Large Scratch Built Paddle Steamer By Richard Webb

A Large Six Foot Long Scratch Built Paddle Steamer by Richard Webb. The model boat is beautifully and skilfully crafted and would have taken an incredible amount of man hours to complete. All of the passengers being made and painted by hand. Richard Webb wrote several books on model boat building. This was purchased direct from the estate of Richard Webb and the motor and workings have not been tested. The original Bristol Queen was built in 1946 by Charles Hill & Sons in Bristol, and launched on 4 April 1946 by the Lady Mayoress of Bristol aptly with a bottle of Bristol Cream Sherry! Her engines were made by Rankin & Blackmore Ltd, Greenock. She was built as a replacement for P & A Campbell ships lost during the Second World War, and operated pleasure cruises in the Bristol Channel, often to Ilfracombe. The original photo we have showed is of her in The Camel Estuary while visiting Padstow in Cornwall in 1965. On 20 August 1966, she hit Penarth Pier damaging the pier head. She was taken out of service after an accident to a paddle wheel on 26 August 1967 and was scrapped the following year.