We already have photos of models of the Caroline North ship, Fredericia and the station's most recent vessel, Ross Revenge. Now John S Platt shares the pictures of his painstaking construction of the Mi Amigo, which John describes as "a replica, not a representation".

JOHN SAYS:

I have always made models. I started with plastic kits and later radio controlled model aircraft. I would spend a year building a replica of an aircraft, take it to the flying field and return home with it in a carrier bag after smashing it up after 60 seconds, if I was lucky. Being able to fly the real things was not an advantage. So, model ships were a more sensible option.

Having won several international prizes for some of my models, the search is always on to find a subject that had never been modelled before. Offshore radio was one that had not been tackled before.

I researched into as many ships from that era that I could find. I obtained plans for the Fredericia, Comet, Galaxy and numerous others, but for me the only ship that epitomised that era was the Mi Amigo.

I wrote to the shipyard that converted her into Radio Nord – they never replied. So for nine months I wrote twice a week and eventually received a package of neglected plans that I had redrawn to provide a set of working plans for the model. I am sure that they sent them to shut me up!

So far, I have spent 8 years on this model. Partly because of illness, but also a desire to produce a replica not a representation.

The completed model will have interior and exterior lighting and be fully radio controlled. All I need is for someone to construct an AM transmitter that will fit into a packet of fags.

Over to you!

John S Platt

If anyone can help John, please e-mail:
Big John <xpz67@btinternet.com>


Photographs and text © John S Platt 2006

Many thanks to John for sharing the photos of his lovely models of the Mi Amigo and Galaxy.

View other offshore radio ship models via the Model Ships Index Page

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