Laughing Whale – Grand Banks Dory (Kit #102B)

Hello Shipmates,

I'd like to share another little project from my workbench: a Grand Banks Dory, built from the vintage Laughing Whale kit #102B, Scale 1:12 which I managed to find on eBay.

The Laughing Whale was a small model boat manufacturer based in Wiscasset, Maine, known for its quality wooden kits and attention to detail.

The Grand Banks Dory represents the traditional fishing boats used by fishermen working the rich but challenging fishing grounds off Newfoundland and the Grand Banks during the 19th century.

While building this model, I also used a historical reference from the Mariners' Museum collection to help guide some of the details and give the finished boat a little more authenticity.

It's a small model, but it certainly has a big story behind it!

I hope you enjoy the pictures.

Cheers,
Julian

The Biber – A World War II Miniature Diorama

The German *Biber* was a one-man midget submarine developed in 1944 for attacks against Allied shipping.
Armed with two externally mounted torpedoes, this tiny vessel represented Germany’s desperate attempt to counter Allied naval superiority during the final years of World War II.

This 1:35-scale Verlinden Productions model was commissioned by a gentleman fascinated by German submarines.
My goal was to go beyond building the submarine itself and create a complete, convincing scene around it.

The diorama brings the setting to life through carefully crafted cobblestone paving, weathered stone dock walls, rust-stained fittings, aged wooden details, and realistically textured harbor water.
The addition of German personnel studying their maps, stacked supply crates, dockside equipment, and a period-style streetlamp gives the scene depth and a sense of activity.
The wooden display base and clear protective cover complete the presentation.

For me, the real challenge was transforming a scale model into a miniature historical setting, where the textures, weathering, accessories, and composition work together to tell a story.
Every detail contributes to the atmosphere, making the Biber more than a submarine model—it becomes a small scene from a turbulent chapter of naval history.

IMAI CHEBEC (Xebec) – 1/80 Scale Plastic Sailing Ship Model
Rare Vintage Japanese Kit – Long Out of Production

This model was built from the highly regarded IMAI No. B-296 CHEBEC kit in 1/80 scale. Produced in Japan many years ago and now long out of production, this kit is considered one of IMAI's finest offerings and has become a rare collector's item.

IMAI was famous for the exceptional quality of its molds and engineering. Although this is a plastic kit, the parts were molded with such precision and detail that they convincingly reproduce the appearance of a finely crafted wooden ship model.

The Chebec (or Xebec) was a fast and elegant Mediterranean vessel used extensively by Barbary corsairs during the 17th and 18th centuries. Its sleek hull, pronounced overhangs, and distinctive lateen rig make it one of the most beautiful and exotic sailing ships ever designed.

This model is fully rigged and armed with:
• 20 deck-mounted cannons
• 20 swivel guns
• Detailed anchors, yards, spars, and standing and running rigging

One of the most striking features of the kit is the elaborate decorative carving along the port and starboard bulwarks and across the stern. To highlight these intricate ornaments, I carefully hand-painted every detail using my finest brushes.

The flags were custom made from the lead foil wrappers found around wine bottle corks. After flattening the material, I hand-painted the Algerian corsair designs and shaped them to appear as if they were fluttering in the wind, adding a dramatic and highly realistic touch to the finished model.

Additional features include:
• Ship's boat mounted amidships
• Ornamental stern gallery with gilded relief work
• Open deck grating and finely detailed deck furniture
• Hand-painted decorative motifs throughout

Even after many years, this remains one of my favorite builds. The combination of IMAI's superb engineering and the unique character of the historic Chebec resulted in a model that captures the grace, power, and mystery of the legendary Mediterranean corsair vessels.

If Professor Pat can do it...so can I...lol.. The history of boating spans millennia, evolving from dugout canoes and rafts in prehistory to sophisticated vessels powered by steam and advanced engines. Early boats, appearing around 10,000 years ago, were used for fishing and coastal travel, with Egyptians developing reed and wooden boats for transport and trade by 4000 BCE. Over centuries, innovations like the Viking longboat, the Chinese junk with its rudder, and the Dutch yacht transformed seafaring, eventually leading to the Age of Exploration and the flourishing of yachting as a recreational pursuit in the 17th century. Modern boating integrates electronic systems, computer-aided design, and emerging eco-friendly propulsion, reflecting its continuous adaptation.

This is a slideshow of day 3 in the pavilion when all the boats were in (first vid was set-up day and only about 70% had arrived) By this stage, over 10.000 people had been through. I came down on the bus to take these pics (round trip 72km) went back home, picked up the car and trailer, came back down at 6pm Sunday and picked up the boat. All round a 216km trip (city and back 3 times, well worth the effort though.
JB
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Was invited to take my restored 1970s 12ft racing yacht (red and white one-93 at 1:3) down to put in the display this afternoon, at the Viaduct Event Center In Auckland, and decided to get some pics of the boats on and off water before the crowds come over the next 3 days. Lots of beautiful restored yachts and launches, as well as smaller racing and sailing dinghies. A couple of NZ designed and built Chris Craft copies inside as well. Also steam launches and a few models.

The boat at 1:54 and 3:12 does not have the usual V8 as you would expect, but has a 4 cyl Mercruiser motor, not as the drive motor, but as a generator running 3 high output alternators powering an electrical system for twin electric motors, (round black objects seen in pic, in front of petrol motor). Shafts run each side of petrol motor, Has large control boards on each side for each motor. Boat and laminated wooden trailer designed and built by the owner, Took 2000hrs to build,- absolutely immaculate workmanship.
Also a short vid on an Auckland ferry trip I took while waiting for the liner Queen Victoria to
depart
JB

Others may wish to consider building a dory too. I got the plans for mine from John Gardner’s book “ The Dory Book”, it’s available from The Wooden Boats store.

https://www.woodenboatstore.com

Bow all shaped wooden hull and upper structure is sealed. Hull has been covered with glass fibre. Ready for sanding and primer.

Hello everyone, I hope things are absolutely great in your neck of the woods...A great tug like this one being constructed in the local Toluca Lake shipyards, needs a good radar. I have gone with the @indows 95 look. I am also fully committed to adding some wooden IKEA sliding doors, they will be well-balanced, with a "fingertip touch" when I am through. I am following through with similar swung doors on the captain's cabin.

I have taken the old wooden hatch cover off to find out what was inside there was something that moved around when you tilted the boat found the end of a hand made brass anchor and the remains of some sort of leaf or plant the joints are sealed with tar the inside has been carved out i find it very strange that the two items were sealed up inside i think it is very old possible the 1900