Lovingly restored model of RRS Discovery sets sail outside V&A

While most people tried to pick up a new skill or hobby during lockdown, one man from Dundee took on a unique project.

Norman Sutherland, a consultant in Dundee, restored a model of the RRS Discovery – and then took it for a sail next to the full-size version which carried Captain Scott to the Antarctic in 1901.

He got permission from the V&A museum to sail his ship in its infinity pool in the shadow of the original.

Mr Sutherland, who was by no means a model expert, bought the ship from a business refurbishing its offices.

He said: “I saw it and thought ‘Oh quite interested in that’ and went to have a look at it and it was pretty rough around the edges.

“But I thought it’s a bit of fun, it’s a bit of a project.

“I’m not into model boats in any shape or form but there’s a bit of local interest there and it’s a model that’s clearly been a very wellbuilt model back in the day.”

After bringing it home and starting to tidy it up, Mr Sutherland contacted some friends in the Dundee model boat club, who told him there were not many of the models built.

After some searching, Mr Sutherland came across a story about Bob Topen, the builder of the model, who had died some time before the Discovery made it to Dundee, in 1992.

Mr Sutherland said: “I came up with an old clip from the early-to-mid-80s of a picture of the builder, with another member of Dundee model boat club, holding the model down at the Unicorn, in what must have been a very early model show of some kind.

“That kind of inspired us to carry on and kind of restore the model.”

The boat was in rough shape.

In a first attempt to sail the boat “it leaked like a sieve”, Mr Sunderland said.

He said: “Like a fullsized boat, when they’re out of the water, the wood shrinks and gaps appear in the hull. So, it filled up with water very quickly.

“So, we put it back to the workshop and had to reskin the hull to completely reseal and repaint it.

“We then put it back in the water and it floated.”

The ship also got a few upgrades such as new propellers, radio control unit and sound effects.

Once it was completed, Mr Sutherland got permission to sail the model in the infinity pools in front of the original.

The model is now up for sale.

“We put it back to the workshop and had to reskin the hull to completely reseal it

HULL NEW SHIP: Norman Sutherland alongside the model of RRS Discovery he refurbished during lockdown. Picture by Steve Macdougall.