SS Nomadic from Paper Shipwright

[Mike1158]

Some people think everything should be 100% authentic but I disagree, where details are not noticeable why not have a more efficient below the waterline hull?

[Bengt F]

Indeed, Mike1158,

However, my greatest fear that it will look very different ABOVE the waterline as well, with a proposed helicopter landing platform instead of the classic docking bridge aft (perhaps marked with a huge 'H'?), no sheer or lengthwise curvature of the upper hull, a 4 meters wider hull, an extra security deck with large openings for large modern life rafts (probably bright orange in color as in the sketches!), observation platforms (with large glass windows that will reflect the sun) in the 1st and 2nd funnels (no smoke coming out of those with modern diesel engines), modern radar antennae, etc etc: Titanic II

I get the feeling, as this project VERY SLOWLY continues, that many more compromises, based on economical, time, building material, or just plain know-how or skill limits, may arise in the near future. The immense construction factor of original hand-crafted (and sometimes hand-carved by artist carpenters and sculptors) wooden interiors, or stucco ceilings, to take just a few examples, have not been adressed so far. Where can skill be found to do this properly in this day and age? Welding together a huge steel hull in China is one thing, but crafting and assembling premium-class wooden interiors, out of scarce exotic wood (such as teak or Honduras mahogany) that would even remotely resemble the original's interiors, is quite a staggering challenge. Added to this, first class furniture, china, crystal glass, silverware, etc. Trying to cheat and use fake materials (board timber, plastic, foam, aluminium) would perhaps make the Titanic replica look like a children's fun park. Heaven forbid.

In one of the latest interviews with Clive Palmer (Sept 1st of this year), he now very surprisingly states that the maiden voyage will be from Jiangtzu, China to Dubai, in The United Arab Emirates, NOT from Southampton to New York, as originally planned! Where "[the] Blue Star Line has been forging business partnerships". The world has certainly changed a bit since 1912...

And it's not to take place on the 10th of April (as the original Titanic's maiden voyage) but rather at the end of the year, in 2018 (instead of the planned 2016), if we are to believe this web article from the Belfast Telegraph (published Sept 1st, 2015): Titanic II set to sail in 2018, says Aussie billionaire - BelfastTelegraph.co.uk

It somehow seems to me that billionaire Clive Palmer isn't really that well anchored (no pun intended) in the real world of things. It will be interesting to see how well he will adhere to this new, later deadline.

Season's Greetings!
Bengt in Stockholm