime Modellers, call 604-274-8641.
