Model Store/museum, Chatham.

[Walter Snowdon]

I am not sure if this is the right section for this topic, but here goes!. The three main national Museums in London have over 5000 model ships in storage to which the public have no access ( among them are many paddlers. A couple of years ago an idea was floated to move them all into one centre with a controled environment. Whilst this is NOT a museum as such, it would be open to rhe public. I was at Chatham Dockyard museum 2 weeks ago and saw that this is no pipe dream.
  Work has started on converting an extremely large old ironwoks/forge in the dockyard to house the models. As the building is a listed monument dating back to pre Nelson days, work has to preserve its character and according to the site architect I spoke to, will take about three years to complete BUT its on its way!!.
   Incidentaly, The Chatham museum is well worth a visit BUT its enormous, housing several museums within one site, Three preserved ships, (destroyer, submarine, Victorian steam gunboat all open), A large lifeboat museum and our own PS KINGSWEAR CASTLE sails from there. There are too many atractions to mention (includes a model boat shop).
   Also, a thing I like, you only pay once, keep your ticket and you can visit as many times as you like in a year.

[Barrie]

There are too many atractions to mention (includes a model boat shop).
   Also, a thing I like, you only pay once, keep your ticket and you can visit as many times as you like in a year.

The Model Shop advertises that if you visit them, you get free entrance to the museum! I guess this is so as I have visited the shop, which is well inside the museum grounds, and didn't have to pay! Not sure if there are checks on tickets at other places though as I didn't have time for a visit.

Barrie

[mjt60a]

I think you need to show an admission ticket to go onboard the ships and the sub, and into the 'wooden walls' (wooden ship construction!) display but, as I remember, you can go into the RNLI shed and other covered exhibits (I haven't been for a few years though so it could have changed...)