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Thursday, March 31, 2011

Titanic raised in time for centenary: How enthusiast has built 100ft replica in his back garden


The Titanic is resurfacing in time for her centenary.

But the ship is not all she seems. A 100ft version of the ill-fated liner has made an appearance at the mouth of the Caledonian Canal in Inverness.

The scaled-down replica, built by marine enthusiast Stan Fraser, will open up as part of a maritime museum and cafe in time for next April, which will mark the 100th anniversary of the tragedy.

The real Titanic famously sank after striking an iceberg in April 1912, with the loss of 1,503 lives.

Overboard: Stan Fraser has built a 100ft model of the famous ocean liner in his back garden

Overboard: Stan Fraser has built a 100ft model of the famous ocean liner in his back garden

Walkers and cyclists on the canal towpath behind his home at the Old Toll House on the city's Clachnaharry Road look in amazement at the scaled-down model.

It even comes complete with four belching funnels using a smoke system dating back to his rock and roll years when ME sufferer Mr Fraser helped bands with their fog effects.

Once he opens it up as a maritime museum, the public will hear a multi-decibel foghorn and see lights to twinkle from the portholes, as they did on the dance floors prior to the Titanic striking an iceberg and sinking.

Mr Fraser has dedicated 11 years of his life recreating the giant liner, which would be the centrepiece of a planned nautical museum and cafe at his home.

Doomed: The RMS Titanic in 1912 which famously sank after striking an iceberg in April 1912, with the loss of 1,503 lives

Doomed: The RMS Titanic in 1912 which famously sank after striking an iceberg in April 1912, with the loss of 1,503 lives

The father of five said: 'It all started when I decided on a nautical theme for the house.

'My mother told me loads of seafaring stories, and I think that developed my love of the sea.

'I put a porthole in the window at the back door because we are beside the canal and then built a model of a pirate ship on my cousin's old rowing boat for the children.'

He added: 'I think the Titanic is the most beautiful ship ever made and much prettier than any liner today.

'I started to build a dummy Titanic for fun but it needed to be bigger. I had two caravans in the garden and I used these as the base. Someone gave me an old shed to use and a friend who was building a house gave me some wood and nails to recycle and that got me started.'

Walkers and cyclists have looked on in amazement at the scaled-down model

Resurfaced: Walkers and cyclists have looked on in amazement at the scaled-down model

Mr Fraser, a former lighting engineer, fought through his debilitating ME, which has left him unable to find work, to slowly build his 1:10 scale model of the Titanic.

The 46-year-old began collecting other maritime items and his house is filled with life jackets, models of other ships and copies of newspapers reporting on the Titanic's loss after striking an iceberg.

He also wants to develop a new visitor attraction based on a series of giant model ships including an aircraft carrier, a yacht, a galleon, a trawler and a submarine. Among these would be a model of Noah's Ark filled with stuffed animals for children to play.

But centerpiece would be the Titanic. Mr Fraser has set a date of April 2012 - the centenary of the disaster - for opening his nautical museum and cafe.

He said: 'I hope to have things up and running by next April for the centenary.

'I might have to apply for certain conditions, but if I just ask for donations to enter then I would not be labelled as a business.'

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