Model boat club boost
IT WAS all hands on deck for Scotland's biggest model shipbuilding event in Queen's park at the weekend.
Some 132 nautical enthusiasts gathered with their scaled-down versions of vessels from around the world.
The Glasgow south ship modellers' society was hosting the two-day event (now in its third year) and celebrating its own centenary year.
The national model warship weekend took six months of planning and organisers also worked late into the night in previous weeks to clear weeds from the pond.
Society secretary Gordon Morlan, a technician at Glasgow Caledonian university, thought the festival was "absolutely brilliant" despite the rain.
"There was a fantastic turn out and the diversity of the ships on show was very interesting.
"All the members of the club put in such a great effort and it was a proud moment to see it all come off".
The 45-year-old was unfortunate not to win "best in show" with his USS Crocket model of a river patrol boat used in Vietnam by American forces.
That honour went to Steve Pickering from Ayr model boat club with his scale model of a World War One British destroyer.
Mr Morlan added: "Some of these guys spend up to seven years working on a boat. I usually spend about a year because I just want to see it on the water.
"The effort some of the other members put in is absolutely phenomenal".
Councillor and baillie Nina Baker deputised for the lord provost to present prizes at what she called "a great event. The boats were absolutely stunning — I want one of them".
She told The Extra: "It was great to see the clubs are starting to get more younger members as they will learn a lot of practical skills which will serve them well in their careers".
Dr Baker also said she hoped successive events staged by the modellers would attract more of the general public in coming years.
She confided: "I know there is talk of a mock battle next year".
Find out more about the club at www.gssms.wordpress.com.
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Weather for Glasgow
Thursday 24 May 2012
Today
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Temperature: 14 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 6 mph
Wind direction: North east
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Temperature: 12 C to 24 C
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