Kirkbymoorside man's boat kit journey ends 40 years on (From Gazette & Herald)
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Kirkbymoorside man's boat kit journey ends 40 years on
2:37pm Wednesday 19th September 2012 in News By Karen Darley
Derek Thrippleton who has finally completed his Billing model kit of a Danish Man of War Galleon which he first started in 1973
IT may have taken nearly 40 years and survived seven house moves, but a Kirkbymoorside man has finally put together the final pieces of a model boat kit.
Derek Thrippleton bought the Billing kit to make a Danish Man of War galleon in 1973 from a shop in Leeds where he then lived.
He started the model vowing to take photos of it as he went along, but gradually work took over and less time was devoted to the boat.
Mr Thrippleton said: “Being self employed I commenced building the boat in my spare time, but as my work load increased the boat was put to one side and to be honest – forgotten.
“Last year I had a sudden urge to make a model aeroplane and when I had finished that I wondered if I could resume building the boat again and managed to get stuck in and get it finished.”
Mr Thrippleton said that despite seven house moves the kit was still intact.
“It’s amazing how it has all managed to stay together despite the fact I have moved so much,” he said.
“I only had to order a few extra pieces to finish the boat off – the model is still being produced but now a kit costs £300 as opposed to £25 in 1973.”
Mr Thrippleton, a member of Pickering Rotary Club, said he was deciding whether he should buy a display cabinet for the three foot by three foot model.
“I don’t know what to do with myself now but there is no way I will be buying another one on this scale – my wife has hardly seen me,” he said.
