"Need a model ..." Topic

My better 'alf works with blind teenagers in mainstream school here in the UK. She mostly turns textbooks into braille, but at various times we have produced models and other tactile aids to help in class. (We spend quite a bit of time at car boot ot jumble sales.)

The kid she works with the most – blind from birth – is currently doing WW2 and tonight I was asked if I could get hold of a model bttleship for class use.

We need a model of a cruiser or battleship (ww1 or ww2 era) about 8-12 inches long that the blind kid can feel over and thereby come to understand what it is. It needs to be sturdy because it will be pawed over, and cheap because we are doing this at our expense – no claiming back from the school. We also need it here, in West London, by Friday 11th May. Can anyone offer a source where we can get one ?

Oh, and not a kit if possible …

TIA Pete

Sounds like the old dinky/tri-ang ships could be useful to you, BUT they are a bit smaller than you want (though you can get destroyers etc to give an idea of different sizes) and a complete one might be too expensive :( Have a look on ebay.

I;m sure I have some 1/3000 old battleships lying about.. they are smaller than what you ask for but are sturdy as they are made of metal!

If they sound good let me know. Only to happy to help a fellow teacher!

Post this on modelwarships.com Those guys build kits. They also build from scratch. You won't need a lot of detail, and the model doesn't have to be nation specific, so somebody might do it for free. I might ask for a battleship and an aircraft carrier, the two major (and transitional) means of sea power projection. Good luck.

Post on 1250scale.com. Someone in the area should have something

Just saw this thread. I have exactly what you're looking for Guthroth. It's a diecast toy cruiser with plastic bits, about 9 inches long, sorta vaguely resembles Prinz Eugen with 4 X 2 gun turrets. It's a Chinese toy I found at a Dollar Store a few years back, never made any use of it. I'd be happy to donate it, but the problem would be shipping it trans-Atlantic. I'd have to airmail it to get it there by your target date, and that would cost $20 USD or so.

If you haven't already found one, email me off-board, zippy-at-fuse-dot-net, to work out details.

If you have not found a soldution WoTC Makes a wide range of 1/1800 platic models. They are a bit smaller than what you are looking for, but should be easy to find in the UK.