Cruising is where the money Is!

 Growing fleets of cruise Ships?

Owners of existing fleets are now modernizing their fleets, by not upgrading existing one, but building more newer ones and the success of them is they are getting almost fully booked for the year for each cruise!

Some companies have allowed rich people to buy a suite on board and have it for life as they slowly tour the world, this was so with the Aurora that got stuck in Belfast with engine problems, but recently was able to get to Brest in NW France, before heading for the Bahamas?

Despite the demand for new fad ships, many of the older ones are still popular, bringing back the days of cruising from the various Agatha Christie novels of luxury travel and a more refined catering, servants care and less people on a much larger modern ship!

Modelling. Part-One.

Closest to the Subject.

For many people today the world of modelling allows one to get close to the subject of their interest, wither it be aircraft, space, submarines or missiles. Most of us will see real trains everyday, with shipping and vehicles at easy access to photograph or film.

But the model allows us that chance to have a closer look at the detailing that has gone into the engineering of a machine. Scale, what is the best?

I think it is easier for younger folk to work with the smaller scales, because they are fiddly. Larger scales such as 1:48/35/32 and 25 are perhaps the best for adults and us who are getting a bit older. Detailing of these kits are much easier, especially if ones hands shake.

There is such a variety of model making kits now available from plastic, to metal and of course some can create from just matchsticks.

Cruise Liners.

Ever Bigger.

Comfort and pleasure and new experiences are now what is demanded in the cruise liner business. Comfort and styles with good food has been replaced by shopping and thrills. These ships are getting ever bigger and perhaps the future will see glass bottoms and more underwater as well as over water experiences.

Today there are many kinds of vessels operating in this role, by the big companies. but some people demand something more old fashioned and smaller ships from paddle steamers to steam ships are meeting these demands of luxury over gimmicks and avoid mass shopping to a more selective purchases.

Air Frieghters. Part-Three.

Enter the Jet Age.

The 1950's was the start of real cargo flying, this was for two reasons the first being that aircraft were now much larger and second the Jet age had began.

Many World War-II aircraft continued to be in demand such as the C-47/C-46 and there civil versions DC-3/4. Many were to find their way to the outback and remote location workings in Australia, Canada, Africa and South-Central Americas.

From the outset of the British Comet, French Caravelle and early Boeing and McDonnell-Douglas aircraft cargo could now be moved much faster on trans-ocean crossings. Meat, flowers and medical goods were able to arrive fresh in the same 24-hour period.

Air Freighters. Part-Two.

World War-II (1939-45).

From 1918 to 1939 aircraft got larger and larger in size and with this were enabled to fly further. It was British Imperial Airways, operating out of London-Croydon airport who took advantage of all of the latest British aircraft types. The Handley Page converted bombers were the height of luxury flying and they had the additional cargo space for mail.

HP 0/400 Twin-engined carried 12 passengers, The Vickers Vimy was similar and both were scrapped by 1924.

By 1928 the Shorts three-engined Calcutta flying boat was in service carrying 15 passengers and two pilots at 110mph. By 1930 the HP42 was capable of 38 passengers and just before 1939, shorts had in service the first 16 sleeper cross-Atlantic flying boat.

It was not until the second world war that there was a demand for mass production air transport and aircraft such as the Douglas DC-3/47 came to the fore. Other large aircraft in the war years were the Shorts Sunderland flying boats, which were a massive improvement on the Handley-Pages.