Cairns Cross Dockmaster's Launch 1:14 Scale

**Mutawintji** · 11th March 2013, 10:09 AM

Hi Peoples,

This is my first attempt at woodcarving. Never worked with timber before. I hope you like.

I did my apprenticeship (electrician) in the Cairns Cross Dry Docks in Brisbane, 1969-1974.

This little launch, carved from memory, was the Dockmaster's launch that he would putter about, carrying out his inspections in the the Wet Berths and the Dry Docks.

The hull and engine box are a single piece carving. So unfortunately this meant the transom was end grain and the forward deck and stem also end grain. But still it polished up OK.

It is carved from a piece of hardwood, 100mm x 100mm x 500mm Amoora, very old, very hard.

I carved it sitting on my balcony, using a Dremel and emery paper taped to a board. The duck boards, sheer clamps, 1/4 deck, transom seat, rudder and skeg are made from offcuts from the same board.

It is genetically the same DNA .. HaaHaa

**Mutawintji** · 11th March 2013, 10:11 AM

It took me 9 months to carve. (I'm a very slow and slothful worker)

It is 400mm long and is approx 1:14 scale ... as the original was about 19 foot.

**Mutawintji** · 11th March 2013, 10:14 AM

I mounted it on a stand. The base of the stand is a fossilised piece of 'The Sea that was' .. The original inland sea that once covered the eastern half of Australia as far inland as the Barrier Ranges where Broken Hill is located.

You can see the last ripples left in the sand as the tide went out for the last time. It is around 250 million years old. I collected it myself from a place where it is exposed, in Sturt's Stony Desert, after all those eons.

It seemed a suitable mount.

**Mutawintji** · 11th March 2013, 10:15 AM

Sorry about the water .. but it was raining at the time I took the photos.

Please let me know what you think, good, bad, indifferent ...

cool bananas ... Greg

**Yonnee** · 11th March 2013, 10:47 AM

HOLY **** !!!

That is Awesome!

Nice work.

**PAR** · 11th March 2013, 11:39 AM

Wonderful work. Some people obviously have way too much free time on their hands

. . .

**Big Shed** · 11th March 2013, 12:06 PM

Originally Posted by PAR

Wonderful work. Some people obviously have way too much free time on their hands

. . .

There are a lot of people with way too much free time on their hands, but not as many that can use that time to produce work of this calibre

Well done that man!

**Mutawintji** · 11th March 2013, 04:58 PM

Originally Posted by PAR

Wonderful work. Some people obviously have way too much free time on their hands

. . .

No .... The only time I have is what there is.

I just sat on the balcony after work, after dinner, and gouged away with the Dremel and emery paper ... and one day it started to look like a real boat ... Haahaa.

It takes just as long not to do as it does to do it.

Thanx to all for nice comments.

cool bananas ... Greg

**crowie** · 11th March 2013, 09:00 PM

Originally Posted by Mutawintji

Sorry about the water .. but it was raining at the time I took the photos.

Please let me know what you think, good, bad, indifferent ...

cool bananas ... Greg

G'Day Greg,
I'm concerned about the comment "what do you think, good, bad, indifferent"......
My goodness me IT'S AWESOME...
To have the patience's to spend 9 months doing an old boat from memory and have such a stunning result shows off your character, abilities & talent extremely well SO FROM ME "A HUGE VERY WELL DONE, INDEED.
Cheers, crowie

PS - The water in the photos looks great, it sets the detail in the boat off beautifully.....

**Mutawintji** · 11th March 2013, 09:35 PM

Crowie ... Thanx heaps mate !!!

You are by far and away the strongest supporter of the scale model forum. I have read nearly every thread, and nearly every thread has one or more posts of encouragement from you. Always a kind word. I love the work you do for the kids.

So glad you liked, I was a bit nervous of posting. But now I have the 'Crowie Stamp' ... Haahaa

Big thank you from me ... Greg

(have started my second piece .. And this time it will be a WIP)

**crowie** · 11th March 2013, 09:54 PM

Originally Posted by Mutawintji

Crowie ... Thanx heaps mate !!!

You are by far and away the strongest supporter of the scale model forum. I have read nearly every thread, and nearly every thread has one or more posts of encouragement from you. Always a kind word. I love the work you do for the kids.

So glad you liked, I was a bit nervous of posting. But now I have the 'Crowie Stamp' ... Haahaa

Big thank you from me ... Greg

(have started my second piece .. And this time it will be a WIP)

G'Day Greg,
I'm no one special, just a bloke who's had a 3rd chance at life.
I enjoy making toys, I marvel at the skills, abilities & talents of the so many other people on the forum who are way more skilled than I.
Part of the beaut part of this forum is, when I first started, so many blokes encouraged & supported me as I showed off my simple attempts at toymaking; now I just want to both repay that kindness & pay forward as much encouragement as I can.
I love seeing all the toys and models on this forum, plus on a couple of others.
Cheers crowie..

PS - One of the best parts of the forum is some of the beaut friends I've made from across the country & the world while not leaving home.

**Mutawintji** · 11th March 2013, 10:20 PM

I followed your Norm Marshall truck WIP. I don't have the tools to make anything like that. It had a great 'scale look' all over it. I hope to copy it soon for my grandson. I hope you don't mind me using your thread as my plan ?

Soon I will have my little shed finished, next week hopefully. Then maybe I can get some good tools. The benches are in and now just working on the quick release mechanism for the vices. I only have room for one vice on the bench at a time ... Haahaa.

thanx again for your kind words ... Much appreciated

Greg

**557** · 11th March 2013, 11:04 PM

Greg,that is just wonderful workmanship,and considering it is your first attempt at carving and woodwork,then I can only say what a true talent you have.
I really hope that this will be the first of many.

Very very well done. David.

**bj383ss** · 12th March 2013, 01:02 AM

Greg this is just fantastic. What an awesome first build. It looks better than my last build. You are correct about Peter(Crowie). He is a huge supporter. He has been a great friend and mentor to me from across the Pacific. Can't wait to see you next project especially if you have a work in progress. We like to see photos. Also would like to see your shed and the benches you are talking about.

Bret

P.S. This forum is like no other. I am on about 10 different forums and this one is like family.

**Mutawintji** · 12th March 2013, 08:00 AM

Originally Posted by 557

I really hope that this will be the first of many.

Very very well done. David.

Thanx very muchly David. Well .... I don't know about many, but hopefully another one or two ... haa. I'm not the fastest worker in the world an prefer to do a liddle bit, make a coffee, have a smoke, dream about what I'm gunna do next, then do a liddle bit .... The wallabies come to the shed for nibblies an have a chat (I live in the bush .. 20klm to the pub an general store) ... an what with one thing and another .. the day just slips by ... Haahaa

Ta Mate .... Greg

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