1983: MODEL MAKER's models have TAKEN OVER his flat | Nationwide | Weird and Wonderful | BBC Archive
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- Опубліковано 17 тра 2022
- "This Englishman's home isn't so much his castle, as his dry dock."
Luke Casey meets model-maker extraordinaire Bill Wilkinson in his one bedroom flat in Leyland, which he shares with his wonderful replicas of famous boats. A large steam paddle boat takes pride of place in his bedroom, while his bathroom and living room are home to his latest creation - a 25-foot scale model of the luxury steam yacht, J.P. Morgan Corsair.
Originally broadcast 1 August, 1983.
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I love these type of characters. He may be out of work and on benefits but at least he’s doing something skilled and productive with his time. He also seems happy and content. I’d hope these models are still being looked after somewhere and weren’t scrapped.
They will be worth a fortune now I would expect. More so as the environment that they were built in was a tad bizarre to say the least. What an eccentric and likeable guy.
@Uncle Gilbert Oh no, they definitely would be. It'd be categorized as Folk Art, or perhaps even Outsider Art, and this man's story, the provenance, would help increase the valuation. I'm not saying they'd be worth a _fortune,_ but they'd definitely be valuable, if they ever came to auction.
Exactly
How did he get it out?😂
I searched this guy and sadly he passed away in 2004. He used to sell his model boats and he also used to sail them on the local lake.
I remember seeing him at the model engineering exhibitions in the late 90s it was pretty legendary where he lived and how he worked. Later models were bigger but could be dismantled for transport
@@timwebster8122 Do you know if we can still see these models, and if so where?
@@billgriffiths1685 Great question, I hope you get an answer.
@billgriffiths1685 You can't still see them. Unfortunately, I can send you pictures and videos of some if you'd like
He should have been recruited as a cabinet maker. What craftsmanship.
The close ups of the deck show the fine detail and when they both climb over it that demonstrates the strength. A lovely character, god bless Bill.
So many subtle puns. This is great television
it's more amazing this man could have a flat, pay bills, food and have an expensive hobby on £26 a week!
Hello you!
So join us as we look at these skint shipwrights, these bankrupt boaters, and moneyless modellers……
Literally about £65 in today's money, pretty much the same as today's dole money, and nice to see ya Larry I'm a subscriber lol
Bl00dy 'eck, I thought my collecting hobbies were excessive, at least I can walk through my house, just!
The large Corsair is still alive, it was sold to a collector in the UK. All the boats were built out of cardboard, and this large one was powered by car engine.
the one in the bath probably.
could cardboard hold the weight of a car engine and would not go to pulp in water.
Don't think card would take the weight of the men standing on it somehow.
Gifted craftsman
The talent that Thatcher put on the scrapheap
He was a bus driver. Being made redundant gave him the time to do this.
How can this man not have a job? Any restoring company or shipbuilder would take him in a second.
Because he's lazy
You have no idea what work is in that craftsmanship. Not lazy . He was a creator of art. Not a 9 to 5 hack. His work lives long after the money from your job has been spent and forgotten.@@ilovegot7754
Heavy unemployment in those days, more so in some parts of the country than others and definitely in his neck of the woods.
what a wonderful original character
You're right. He also comes across as calm, contented, and very intelligent.
He had great skills 👏
53 years old! Holy moly I though he was about 70 ish. Wonderful skill building those ships, glad he had time on his hands, shame it wasn’t through lockdown and he could have got more money to live on. The models consumed his living conditions to the extent, I guess he didn’t bathe at all lol.
I'd imagine he has a stand up wash to keep him going.
Keep eating those pork scratchings mate and you 2 can look like that!
Probably a local bath house nearby back then,
Talented man. A talent sadly not appreciated nowadays. My wife wouldn't have a 1:43 scale model of a boat on a shelf without kicking off.
He wasn't appreciated then.
My dad had to build an extension on their house for his models 😂
You need a more tolerant wife. Life is too short my friend
Build her a 1.43 scale model of her coffin for demo purposes. See how she reacts then.
@@Adam-wl8wn Dad built a model room just to house his model trains and later model aircraft.
“Shivers for his timbers…” 😂
I live Leyland and drive past here every day. I never knew about this😀
Absolutely amazing and beautiful. ❤
Had to look up the address on Google Earth. Now a hair salon.
What a legend
Legend rip
Where is the yacht today?
I'm a diecast collecter but this is just amazing i wonder were they are now ?
I wonder what happened to these models
Fire
@@flaminicemediagroup there was a fire? Really? Or have you made it up? What’s with the one word sentence? Can you expand much? 🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄
@@handsoffmycactus2958 yes
@@unnamedchannel1237 if you aren’t going to comment more than one word, don’t bother
I googled this guys name and he used to sell the models, he also used to sail them on the local lake - also he passed away in 2004.
Wonder 💭 if it’s still there?
He reminds me of quint from Jaws 😂😎
I can see why he was a bachelor
I didn’t take him to be an inches man. He seems more of a metric fella
Nah he was an inches man. Probably about 4”.
This story appears to be old,when did this happen
According to the description, 1983
@@simonrussell4986 Thank you ,I wonder how this turned out,a lot has changed in that area.
Wonder what happened to him?
@1:08 "It growed and growed." Growed?
Yes, I spotted that too. 'Grew and grew' surely.
From a childrens' story about a character named Topsy who "growed and growed".
It’s Barney Miller!!!!
Bill wakes up in the morning with all hands on deck and seamen running everywhere.
Some say his body's still up there, no visitors, no one knows
He only has £26 a week how could he afford to do this and also eat. Although he’s very skilled and his models are amazing I think he’s quite nuts. You would have to take the roof off to take them anywhere perhaps they belong in a museum.
As he said, out through the window.
Er, "It GROWED AND GROWED"????????? You mean it 'GREW AND GREW'!!!!!!!!!!!!!
A refugee from Thatcherism, doing what he could to stay sane. That millionaire didn't build the original yacht. Working people like him built that too.
True facts.
Let me know how much manufacturing Labour returned to Britain during their tenure? Or renationalised anything?
@@xr6lad Either way it wasn't Thatcher or Labour but the UNIONS who ensured people lost their jobs.
Growed And growed? Try grew and grew
Try Uncle Tom's Cabin. "Topsy growed and growed" is from that book.
This is a quote
Try context. Attribution to a work you don't recognize? HMMM Maybe It's A Quotation.
Anybody spot the hastily covered Nazi flag at 0:19?
Noticed it straight away. Might be entirely innocent, but seems like a mock up of a WW2 Kreigsmarine (navy) flag
It does look like one; however the stripes should be black, white, black, white. There’s only black, white and black there. After googling, it does look similar but it could be innocent
@@davehill584 probably is let’s be real. Why else would it be there, it’s a flag surrounding a wooden block isn’t it
The guy was probably a NF supporter too.
With detective hat on, I'd say that's a simplified version of the flag. He is a skilled painter etc and the red of the flag/box matches the hull of the ship above. I think he dunnit and the film crew turned up in a hurry to film the segment.
BBC didnt want to talk about other tricky subjects either in the 70s, such as celebrity perverts.
First.
Well done, give yourself a pat on the back.
No one cares.
@@TheGrader600 seems you cared enough to comment...
@@unscentednapalm8547 get a grip you nonce
What is the point of posting comments like this? What are you? 12? Weirdo
Not impressed. I have known people to become obsessed with a hobby, to the detrement of themselves. I hope this gentleman eventually got a life and job.
I highly doubt it. The flat he was living in has changed a lot, so doubt he lives there anymore. I just wonder how the hell they removed all that junk when he moved out
Why do you think this is detrimental?
He seems to have got a lot of meaning from the endeavour
Who are you to judge him? he does what he enjoys and spends his time as he sees fit. Is that not everyone's goal in life? if £26 a week is enough to bring you happiness then so be it, If you need more then you should earn more.
He had a life. His model making. He was much respected and admired for his work.
ah much better to spend all your waking hours sitting in front of a tv and slowly becoming brain dead as per the population of the UK the answer is variety and exercise.