As a teenager, Roger Berry took a keen interest in building model ships. Having never undergone any formal training, he experimented using various woods and planks and, fast-forward to today, he has produced and sold about 30 ships. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The 76-year-old resident of Neighbourhood Old Age Homes (Noah) in Woodstock, takes great pride and spends hours, sometimes up to a year, carefully crafting model ships from scratch. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAt age 16, I had the inclination to build model ships. When I started, I got plans and photos of the vessels from the naval dockyard. And I went into the scale drawings and brought the scale down to something like a metre long. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis was all self-thought. Now, I do them out of my head. I have built between 25 and 30 ships over the years. They have all been sold or gone on auction.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Berry spoke about his replicas of schooners, battleships and command vessels. \u201cOur grandparents and great-grandparents came to the country aboard these vessels.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Currently, he is adding the finishing touches to a replica of an 1820 Privateer, a task he started about eight months ago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMy great-grandfather arrived in the country in 1823 on a ship like this. I started with the keel. And then I cut the hull. This is plank-on-frame construction. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThen I cut the various frames. I used mahogany planks. I have a friend who has a sawmill and he cuts the planks for me according to the size I want. This is built on a 1:72 scale, which is the most popular.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Berry explained that attention to detail is crucial. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cFor this one, I plated the hull with copper because all the ships were copper-plated to stop sea growth. I am busy with the running rigging, and I have to attach the sails. And that is the difficult part.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He added that this particular model had already been sold to the owner of an antique shop. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI will be done with this in about a month\u2019s time. I still need to put it on a wooden base.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to Berry, the prices of these model ships range between R4 000 and R4 500. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt depends on the finer details you add to the ship. If you add things such as cannons and lifeboats, the more detail you add the more expensive it becomes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He explained he uses wood, copper and brass, which he purchases locally. However, some of the items he needs are imports from England.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI get a lot of good comments about the models I build. Stanley Dorman of Dorman Long Fishing Company bought four ships from me to display in his offices.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The senior said once he finishes this privateer he\u2019s currently working on, he will move on to his next project. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cPeople are showing interest in me making fishing boats. So, when I am done here I will look into that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Berry explained that as long as he is in \u201cgood health\u201d, he will continue his passion. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI am healthy, praise the Lord. I only take tablets for high blood pressure. I get a great kick from this. I can still produce them, and people still want these ships. So, I am grateful.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n