INTRODUCTION
This volume is designed to help the model ship builder to readily find data and pictures of the many fittings that can be found on the decks of small ships such as tugs, fishing boats, coasters and short sea traders and similar vessels that measure under 250 feet (75m) in length. Many keen ship modellers live and work many miles inland and far from the large ports and estuaries where ships can be seen and readily photographed. I have been fortunate enough to have lived almost my entire life close to or connected with ships and their ports, berths and building yards. Having been brought up the son of a seagoing marine engineer, a great deal of my youth was spent on cargo ships and my early working life was in the offices of a marine engine works. From an early age I used a camera quite extensively but failed to keep pictures taken until after the late 70s. I often wish I had kept many of the films I shot, as some would be a source of invaluable information today. Since about 1976 I have kept my photographs carefully and it is from these and from pictures taken in recent months that this volume is produced.
It is hoped that the information, pictures and sketches included will be of value and assistance to the ship modeller. Some of the photographs were taken with a marked rod positioned against the fitting; this rod is marked in 100mm wide bands and this banding allows the viewer to measure the equipment quite accurately. Regretfully not all the pictures incorporate the measuring rod. Wherever possible tables of sizes have been provided and these will, in most cases, provide the correct sizes of the fittings for the given sizes of ships.
It must be remembered that almost every fitting, piece of machinery, boat or superstructure is subject to the controls and rules laid down by the appropriate classification society i.e., Lloyds, Bureau Veritas, etc.There are, of course, some items that are installed to suit the owner of the particular ship and such items may well be in excess of the requirements of the classification society.
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