by Ellen Griffith
1/150 Mayflower (Heller)
This is not just the first ship model built by David Griffith's wife, Ellen. It is the first model she has ever made.
In April 2004, or thereabouts she was at the Scottish Nationals when she said, "There aren't any women modellers here. I'm going to make a model to show the men that we can do it just as well!"
Anyone normal would have chosen a sensible subject, such as a nice olive drab P51 Mustang, but she went on to say, "I'm going to make a ship. A sailing ship. And I'm going to rig it properly, just like you did with the Unicorn!!"
"Uh, huh," said David, though he was really thinking, "Oh, no, here we go again. Just humour her, it'll pass. Just don't let her choose that Heller HMS Victory!!"
A Heller kit was chosen, however, but the Mayflower, thankfully. It builds up into a most attractive model, and is quite a good representation of the Mayflower II replica at Plymouth, Massachusetts. Scale is a bit uncertain, but a whole lot bigger than the 1/150 printed on the box.
With the exception of the mass production of the rigging blocks, which David did for her, and lots of advice and guidance, all the work is Ellen's own. Deadeyes, rigging thread and the ship's bell are after-market parts.
Two years ago she was in the middle of rigging it and took it down to Telford and worked on it in public while David was exhibiting his own ships. She showing remarkable dexterity in tying all the clove hitches between the ratlines and shrouds with two pairs of tweezers, and managed to do one side of the foremast in a little over one hour!
The model has been entered in competitions at the Scottish Nationals, where it won a Highly Commended rosette and at Telford, where it won a Silver Medal.
She is currently working on the Revell USS Kearsarge, and is rigging that fully too, but she states publicly that it will be her last model. But she has been heard to mumble privately something about plank on frame models of Bluenose II, following a holiday to Nova Scotia!!
