MOSSEL BAY NEWS - Traffic grinded to a halt on Tuesday due to a road closure on Bland Street - but, there was much more to this than met the eye, as curious onlookers soon realised.
These makers of hand-crafted historic sailing ship models, maritime art and antiques, boast a jaw-dropping list of clients, including the Sultan of Oman, Walt Disney Studios, as well as acclaimed directors Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson, with whom they have a long standing relationship.
Having been in business for close on 20 years, Hough says there are few places on earth their world class quality models have not been shipped to.
"I will have to rack my brain to tell you where our work hasn't gone to. We have sent off work to collectors all over the world. Ship model collectors are passionate people and, contrary to popular belief, women are equal to men in search for these priced possessions," Hough explains.
Once lowered onto Bland Street, they were rolled into containers and secured for their journey abroad.
The models will be used in a film about the Battle of Trafalgar, that took place on 21 October 1805 and saw the defeat of Napoleon Bonaparte. Leading British battle ships in one of the most decisive naval battles in history against the combined fleet of the French and the Spanish, Admiral Lord Horatio Nelson, although mortally wounded during the clash, became one of Britain's greatest war heroes.
"We were briefed regarding a specific part of the five hour sea battle, which involved more than 80 ships. After extensive research, we determined that these 10 ships were the ones that took the frontline in those few historical moments."
Hough believes that the quality of their product lies in a combination of unique strengths - their research capacity and the superior creativity of his staff. He employs 20 locals, including men and women who all have unique tasks.
"Despite the thrill of securing business deals and having a range of international clients, my personal highlight of what we have achieved over the years is the sheer talent of my workforce. Many of them have been with us since we started up our business."
Like in the case of the recently shipped mo-dels, masts and sails are only assembled upon arrival. Hough's wife Louise then takes selected members of the team to wherever the model has been shipped, in order to add the finishing touches.
The team once built a full scale Chinese junk, an ancient sailing vessel, which is a display piece at the Ibn Battuta Mall in Dubai. Assembling this now world famous ship model, took the team on a six month adventure far from the familiar shores of Mossel Bay.
There are many challenges to their job, muses Hough in conclusion, but there is one thing that drives him and his team ever more.
"It's that quest for aesthetic perfection."
*Due to protection of intellectual property, the name of the director who commissioned the ship models, cannot be divulged in the media.
Some of the ship models in the workshop before being loaded. Photo: Cornelle Carstens
The attention to detail is breathtaking. The ship models were commissioned for a movie on the Battle of Trafalgar. Photo: Cornelle Carstens
ARTICLE: CORNELLE CARSTENS, MOSSEL BAY ADVERTISER JOURNALIST
'We bring you the latest Mossel Bay, Garden Route news'
