Well its been age but I have been posting progress pics on my WIP thread over at the Forum of Doom. In classic style I altogether missed the deadline for the comp and have decided I have the planning skills of a dodo. Still, must finish..must finish, repeat mantra etc.

Anyway I thought I'd post up some shots of the work so far.

The boat got underway with some planking

and I built the deck planking individually (insane) from strips of balsa, making nail holes using a bit of brass rod.

While the ship continued

I built the first part of the base. Built a basic box out of MDF and shaped the rocks out of a variety of foam material.

Then I put ready mix filler over it all.

Until it was all covered and a bit more rock like. Undercoated it in black car paint.

and laid the base colours in

Then I took some aquarium plants to bits and built them back up into more realistic looking plants and made some coral from green stuff.

Painted that and then laid in a false bottom for the ship so it can be seen 'under' the water when the perspex is laid in.

Then I put the perspex in and built the cliffs up further to the area where some models will stand.

Painted that and added a walkway.

and did some harness work on a shetland pony and built it a cart to pull.

Then the ship was completed.

and undercoated.

And on it goes!