A diorama to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the building of Ladysmith’s Coaling Wharf was constructed by a group of HO gauge railway model builders. They required a model of a five mast sea going ship to complete it and that is where I came in.

As the museum had a hull model of the Cutty Sark already chosen by a previous builder, so my task was to fashion a complete four mast Bark from it.

Picture showing the north side of the 100 foot long Coaling Wharf in Ladysmith Harbour, 1910, with 4-mast Coal Bark loading coal.

Deck colour changed, deck houses and hatches constructed and stanchions in place.

Masts and rigging all made from scratch. Lower yards were cantered to fit against wharf when complete.

As the HO Builders had finished the wharf with coal cars and locomotives and even a tug, my job was to attach the ship against the wharf with a coal chute.

Detail of midships.

Detail of deck, bowsprit with sails, and some detail of hull on the water.

Hull painted with wear and rust, rigging showing cantered yards, ships boats not installed yet.

The Coaling Wharf Diorama sits in one of the Ladysmith Maritime Society’s museum halls near the Harbour.

The names of all the contributors to this fine heritage diorama are attached to the top of the display case in bronze.